How to Skip Start Screen and Boot to the Desktop in Windows 8.1

There are few ways to bypass Start Screen in Windows 8 startup such as adding Show Desktop shortcut, scheduling automatic boot into Desktop using Task Scheduler, etc. Boot to desktop option has been one of the popular terms when Microsoft introduced Windows 8.1 Preview with Start button features. As usual, Microsoft’s new operating systems will startup Windows to the Start Screen by default. With Boot to desktop option, it helps setting Windows skip the Start Screen in startup and boot straight to the Desktop.

Here’s how to enable Windows 8.1 skip Start Screen and boot to the Desktop

1. Restart PC, and then click the Desktop tile to enter Desktop mode.
2. Right-click on the taskbar, and then select Properties.
   
3. Taskbar and Navigation properties page will appear.
   
4. Click the Navigation tab, go to the Start screen section and then check the box “Go to the desktop instead of Start when I sign in”.
   Update: Microsoft has renamed the option to “When I sign in or close all apps on a screen, go to the desktop instead of Start“. Now this option comes with an extra functionality.
   
5. Click OK, then restart the PC.
6. Windows 8.1 now will skip Start Screen and direct boot to the Desktop.