Windows 10 Tip: Customize the Start Menu

[allheart55 Cindy E]

On traditional PCs, Microsoft will provide a new Start menu rather than the full-screen Start screen that debuted in Windows 8. This move will be welcomed by all kinds of users, but the new Start menu isn't exactly like the one you may remember from Windows 7. Here's quick guide to customizing it to work the way you want.

 

Pin to Start

 

Items you pin to Start are pinned to the right, Modern side of the Start screen. That way, if you switch back to the Start screen, they're still available. But this may surprise or disappoint some people, but the quick links feature (described below) somewhat replaces this feature.

 

Customize quick links

 

The available sections, or areas, on the left side of the Start menu have changed since Windows. Instead of the pins area at the top, you will now find your user and power options and then a list of quick links: Documents, Pictures, PC Settings and File Explorer.

 

 

The big question is how or if you can customize this area.

 

To remove a quick link item, right-click it and choose "Remove from this list" to remove it.

 

I don't see obvious way to add an item, and my guess is that there is a hidden folder containing these shortcuts under your user profile, similar to the Links folder (which populates the Favorites list in File Explorer). However, you can add items to quick links: Just drag in an app shortcut (or whatever) and position it wherever you want.

 

Customize the MRU

 

Below quick links is the Most Recently Used (MRU) list, which is auto-populated with those apps you use most often. For this reason, you can't add items to the MRU. But you can remove them easily enough: Just right-click one and select "Remove from this list."

 

Note: This tip works with the "Frequent" list you see next to desktop applications in the Start menu too.

 

Uninstall Modern and desktop apps

 

As with the Windows 8 Start screen, you can right-click any Modern app anywhere in the Start menu and select "Uninstall" from the pop-up menu to remove that app from your PC. It works with desktop applications too, as in Windows 8.

 

Customize the pins area

 

The area on the right side of the Start menu—which resembles the Windows 8 Start screen and displays live tiles—can be customized much like the Windows 8 Start screen. You don't have every Windows 8 Start screen personalization at your beck and call, but you can resize and reposition tiles much as you did in Windows 8.

 

Change the Start menu color

 

To change the color of the Start menu—and the taskbar and window borders along with it—right-click a blank area of the Start menu and choose Personalize.

 

 

Change how the Start menu works

 

To change Start menu settings, right-click a blank area of the Start menu and choose "Properties." The Taskbar and Start Menu Properties window will appear. From here, you can navigate to the Start tab and switch to the Start screen and configure various Start menu features.

 

 

Be sure to check out Windows 10 Tip: Customize the Start Menu (Part 2) too!

 

EDIT: To Add original link. http://winsupersite.com/windows-10/windows-10-tip-customize-start-menu

Edited January 13, 2015 by allheart55 (Cindy E)

[Rich-M]

Well the default is certainly not what was promised and is a huge turnoff form me even though it appears you can alter it. I wonder of the Start Menu third party choices will remain in use here preferable. Sure looks it to me but I am not about to play with this thing yet anyway.

[AWS]

I've been messing around with the start menu. It works much the same as the metro screen did. I've put all my most used programs as tiles. It sure has uncluttered my taskbar

[Rich-M]

Sounds super heavy start menu to me then. I have always used power keys on keyboards and fkeys for most of my most common programs so my desktops have very little on them so I can see what I am looking at and best utilize the full screen. I just don't understand why I would want to work opposite to that. And cluttered desktops have always mean slower boo time because all that has to be ready to go before Windows is free to move.

[Rich-M]

I guess I really do need to look at this thing though I dread it.

[allheart55 Cindy E]

I dreaded having to install it but now that I have, I'm having a bit of fun playing around with it. It seems to me, to be a combination of both Win 7 & 8 with a few extras here and there.

[Rich-M]

You know I am just so annoyed with their direction I think I might do better finally learning how to run Linux or break down and buy a Mac. I just don't care about Windows any more the more I think about it, time I move to Apple. I really love my iPhone. I bought a Windows tablet and have used it 3 times and find myself doing more and more on my iPhone and wish I had bought an iPad which maybe should be my next step.

[Rich-M]

Start menu is fine but I would not add tiles that would make this thing move real slow I would think. I just added My Pc, Network and Control Panel as I use these all the time from Start Menu and left the Tile mess alone. I may whittle that down a bit.

[Rich-M]

OK I see how to add Control Panel, My PC and Network to the right side of Start Menu, just right click and go "Add to Start Menu"...I wish those boxes (tiles) could be smaller though. There has to be a way.

[Rich-M]

Right click "resize" but if you make them small then it hides the label so some small some "medium" so I can see what they are.