You can now customize the Start menu layout in Windows 11 to show more apps, files, or recommendations. Here is how to do it.
The Start menu is the number one way to open an application for most Windows users. For instance, most users press the start key and click the pinned application to open it. Alternatively, you can search for an application directly from the Start menu. As such, it is essential that you customize the Windows 11 Start menu to match and meet your expectations. For instance, pinning your favorite applications to the Start menu makes it easy to open them quickly.
Microsoft is gradually expanding the possibilities and customizability of the Start menu. Though not as much as Windows 10, the Settings app in Windows 11 allows you to customize the Start menu layout. Specifically, you change the Start menu layout to pin more apps, show more app recommendations, show frequently used applications, add folders & system options, and more.
This guide shows you how to customize and change the Start menu layout in Windows 11.
Note: You should run Windows 11 20H2 (2022) or higher to change the Start menu layout.
Change Windows 11 Start menu layout
Follow the below steps to change the Start menu in Windows 11.
- Launch the Settings app.
- Click “Personalize” on the sidebar.
- Go to the “Start menu” page.
- Select the layout of your choice from the “Layout” section.
- Close the Settings app.
- With that, you have successfully changed the Start menu layout.
- (Optional) Reboot Windows 11 to apply changes.
Steps with more details:
To begin, launch the Windows 11 Settings app. You can use the keyboard shortcut “Start key + I” or search the Start menu for “Settings.”
After you’ve opened it, go to the sidebar and pick the “Personalize” tab. This page displays all of the features and choices for customizing the appearance and feel of Windows 11. Navigate to the “Start” page from here.
The “Layout” section at the top features three distinct layouts. Select your preferred layout.
- To pin more apps, choose the “More pins” layout.
- For a balance between pins and recommendations, choose the “Default” option. As the name implies, this is the default Start menu layout in Windows 11.
- Choose “More recommendations” to see more recommendations like frequently opened apps, files, and recently installed applications in the Start menu.
Besides the layout, you can also make the Start menu show or hide the most used apps, recently added apps, recently opened items in Start, Jump Lists, & File Explorer, and folders.
If you want to show links such as Settings, File Explorer, & Network and folders like Home, Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Videos, etc.
For that, click the “Folders” option under the Layout section and turn on the folders and links you want to appear in the Start menu. Generally, these new folders and links appear at the Start menu’s bottom.
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That is all. It is that simple to change the Start menu layout in Windows 11.
I hope this simple and easy Windows how-to guide helped you.
If you are stuck or need some help, send an email, and I will try to help as much as possible.
