How do I get Google Chrome back to desktop mode on Windows 8

Question

The Windows 8 version of Google Chrome seems to have been updated to support the UI formerly known as Metro.

However, this seems to be the only option now, which means that I can no longer use Chrome on my netbook.

How do I get Google chrome to work in classic desktop mode on Windows 8?

Thanks

Solution 1

You can also edit the registry to have the Chrome tile on the start menu launch in desktop mode regardless of which browser is set to default.

I've posted a detailed blog post with step-by-step instructions and screenshots: http://meta.superuser.com/a/5816/121933

Solution 2

Go to the menu (three horizontal lines) and select "Relaunch Chrome on the Desktop"

Solution 3

A simple registry fix is all you need...

you can enter registry by going into the start menu... type regedit... press enter

once registry editor is open go to the following registry path

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\google\chrome\metro

in that path there is a registry entry called

 launch_mode

change the value of the entry from 1 to 0

and VWALAH its alive.

Solution 4

There's a switch to desktop mode option in your chrome settings button. Select that and it'll close chrome in the metro/modern/windows store app UI, and reopen it in desktop

Solution 5

Only the default browser will use the Metro mode in Windows 8. If you want Chrome to use the desktop mode you can make another browser, for example IE, the default one.

View more solutions

Comments

[slhck]

Isn't that what Journeyman Geek already said?

[pratnala]

How can this be the solved answer?

[avirk]

@pratnala Just set another browser as default on Windows 8 and you will not get the modern UI on non-default browser.

[pratnala]

Yeah BUT even default browser can work in Desktop mode.

[Pking]

I think this answer is more useful as it specifies the menu-option in question.

[pattyd]

Pure genius....

[Juha Palomäki]

At least for me this did not work. Changing the setting closed Chrome and when I reopened, it opened in Modern UI mode. In my case the solution was to set IE as the default browser (see the answers below)

[JMK]

@AndersFjeldstad The previously accepted answer was accepted waay back when I was using the Developer preview, and I haven't checked here much since, but you are correct, this is the best answer.

[fixer1234]

This is just commentary about the accepted answer. In Super User's Q&A format, answers are reserved for solutions to the question, and each answer should contribute something new.

[ashnazg]

This fix worked for me in the case of an unelevated user account on Windows Server 2012 that had accidentally selected "Relaunch Chrome in Windows 8 mode", and then could not launch Chrome at all due to "Google Chrome can't open while User Account Control is turned off". Obviously that user could not enable such a mode. Also, such a user cannot modify the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT key that's mentioned in @jon-crowell 's answer. This launch_mode key change is appropriate for the unelevated user.

[ashnazg]

If your account is not elevated enough to be modifying the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT keys, then you probably need the launch_mode answer as provided by @Peanut.