The Start menu is usually at the center of everything you do in Windows, giving you easy access to all of your installed applications, as well as the files and folders that are on your system. You’ll probably spend a lot of time looking at and using the Start menu, so it makes sense to configure it the way that works best for you.
There are more ways to tweak and customize the Windows Start menu than you might have realized, and with the help of third-party software, you can even replace it entirely (it’s a bit like re-skinning Android). We’ve covered your options below. (If you’re a macOS user, we have a similar guide for you here.)
It’s not hard to get started: You can right-click any of the apps in the Start menu and select Pin to startfor example. This means the app shortcut will appear in the panel that first appears when you open the Start menu, so it’s a handy way to get to your favorite programs faster.
Apps that are pinned to the ‘front’ of the Start menu can also be rearranged — just drag and drop them to a new location. If this Start menu opening screen has shortcuts that you don’t need very often, right-click on them and select Unpin from the Start. The app lives on your computer, but you’ll have to dig deeper into the Start menu to find it.
You can further change the Start menu by opening the main Windows settings panel and then selecting Personalization AND Start. You’ll immediately see that there are three layouts to choose from, each offering a different combination of pinned app shortcuts and links to recently opened files and folders.
You have toggle switches below that let you control what does and doesn’t appear in the Start menu. Your options here include apps you’ve recently installed, apps you use a lot, files and folders you’ve recently opened in Windows, tips and recommendations from Microsoft, and occasional notifications. It’s up to you how messy or messy you’d prefer your menu to be.
Select folders and, via the small icons along the bottom, choose which folders are available right from the first panel of the Start menu. Here are your options DOCUMENTS, PhotosAND VIDEOSso you can set up quick links to the places on your system you visit the most.
The final customization option that Windows offers you is not in the Start menu section of Settings. Head to Personalization and then select Taskbarand under Taskbar behaviors AND Taskbar extension you can choose whether the Start menu button will appear in the center of the taskbar or on the left (where it has traditionally been in previous versions of Windows).
It’s also not difficult to revert these changes and return the Start menu to the center or as it appears on a fresh installation. below Personalization AND Start from Settings, for example, just click Default to return to the default mix of pinned apps and recommended files.
If you want to get really serious about customizing the Start menu, you can replace the built-in offering with something completely new. There are several software packages around that will do this for you, and you don’t have to worry about breaking anything—you can just uninstall the customizer to get the Start menu back to normal.
One of the best apps in this particular business is Stardock Start11, which lets you reconfigure the Start menu in all sorts of ways—and even go back to the classic look of Windows operating systems of yesteryear. The software will cost you a one-time fee of $9.99 per computer, but you can try it for free first to see if you like it.
In addition to modifying the appearance and shape of the Start menu, you can also adjust the color scheme and transparency, and you can apply the same type of re-appearance to the taskbar as well, for a unified look. You can also scroll through the Start menu and taskbar, and even pin them to the top of the screen.
Another comprehensive Windows customization package is Rainmeter—and while it includes options for replacing and revamping the Start menu and taskbar, it also gives you options to change the look of your entire Windows desktop. If you want pixel-by-pixel control over the look of Windows, then it’s ideal, and it’s also free to use.
Since it is so comprehensive and complete, the process of getting started with Rainmeter is a bit more involved, but there is plenty of help and documentation. A good way to start is to download one of the skins created by other users (and there are many of them), and then modify it, rather than starting from scratch. Building your own skin is a bit like coding your own website, but it’s not too difficult.
By using either Start11 or Rainmeter, you can end up with a desktop operating system that looks nothing like regular Windows—and that lets you get the Windows apps, files, folders, and features you use most often in places where they are easily accessible.