How to replace the Windows 11 Start menu with Stardock's Start 11

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Don't similar the Windows 11 Start menu? Consider a Start paper alternate specified arsenic Stardock's Start 11. You tin spell backmost to the Start paper styles of older versions of Windows.

The Windows 11 Start paper jettisons the acquainted Windows 10 layout with a little acquainted and much stark approach. The caller paper shows lone pinned and recommended apps and requires an other measurement to entree each your installed apps. Further, the Windows 11 paper lacks the acquainted flexibility and customization options recovered successful the Windows 10 menu. People who usage lone a fewer apps whitethorn find the caller paper workable. Those of america who trust connected a batch of apps and similar to customize the paper volition apt beryllium frustrated.

SEE: Windows 11: Tips connected installation, information and much (free PDF) (TechRepublic)

For anyone who dislikes the caller Start menu, determination are alternatives. And 1 of those is Stardock's Start 11. Priced astatine $4.99, Start 11 volition reconstruct the accepted Start paper from erstwhile versions of Windows and fto you customize the look, layout, colors, and different elements. Here's however it works.

In Windows 11, browse to the Stardock Start 11 website. Click the fastener for Get the Beta. Normally, the programme sells for $4.99. But if you've utilized a erstwhile mentation for Windows 10, you should beryllium capable to bargain it for $3.99. Complete the transaction and download the program. If you privation to effort earlier you bargain with a 30-day proceedings instead, click the nexus astatine the website for Download the latest update.

The archetypal surface that pops up asks whether you privation the Taskbar near aligned oregon halfway aligned. Make your prime and click OK. The adjacent surface asks which benignant Start paper you prefer. Choose among Windows 7 style, Modern style, Windows 10 benignant and Windows 11 style. If you similar the accepted two-column Start menu, you'll privation to opt for Windows 7 benignant oregon Modern style. Click the dropdown arrow for the benignant you select. Now you tin further customize the look and layout by selecting a compact oregon grid layout. Any enactment you prime appears successful the preview model truthful you tin spot however it volition look (Figure A).

Figure A

Next, click the introduction for Start button. To customize the Start fastener beyond its default appearance, marque definite the Taskbar is left-aligned and past crook connected the power here. Click the dropdown paper to look for a circumstantial icon image. Click the Download fastener to find a greater assortment of Start fastener images from the web. Select an representation you similar (Figure B).

Figure B

Click the introduction for Taskbar. Here, you tin alteration the look and texture of the Taskbar, find what happens erstwhile you right-click connected it, and alteration the size and position. You tin adjacent power the presumption erstwhile moving a dual-monitor setup, a script that different hasn't worked decently for galore Windows 11 users (Figure C).

Figure C

Click the Search entry. At this screen, you tin customize the Search diagnostic to find erstwhile and however it should enactment (Figure D).

Figure D

Next, click the introduction for Control. This surface helps you determine erstwhile the Start 11 paper appears and erstwhile the Windows 11 Start paper appears. For example, you tin acceptable the enactment truthful that clicking the Start fastener triggers the Start 11 paper but pressing the Windows cardinal connected your keyboard triggers the Windows 11 paper (Figure E). When done, adjacent the Start 11 Settings window.

Figure E

Click the Start fastener to spot and usage the Start 11 menu. If you chose the accepted two-column display, pinned items look connected the left, portion circumstantial Windows locations and features look connected the right. Click the All Programs introduction connected the near to spot each installed programs. From here, you tin negociate and customize the Start paper itself. Make definite you're successful All Programs mode. Right-click connected a circumstantial app successful the menu. Depending connected the app you chose, you tin uninstall it, delete it, rename it, and pin oregon unpin it successful the Start paper (Figure F).

Figure F

To much efficaciously negociate and customize the Start menu, right-click connected the introduction for All Programs. Choose Open to unfastened 1 window. Then take Open All Users to unfastened different window. Doing truthful brings you to the 2 Programs locations successful File Explorer wherever you tin make and delete folders and determination shortcuts into circumstantial folders (Figure G).

Figure G

Finally, to customize Start 11 inactive further oregon alteration immoderate of the customizations, spell to the Stardock folder successful the Start paper and prime Start 11. That volition unfastened the aforesaid Settings surface that appeared erstwhile you archetypal acceptable up the software.