The "Switch between apps" window comes up and won't go away. There's no obvious way to close it or get rid of it. It just sits there, blocking the screen, even after I've started Wordpad or some other application.

I hate to be the one to point out the obvious, but if I, with over 25 years of PC experience can't immediately figure out how to get rid of this damn thing, the average user will also have no clue. 

From a human factors standpoint, you have about 5 seconds before the user gets too frustrated to continue using your product. I did. I'm writing this from my Ubuntu system. Behaviors like this are not exactly motivating me to develop for the Windows 8 platform.

I just ran into this too.  VERY annoying.  The workaround was to launch a metro app and press ALT+F4 to kill it; this also killed the "Switch Between Apps" window.  But it came back then next time I launched a metro app... sigh

A co-worker just pointed out to me how to get rid of it: move your mouse pointer into the top-left corner of the screen.  That's it!  It's gone.

• Proposed as answer by CoolOne 15 hours 57 minutes ago

A co-worker just pointed out to me how to get rid of it: move your mouse pointer into the top-left corner of the screen.  That's it!  It's gone.

<sarcasm> Because that is completely and totally obvious.  Great UI design there Microsoft.</sarcasm>

Seems a little short sighted for Microsoft to rely on "word of mouth" documentation, seeings how nobody uses this product.  At least the arrow is pointing towards where you need to move the mouse pointer.  Oh wait....no, no its not.

• Edited by BEI01 15 hours 31 minutes ago

sure wasn't obvious to me, I was logging off then on again lol.

Thanks guys and gals!

A co-worker just pointed out to me how to get rid of it: move your mouse pointer into the top-left corner of the screen.  That's it!  It's gone.

• Proposed as answer by CoolOne Friday, September 13, 2013 6:47 PM

A co-worker just pointed out to me how to get rid of it: move your mouse pointer into the top-left corner of the screen.  That's it!  It's gone.

• Proposed as answer by CoolOne Friday, September 13, 2013 6:47 PM
• Marked as answer by Niki HanMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Monday, September 23, 2013 3:11 PM

A co-worker just pointed out to me how to get rid of it: move your mouse pointer into the top-left corner of the screen.  That's it!  It's gone.

• Proposed as answer by CoolOne Friday, September 13, 2013 6:47 PM
• Marked as answer by Niki HanMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Monday, September 23, 2013 3:11 PM

A co-worker just pointed out to me how to get rid of it: move your mouse pointer into the top-left corner of the screen.  That's it!  It's gone.

• Proposed as answer by CoolOne Friday, September 13, 2013 6:47 PM
• Marked as answer by Niki HanMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Monday, September 23, 2013 3:11 PM

A co-worker just pointed out to me how to get rid of it: move your mouse pointer into the top-left corner of the screen.  That's it!  It's gone.

<sarcasm> Because that is completely and totally obvious.  Great UI design there Microsoft.</sarcasm>

Seems a little short sighted for Microsoft to rely on "word of mouth" documentation, seeings how nobody uses this product.  At least the arrow is pointing towards where you need to move the mouse pointer.  Oh wait....no, no its not.

• Edited by BEI01 Friday, September 13, 2013 7:13 PM

A co-worker just pointed out to me how to get rid of it: move your mouse pointer into the top-left corner of the screen.  That's it!  It's gone.

<sarcasm> Because that is completely and totally obvious.  Great UI design there Microsoft.</sarcasm>

Seems a little short sighted for Microsoft to rely on "word of mouth" documentation, seeings how nobody uses this product.  At least the arrow is pointing towards where you need to move the mouse pointer.  Oh wait....no, no its not.

• Edited by BEI01 Friday, September 13, 2013 7:13 PM
• Marked as answer by Niki HanMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Monday, September 23, 2013 3:11 PM

A co-worker just pointed out to me how to get rid of it: move your mouse pointer into the top-left corner of the screen.  That's it!  It's gone.

<sarcasm> Because that is completely and totally obvious.  Great UI design there Microsoft.</sarcasm>

Seems a little short sighted for Microsoft to rely on "word of mouth" documentation, seeings how nobody uses this product.  At least the arrow is pointing towards where you need to move the mouse pointer.  Oh wait....no, no its not.

• Edited by BEI01 Friday, September 13, 2013 7:13 PM
• Marked as answer by Niki HanMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Monday, September 23, 2013 3:11 PM

A co-worker just pointed out to me how to get rid of it: move your mouse pointer into the top-left corner of the screen.  That's it!  It's gone.

<sarcasm> Because that is completely and totally obvious.  Great UI design there Microsoft.</sarcasm>

Seems a little short sighted for Microsoft to rely on "word of mouth" documentation, seeings how nobody uses this product.  At least the arrow is pointing towards where you need to move the mouse pointer.  Oh wait....no, no its not.

• Edited by BEI01 Friday, September 13, 2013 7:13 PM
• Marked as answer by Niki HanMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Monday, September 23, 2013 3:11 PM

I did a post about this here: http://john.bryntze.net/jbkb-v2/howto-windows-8-1-make-switch-between-apps-disappear/ where it mention also a policy you can set so it does show up (any tips, not only this "Switch between apps)

The policy is called "Disable help tips".

Help tips are designed to go away once completed what the tip is about, but on none touch devices this "Switch between apps" is pretty stupid.

Its just so bad it beggars belief. I spent half an hour of my valuable time on this "problem".

Thanks you so much its work for me----its was pain and can't see left side apps.....again thanks