How to customize Windows 11 Start Menu

Windows 11 comes with a revamped Start Menu, which allows you to customize every element of it. If you want to know about all the options you have to customize Windows 11 Start Menu; this article is for you. Here are some of the best tips so that you can set things up as you like.

How to customize Windows 11 Start Menu

You have the following ways to customize the Windows 11 Start Menu and change its look:

1. Move Start Menu to the left side
2. Change Start Menu color
3. Pin or unpin apps
4. Remove apps from the Recommended list
5. Hide recently opened items/apps in Start Menu
6. Show or hide Library folders

To learn more about these steps, continue reading.

1] Move Start Menu to the left side

By default, Windows 11 displays the Taskbar items, including Start Menu, Taskbar search box, etc., in the center. However, if you do not like it, you can move the Start Menu to the left side – like Windows 10. For that, do the following:

• Open Windows Settings.
• Go to Personalization > Taskbar.
• Find the Taskbar alignment option in the Taskbar behaviors.
• Choose Left from the drop-down list.

Now you can see the Start Menu on the left side instead of the center.

Read: How to show more Pinned Tiles on Windows 11 Start Menu.

2] Change Start Menu color

If you select the Dark color mode, you can change the Start Menu background color in Windows 11. Instead of showing whiteish or any other default color, you can choose any other color you like. For that, do the following:

• Press Win+I to open Windows Settings.
• Go to Personalization > Colors.
• Choose Dark from the Choose your mode list.
• Toggle the Show accent color on Start and taskbar button to turn it on.
• Choose any color from the above list on the same page.

Now you can find the selected color on the Start Menu and Taskbar.

Related: How to customize the Windows 11 Lock Screen.

3] Pin or unpin apps

By default, you can find tons of pre-installed apps pinned on the Start Menu. From Windows Settings to Spotify, Netflix, etc., are pinned automatically. If you do not like to show them there and instead you want to show some of your most-used apps, you can change it using this guide. To do so, follow these steps:

• Click on the Start Menu and select an app.
• Right-click on the app you want to unpin.
• Select the Unpin from Start option.

However, if you want to pin an app, follow these steps:

• Click on the Start Menu and click the Apps apps button.
• Right-click on an app you want to pin.
• Select the Pin to Start option.

If you want to move an app or change its position, you can click on it and hold the click as you move it to the desired location.

Read: How to customize Windows 11 Taskbar.

4] Remove apps from the Recommended list

By default, Windows 11 Start Menu displays recently opened apps and files together in the Recommended section. However, if you want to display only files and not apps, here is how you can hide them:

• Press Win+I to open Windows Settings.
• Go to Personalization > Start.
• Toggle the Show recently added apps button to turn it off.

However, if you want to hide a specific app from the Recommended section, you can right-click on it and select the Remove from list option.

5] Hide recently opened items in Start Menu

Windows 11 Start Menu displays all the recently opened items or files under the Recommended section. If you do not want to show them, here is how you can hide them:

• Click on the Start Menu in the Taskbar.
• Right-click on an item you want to remove from the list.
• Choose the Remove from list option.

It will be hidden immediately. However, if you want to permanently disable the Recommended section, you can open Windows Settings > Personalization > Start and toggle the Show recently opened items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer button to turn it off.

6] Show or hide Library folders

By default, Windows 11 Start Menu displays only the Power Options to Shut down, Restart, or Hibernate your computer. However, it is possible to show other items, such as Documents, Pictures, Music, Downloads, Windows Settings, File Explorer, etc. To show them, do the following:

• Open Windows Settings.
• Go to Personalization > Start > Folders.
• Toggle the respective button you want to show in the Start Menu.

Related: How to Add or Remove Folders from Windows 11 Start Menu

How do I customize the Start Menu in Windows 11?

You can customize the Start Menu in Windows 11 using Windows Settings and some other given options. It is possible to add or remove pinned apps, show or hide items from the Recommended list, align the Start Menu to the left side, and so on. You can follow the complete guide to know more about some other tips and tricks to customize Start Menu in Windows 11.

Does Classic Start Menu work with Windows 11?

In the earlier builds, it was possible to switch to Classic Start Menu in Windows 11. However, now the REGEDIT method does not seem to work. However, you can use third-party software like Open Shell to get back Windows 10-like Start Menu in Windows 11.

Read: How to show or hide Most Used apps in Start Menu on Windows 11.