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This guide will show you how to organize Start menu apps on Windows 11/10. With Windows 11, the user interface of the operating system that many of us know and love changed a lot, including the Start menu. If you don’t like this, you can learn how to change the Windows 11 Start menu so that your apps are where you want them to be.
Windows 11 is pretty easy to use, and it only takes a few clicks and changes to make the new Start menu something you’re comfortable with. And if you do this, you’ll have all the apps you want right at your fingertips, or at least close by. You can also go to the official Microsoft support site to know more information about this.
Even though the new Start menu in Windows 11 is simple and doesn’t use Live Tiles but instead uses traditional icons, you can set it up in different ways to make it easier to find your apps.You can put your favorite apps into folders. You can’t get rid of the suggestions, but you can change the layout to show more pins.
Organize Pinned Programs
A lot of programs are stuck to the Start menu. Many apps, like Instagram, are made by people other than Microsoft. Others, like Solitaire or Windows system apps, are made by Microsoft. You probably won’t use all of the software, so get rid of the ones that take up space on the Start menu. To take an app off the Start menu:
- Navigate to the app you wish to remove and perform a right-click.
- Choose the “Unpin from Start” option.
- If it’s an app you don’t intend to use, press the “Uninstall” button.
- Identify all unnecessary pinned apps and unpin or uninstall them to declutter your Windows 11 Start menu.
Remove Recommended Files
If you often work with the same files, the “Recommended” tab can be helpful. However, it can also make the menu look messy. By deleting this section, the Start menu will stay neat. To pay the bill:
- Click on “Windows + I” and go to “Personalization.”
- Choose the “Start” option.
- Navigate to “Show recently opened items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer” and press the “Off” button.
- Keep in mind that Microsoft still hasn’t rolled out a method to remove the “Recommended” section entirely. It will remain in the Start menu, but it won’t contain any files.
Modify the Windows Menu Alignment
Changing the settings for the taskbar is the easiest way to give your Windows 11 Start menu a custom look. Changing the alignment of the taskbar also changes where the Start menu is, and you can change how it looks by choosing between two alignment options. By default, the taskbar is in the middle of the screen. Moving it to the left side of the desktop makes the screen look sleek and classy. To change the position:
- Hover the cursor over the taskbar and right-click.
- Click on the “Taskbar settings” option.
- Scroll to the bottom of the interface and tap the “Taskbar behaviors” section to expand it.
- Under the “Taskbar Alignment” heading, choose either “Left” or “Center” to change the alignment.
- Changing the default alignment is a useful hack, especially if you like to hide the taskbar. It also makes it easier to get to the Start menu, since all you have to do to bring it up is tap the Windows key.
Pin Folders to Menu
Even though you can’t pin folders to the Windows 11 Start menu, you can put them next to the Power button to make them easier to find. To do so:
- Hold down “Windows + I” to launch the “Settings” app. Alternatively, find it through the Start menu.
- Click on “Personalization” and select “Start.”
- Pick the “Folders” option and select which folders will appear in your Start menu.
- Users can’t “pin” files in Windows 11, but you can scan files you’ve recently used by going to the Start menu and tapping the “Recommended” section. If you click “More,” the menu will show you a list of the files you’ve opened in the last few months.
FAQ
How do I get the classic Start menu back on Windows 11?
To do this, click the regular Start button in Windows 11, go to All Apps, click the folder for Open Shell, and click the Open Shell Menu Settings shortcut. At the Settings screen, you can choose between the Classic style with one column, the Classic style with two columns, and the Windows 7 style with two columns.
How do I change my Start menu layout?
In the Settings app, you can choose to Show more tiles on Start by going to Personalization and then Start. By default, Start tiles are set up with three columns of medium-sized tiles. Show more tiles on Start turns on 4 columns.
How do I customize my Start menu properties?
You can also change a few other settings for the Start menu, such as letting it take up the whole screen. To get to these options, right-click the desktop, click Personalize, and then click Start. Here, you can choose to turn on or off these options.