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How can I minimize a Modern UI app in Windows 8? I know I can use the Windows key or Alt+Tab, but there must be a way to do it with the mouse.

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You can click and hold at the top edge of an application and drag it down as if you were swiping it away downwards. – Ivan Zlatev Sep 4 '12 at 17:25
That would shut it down completely Ivan. Not minimise/hide. – GONeale Oct 12 '12 at 0:34

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up vote 7 down vote accepted

If you are looking for a way to task switch Modern UI/Metro app, akin to Alt+Tab but with the mouse, you can move your mouse to the upper right corner and then move it down. Up pops a Modern UI/Metro app task switcher UI.

Minimizing is a desktop metaphor and is not meaningful for Modern UI/Metro apps. Most Modern UI/Metro apps are automatically suspended when you switch away from them. Details found here.

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I just installed Visual Studio 2012 on W7 and I have a minimize button at runtime. If I had installed this on W8, would I not have a minimize button (does W8 prevent it)? – Dave Rook Sep 4 '12 at 7:48
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Visual Studio 2012 is a normal desktop application, and works much the same on W8 as on W7. The question is about Modern UI/Metro app, which are a completely new class of applications in Windows 8 which run outside the desktop. – Mr Alpha Sep 4 '12 at 11:45
Thank you for the clarification. Although it does seem to be a mixture of 'cultures' now - A desktop computer will have a 'desktop' and mixing this with the new approach could become quite disjointed I would guess. I'm looking forward to trying it. Thank you for your answer +1 – Dave Rook Sep 4 '12 at 11:47
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It is a bit of a jarring transition. But, truth to be told, the Mordern UI/Metro apps are designed for 10in screen and touching. They don't make any sense on a big desktop computer with a mouse and keyboard. The other side of the coin is the desktop, which is a pain to use with fingers. So the usage bifurcates into only Modern UI/Metro apps on Windows tablets and only desktop applications on normal desktop and laptop computers. – Mr Alpha Sep 4 '12 at 16:12

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