How To Customize The Windows 11 Start Button

The Start Button is one of the most iconic elements of Windows, and in Windows 11, it comes with a fresh design and a more central position on the taskbar. Although Microsoft has simplified the overall appearance and functionality of the Start button, it still allows a fair amount of customization to help you tailor the experience to your personal preferences.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll cover the steps to customize the Windows 11 Start button, from changing its position to altering the appearance of the Start menu itself. Additionally, we'll provide tips on how to customize the Start menu to suit your workflow and make the most out of this key feature in Windows 11.

1.Positioning the Start Button

In Windows 11, Microsoft introduced a centered taskbar, which is a significant departure from the traditional left-aligned Start button of previous Windows versions. However, if you prefer the old positioning or want to experiment with different layouts, you can easily change the Start button’s position.

Step 1: Open Taskbar Settings

1. Right-click on the Taskbar.

2. Select Taskbar settings from the context menu.

Step 2: Change Taskbar Alignment

1. Under Taskbar behaviors, find the option labeled Taskbar alignment.

2. Click on the dropdown menu next to Taskbar alignment and choose between:

•    Left: Moves the Start button to the traditional left corner.
•    Center: Keeps the Start button in the middle (default for Windows 11).

By selecting the Left option, your Start button will return to its familiar position on the left side, giving your desktop a more classic Windows feel.

 2.Customizing the Appearance of the Start Menu

The Start button gives you access to the Start menu, which is the gateway to your apps, settings, and power options. Windows 11 allows several ways to adjust the look and feel of the Start menu to make it more functional and visually appealing.

Step 1: Open Personalization Settings

1. Right-click anywhere on your desktop and select Personalize.

2. In the Personalization menu, select Start from the sidebar on the left.

Step 2: Customize Start Menu Layout

Windows 11 offers several options to personalize the layout and contents of the Start menu:

1.Show Recently Added Apps: Toggle this setting on if you want the Start menu to show apps you've recently installed at the top of the app list.

2.Show Most Used Apps: Enable this setting to have quick access to the apps you use most frequently.

3.Show Recently Opened Items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer: This option helps you quickly return to files or documents you’ve been working on by listing them in various places, including the Start menu.

Step 3: Pin and Unpin Apps

To get more control over the apps you see in the Start menu, you can pin and unpin applications:

1.Pinning Apps: Open the Start menu, right-click on any app, and select Pin to Start. The app will appear in the pinned section of the Start menu.

2.Unpinning Apps: If you no longer want a pinned app to appear, right-click on the app and choose Unpin from Start.

You can rearrange pinned apps by dragging and dropping them to your preferred location within the Start menu.

Step 4: Customizing App Folders in the Start Menu

Windows 11 allows you to group pinned apps into folders, making it easier to organize your Start menu:

1. In the Start menu, drag one pinned app on top of another to create a folder.

2. Once the folder is created, click on it to open, and you can rename the folder to something meaningful (e.g., Work Apps, Entertainment, etc.).

This method is great for decluttering your Start menu while keeping related apps in one place.

3. Changing the Start Menu Color and Transparency

Windows 11 offers several ways to adjust the appearance of the Start menu, including its color and transparency.

Step 1: Adjust the Color

1. Open Settings by pressing Win + I.

2. Go to Personalization > Colors.

3. Scroll down to the Choose your mode section. You can choose between Light, Dark, or Custom modes.

 

• Light Mode: Gives the Start menu a bright, white background.
• Dark Mode: Changes the background to a sleek, dark theme.
• Custom Mode: Allows you to set the Start menu and other system elements to different modes, such as light apps with a dark Start menu.

Step 2: Enable Transparency

Windows 11 also introduces subtle transparency effects to its windows and menus, including the Start menu:

1. In the Colors settings, scroll down to Transparency effects.

2. Toggle the switch to On to make the Start menu slightly transparent, allowing the background image to softly show through.

Step 3: Accent Colors

If you want more control over the colors used in the Start menu and taskbar, you can select a custom accent color:

1. Scroll down to Accent color in the Colors menu.

2. You can either let Windows choose an accent color based on your background, or you can manually select a color from the color grid.

Once set, the accent color will be applied to the Start button, taskbar, and other system elements like window borders.

 4. Customizing Start Menu Power Options

The Start menu also provides access to system power options, such as shutting down, restarting, or putting your computer to sleep. These power options can be customized to fit your needs.

Step 1: Access Power Settings

1. Open Settings by pressing Win + I.

2. Go to System > Power & Battery.

Step 2: Customize Power Button Actions

In the Power & Battery section, you can customize what happens when you press the power button on your device. You can also configure additional power settings, such as when your device should go to sleep, or whether or not you want the screen to turn off after a period of inactivity.

Step 3: Add or Remove Power Options from the Start Menu

By default, the Start menu includes options to Sleep, Shut down, and Restart your computer. If you want to simplify the options available:

1. Open Control Panel.

2. Navigate to Hardware and Sound > Power Options.

3. On the left sidebar, select Choose what the power buttons do.

4. Customize which power options are visible by toggling the checkboxes next to Sleep, Lock, Hibernate, or Turn off the display.

This can help streamline the Start menu, removing unused options and leaving only the essentials.

5. Adding and Removing Folders in the Start Menu

Windows 11 allows you to add shortcuts to folders like Documents, Downloads, Pictures, and Music directly to the Start menu, making it easier to access commonly used folders.

Step 1: Adding Folders

1. Open Settings by pressing Win + I.

2. Go to Personalization > Start.

3. Select Folders.

4. You’ll see a list of common system folders (Documents, Downloads, Pictures, etc.). Toggle the switch next to any folder you want to appear in the Start menu.

These folders will now appear alongside the Power button in the Start menu for quick access.

Step 2: Removing Folders

If you want to remove any folder shortcuts, simply toggle the switch Off in the Folders section of the Start settings menu.

6. Third-Party Start Menu Customization Tool

If you want even more control over the Start button and menu, third-party applications can provide advanced customization options. Tools like Start11 and Open-Shell allow you to:

1.Restore the classic Windows 7-style Start menu.

2.Change the Start button icon itself.

3.Add custom menus and shortcuts to the Start menu.

These tools offer extensive customization, allowing you to truly personalize the Windows 11 Start experience.

Conclusion

Customizing the Start button and menu in Windows 11 allows you to tailor your workspace to suit your needs and preferences. From adjusting its position on the taskbar to customizing its appearance, adding folders, and even tweaking the power settings, the Start button can be transformed into a powerful and efficient tool for navigating your system.

By following this guide, you’ll have full control over how the Start menu looks and functions, enabling a more personalized, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing desktop experience. Whether you prefer a minimalist setup or a Start menu filled with shortcuts to your favorite apps and files, Windows 11 provides the flexibility to make it your own.