If you use Windows 8, or indeed the preview version of Windows 8.1, you know that when you close a Modern app you go right to the Start screen. There"s no option that allows people to close those apps and return to the desktop UI. Now it looks like Microsoft has added that small but helpful option in the RTM build of Windows 8.1
As reported by McAkins Online, users can move the cursor to an empty part of the taskbar on the desktop in Windows 8.1 RTM and right-click to bring up a menu that includes the "Properties" option. Clicking on that brings up several tabs, including Navigation. The Navigation tab, when selected, brings up a number of check box options.
As shown in the screenshot above, there"s a new check box option that will let users tell Windows 8.1 to go to the desktop when all apps are closed rather than the Start menu. The only issue with this option is that it also forces Windows 8.1 to always boot to the desktop screen rather than the Start screen. So if you would rather boot to the Start screen every time you start your Windows 8.1 PC this option is not for you.
Perhaps Microsoft will make a small change and separate the two options by the time Windows 8.1 is officially released on Oct. 18.
Source: McAkins Online | Image via McAkins Online