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How to Get Windows 8's Metro-Style Start Screen and Charms Bar on Older Versions of Windows

Windows Start Menu with various application tiles and widgets.

Last week, we showed you how to bring the classic start menu to Windows 8. Now, we're going to show you how to bring the new Metro start menu to older Windows versions!

Windows 8 Start Menu with various app tiles and live updates.

Image Credit iobit.com

WinMetro

Thanks to IObit's new WinMetro application, you can now bring the Metro UI to older versions of Windows such as Windows 7, Vista and XP. The app offers the popular Metro tiles such as weather, calendar, news, stocks, and frequently used programs. The Charms bar is also available by moving the mouse to the right side of the screen, which will appear automatically.

Windows 8 Start screen displaying various app tiles and social media icons.

Image Credit addictivetips.com

The search button allows users to navigate the entire computer.

How to Get Windows 8's Metro-Style Start Screen and Charms Bar on Older Versions of Windows

Image Credit addictivetips.com

WinMetro also gives users the option to boot to the Metro Start Screen directly.

WinMetro settings menu with options for startup and desktop behavior.

Image Credit addictivetips.com

With that being said, the application does not provide the full functionality of the Metro UI, but it's still a fun way to look cool and not have to pay for a Windows 8 upgrade.

To give WinMetro a try on your Windows system, download it directly from iObit.

Images by Addictive Tips

Apple's iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 updates are packed with new features, and you can try them before almost everyone else. First, check our list of supported iPhone and iPad models, then follow our step-by-step guide to install the iOS/iPadOS 26 beta — no paid developer account required.