How to Add a Website to the Windows 8 Start Screen

The epicenter of Windows 8 is its Start Screen, a collection of tiles that quickly connect you to your favorite apps, playlists, people, news, and other items. Pinning new tiles can be achieved in several ways, including through Internet Explorer in either Windows Mode or Desktop Mode.

Adding your favorite websites to the Windows 8 Start Screen is a two-step process, no matter which mode you use.

Add a Website to the Start Screen Using Desktop Mode

Open the IE browser and follow these steps: 

1. Select the ​gear icon, also known as the Action or Tools menu, located in the upper-right corner of the browser window.

2. When the drop-down menu appears, select Add site to Start Screen.

3. The Add site to Start Screen dialog displays, showing the current site's favicon, name, and URL.

4. Select Add to create a Start Screen tile for the web page. You now have a new tile on your Start Screen.

   The name cannot be modified when pinning a site to the Start Screen in Desktop Mode.

5. To remove this shortcut, right-click it and then select Unpin from Start, found at the bottom of the screen.

Add a Website to the Start Screen Using Windows Mode

Follow these steps:

1. Select Pin, located to the right of the IE address bar. If this toolbar isn't visible, right-click anywhere in the browser window to make it appear.

2. When the pop-up menu appears, select Pin to Start. 

3. A pop-up window appears, displaying the current site's favicon and its name. The name can be modified to your liking.

4. When you are satisfied with the name, select Pin to Start. You now have a new tile on your Start Screen.

5. To remove this shortcut, right-click it, then select ​Unpin from Start, found at the bottom of the screen.​