The Start menu in Windows 11 is different from the one in Windows 10. The new Start menu looks very different and behaves slightly differently from the one seen in Windows 10.
Windows 11’s Start menu offers many personalization options. For example, you can open the Start menu at the left of the screen (the default is center), change the color, create app folders (currently available in Insider builds), pin apps and folders to Start, and change the number of app rows (available in Insider builds).
To access all these personalization options, you need to access the Start menu settings.
This guide will show you how to open the Start menu settings in Windows 11.
Tip: You do not need to open the Start menu and select the search field to search for an app. Simply open the Start menu and start typing to search.
Method 1 of 3
Open Start menu settings in Windows 11
Step 1: Open the Settings app using search or Windows + I hotkey.
Step 2: In the left pane of the Settings app, click Personalization.
Step 3: On the right side, click Start to see all Start menu-related settings and options.
As you can see in the picture, the Folders option allows you to add Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Settings, File Explorer, and Network folders to the Start menu. Click on Folders and add folders.
NOTE 1: If you need to change the color and turn off/on the transparency, go to Settings > Personalization > Colors page. For detailed directions, refer to our how to change the Start menu color in Windows 11 guide.
NOTE 2: Windows 11 does offer an option to show all apps by default on the Start menu. Refer to our how-to show all apps by default in Windows 11 guide for a workaround.
Method 2 of 3
Use the Run command to open Start menu settings in Windows 11
Step 1: Open the Run command dialog using Windows + R hotkey or search.
Step 2: Type ms-settings:personalization-start and then hit the Enter key to open the Start menu settings page.
Method 3 of 3
Use Command Prompt to open Start menu settings in Windows 11
Step 1: Launch Command Prompt or PowerShell using search.
Step 2: At the Command Prompt or PowerShell window, type the following command and then press the Enter key.
Start ms-settings:personalization-start
Hitting the Enter key opens the Start menu settings page. Needless to say, you can also copy and paste the command above into the Command Prompt or PowerShell.
How to open the taskbar settings page in Windows 11 guide might also interest you.
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