Since its inception, the redesigned Start menu in Windows 11 has been a divisive feature. Though it probably has its fans, many people have given the interface a thumbs down. If you’re one of the Start menu’s many critics, you can do more than just complain about it. The new Start menu may not be as friendly or as customizable as the one in Windows 10, but there are ways to make it look and work the way you want. If that’s not enough, just install a new one.
Before we change anything, let’s look at why people have complained about the Windows 11 Start menu.
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)
Initially, the Windows 11 Start menu was fairly barebones and limited. People complained about the recommended apps section only showing what Microsoft wanted you to see. If you wanted to view all your apps, it forced you to open a separate window. Even Microsoft realized that the menu needed some repair work, so Windows 11 version 25H2 has fixed a few things.
All your apps are now viewable from the same menu and you’re able to rid yourself of the Recommended apps section entirely. Additionally, the menu can display a pane for your smartphone, allowing you to access your latest phone calls and texts. It’s an improvement, but there’s more you can do to make the Start menu work for you.
1. Remove Recommended Apps
The Recommended section displays recently added and opened apps and files. Don’t want it or need it? With the newest Start menu, you can easily remove this section completely. Just go to Settings > Personalization > Start and then turn off Show recommended files in Start, recent files in File Explorer, and items in Jump Lists and Show recommendations for tips, shortcuts, new apps, and more.
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)
2. Pin and Unpin Apps On the Start Menu
You can customize the Start menu by adding and removing apps. To add an app to your Start menu for easy access click All, then find the app you want to add, right-click on it, and select Pin to Start. To remove an app from the Start menu, right-click on its icon and select Unpin from Start. The icon is removed from the Start menu but remains in the All section.
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)
3. Move Icons Around the Start Menu
You’re able to move the icons around the Start menu to better position them according to your preferences. For example, you may want to move the apps you use most frequently to the top of the menu and those you use less frequently to the bottom. To move an app to the top, right-click on it and select Move to front. You can also tell an app to move to the left or right. Additionally, you have the option to drag and drop the icon into place.
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)
4. Create Start Menu Folders
You can further organize your Start menu icons by placing them into folders. To create a folder, drag and drop one icon on top of another. The two icons are then placed into a folder. It is named Folder automatically, but you can click the folder and then the name field to change it. You can then add other apps by dragging them onto the icon.
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)
5. Add Folders to the Bottom of the Start Menu
You can add or remove folders at the bottom of the Start menu next to the Power button. Doing so will give you easy access to Settings, File Explorer, Documents, Downloads, and more right from the Start menu. To set this up, head to Settings > Personalization > Start and click Folders. Turn on the switch for any folder you wish to see next to the power icon in the menu.
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)
6. Realign the Start Button
The Start button is centered on the taskbar in Windows 11, different from its usual spot in the bottom left corner. If you prefer its traditional position, you can move the entire taskbar to the left. Go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar and select the Taskbar behaviors option. Use the Taskbar alignment dropdown menu to change the icons from Center to Left. If you want to further customize the Taskbar, read our guide for that.
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)
If you still don’t like the Windows 11 Start menu, consider an alternative. A few third-party developers have created their own programs that revamp the Start menu to be more useful and flexible.
Stardock’s Start 11
Stardock’s Start 11 costs $7 a year for a single license or $10 a year for five licenses. You can instead opt for a permanent license at $10 per install or $20 for five installs. Stardock offers a free 30-day free trial and 30 days of direct technical support, plus unlimited access to tech support forums. The program’s setup screen asks if you want your taskbar left aligned or center aligned.
Recommended by Our Editors
(Credit: PCMag / Stardock)
You can then choose a specific style for your Start menu, such as Windows 7, Modern, Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows App, Windows Pro, or Windows Launcher. To further tweak a style, click the down arrow next to it and select a compact or grid layout. If you prefer the classic two-column Start menu, use the Windows 7 or Modern style. Windows 10 style will mimic the OS’s tile-based layout, while Windows 11 style focuses on pinned apps.
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(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)
Go through the rest of the setup options to customize the Start button, taskbar, and search feature. You can set when and how the Start 11 menu appears via the Control tab. For example, you might make it so that clicking the Start button triggers the Start 11 menu but pressing the Windows key on your keyboard triggers the regular Windows 11 Start menu.
(Credit: PCMag / Stardock)
When finished, click the Start button to see your new Start menu. Right-click anywhere in the Start menu to delete, rename, or move a shortcut. Right-click the taskbar and select Configure Start 11 to return to the Start 11 settings menu.
(Credit: PCMag / Stardock)
StartAllBack
StartAllBack costs $4.99 ($1.50 if you upgrade from a previous version) after a 30-day free trial. You’re first asked to choose your preferred two-column Start menu setup among three options—Proper 11, Kinda 10, and Remastered 7.
(Credit: PCMag / StartAllBack)
To further tweak StartAllBack, use the tabs on the left to edit the Start menu, taskbar, File Explorer, and more. When done, click the Start button to use the new menu. Right-click anywhere on the menu to delete, rename, or move specific shortcuts.
(Credit: PCMag / StartAllBack)
About Our Expert
Lance Whitney
Contributor
Experience
I’ve been working for PCMag since early 2016 writing tutorials, how-to pieces, and other articles on consumer technology. Beyond PCMag, I’ve written news stories and tutorials for a variety of other websites and publications, including , ZDNet, TechRepublic, Macworld, PC World, Time, US News & World Report, and AARP Magazine. I spent seven years writing breaking news for as one of the site’s East Coast reporters. I’ve also written two books for Wiley & Sons—Windows 8: Five Minutes at a Time and Teach Yourself Visually LinkedIn.
I’ve used Windows, Office, and other Microsoft products for years so I’m well versed in that world. I also know the Mac quite well. I’m always working with iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and Android on my various mobile devices. And these days, I write a lot about AI, so that’s become another key area for me.
My wife always jokes about all the tech products we have around the house, but I manage to put them to good use for my articles. I like Lenovo computers, so I own a couple of Lenovo desktops and several laptops. I have three MacBooks and a Mac mini. For my mobile life and work, I use an iPhone 16 Pro, iPad Pro, and iPad mini as well as an Apple Watch. But since I write about Android, I own several Android phones and tablets. Like any tech person, I have a cabinet full of cables, wires, and assorted mysterious gadgets. And when it’s time to take a break from writing, I have an old Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii, both of which I use for exercise and fitness games.
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