Microsoft has succumbed to the fierce criticism that accompanied the Windows 8 flop by bringing back, in Windows 10, a Start menu not necessarily full screen, more similar to that of Windows 7.
The application screen has therefore been eliminated (although it can still be used) and the list of programs has returned, which has now been combined with that of the applications.
With each update of Windows 10, the start menu has been modified and improved following the advice of the users themselves, in order to make it more customizable according to the use that is made of it and the taste of each person.
As we will see, in customizing the Start menu of Windows 10 you can then organize the programs into groups, categories and folders, you can order the apps and programs to see them all in a list, putting the most used ones among your favorites and adding the links to the Windows settings screens.
1) Zoom in and resize Start menus, icons and buttons
When you open the boot menu by pressing on the Windows 10 flag there are, in the default setting, three columns : the left one with the buttons to access the system settings, manage the account, turn off the PC and to open the folders personal, the second with the list of installed programs and the one on the right with the icons of programs and applications .
The menu can be resized, enlarged and reduced using the mouse, placing the cursor on the edges.
You can then customize the area of the tile section to make it occupy more or less space on the screen when it is opened.
Even the program icons can be reduced in size to make a more compact menu or enlarged to see them better.
Just press on it with the right mouse button and then choose the size from the Resize menu.
It will be noticed for applications such as news or Email that tiles, if enlarged, show a preview of their content which can also be disabled.
To shrink the menu even further, you can hide the column with the list of all apps and programs.
To do this, go to Settings> Personalization> Start and turn off the Show list of apps switch.
In this menu you can also disable the option to show recent apps (you can use it only if you leave the list of apps active).
If you hide the app list, it can always be displayed by pressing the third button from the top, just below the one with three lines in the leftmost column of the menu.
In the Start settings it is also possible to compact the menu by deactivating the " show more panels " option.
2) Disable automatic updating of app tiles
If you are not interested in seeing emails or weather conditions in real time in the Start menu, you can disable the function of animated panels by clicking on the app icon and pressing on More .
3) Add programs and apps in the main section
To move a program to the right column of the Start menu and put it in an easy to reach position, if not yet present, just click on its icon with the right button and choose to add it to Start.
This can be done from the list of all apps or even from the desktop or any other folder.
A new program added to Start is placed at the bottom of the list and you will have to move it with the mouse upwards or in the appropriate group of icons.
You can also add a program to the Start menu that is not listed in the list of all applications, therefore any executable file that is located on the desktop or in another folder .
You can also add items like the Control Panel or any other folder to the start menu, always using the right button menu.
By right-clicking on a program or app, you can remove it from the Start if you prefer.
4) Create groups and folders of apps
The programs and icons on the main pane of the Start menu can be grouped into folders.
To create a group, just move one icon over the other.
When you press on a group of Apps, the icon changes to a down arrow to indicate that the included apps are clickable just below the folder.
With a click on the folder the text box also appears to give a name to the folder.
The Start menu icons can also be grouped into sections, without folders, creating dividers inside the box.
To create a new section, an icon must be moved to the lower part of the Start menu, making a row appear.
That row can be clicked to give the section a title.
5) Add buttons to the left column of the Start menu
The left column can be customized by adding or removing buttons.
Then go to Settings> Personalization> Start and click the link on the bottom right, the one with the writing: Choose the folders to be displayed in Start .
You can then add quick buttons to open the settings, folders, documents, videos, downloads and images, network resources and personal folder.
6) Customize colors
To choose the color of the Start menu, open Windows 10 Settings, in the Personalization> Colors section.
You can choose to have a color that varies depending on the desktop background or by selecting a specific one.
To color the Start menu and not see it in a dark color, it is important that the Start menu, application bar and notification center option is activated, under Show the main color on the following surfaces .
In the color section it is also possible to activate the transparency effect.
7) See the full screen Start menu as in Windows 8
If you liked the full-screen Start menu like Windows 8, you can have it by activating the Full-screen mode option for Start under Settings -> Personalization> Start .
8) Go back to the Windos 7 Start menu
If, on the other hand, you want to go back to the good old Start menu of Windows 7 with the programs listed all together, without reqaudri and without frills, you can get it by installing a program such as Classic Start (heir to Classic Shell) which, as explained and described in another article, Bring the Windows 7 Start Menu back to Windows 10
9) Other Settings for the Start menu.
The Start Menu Settings found under Settings -> Personalization> Start still have some options that can be activated or deactivated depending on the personalization:
- Show app suggestions (which are advertisements)
- Show recent items on the Start or the taskbar, convenient although it may not be the best option if the PC is shared with other people and we want to maintain some privacy.
10) Finally, remember that pressing the right mouse button on the Windows icon of the Start menu, you will find immediate access to the most important system administration and configuration.
This menu can also be customized, if desired, as explained in the guide on how to add links to the Windows 10 Start Menu WinX
The application screen has therefore been eliminated (although it can still be used) and the list of programs has returned, which has now been combined with that of the applications.
With each update of Windows 10, the start menu has been modified and improved following the advice of the users themselves, in order to make it more customizable according to the use that is made of it and the taste of each person.
As we will see, in customizing the Start menu of Windows 10 you can then organize the programs into groups, categories and folders, you can order the apps and programs to see them all in a list, putting the most used ones among your favorites and adding the links to the Windows settings screens.
1) Zoom in and resize Start menus, icons and buttons
When you open the boot menu by pressing on the Windows 10 flag there are, in the default setting, three columns : the left one with the buttons to access the system settings, manage the account, turn off the PC and to open the folders personal, the second with the list of installed programs and the one on the right with the icons of programs and applications .
The menu can be resized, enlarged and reduced using the mouse, placing the cursor on the edges.
You can then customize the area of the tile section to make it occupy more or less space on the screen when it is opened.
Even the program icons can be reduced in size to make a more compact menu or enlarged to see them better.
Just press on it with the right mouse button and then choose the size from the Resize menu.
It will be noticed for applications such as news or Email that tiles, if enlarged, show a preview of their content which can also be disabled.
To shrink the menu even further, you can hide the column with the list of all apps and programs.
To do this, go to Settings> Personalization> Start and turn off the Show list of apps switch.
In this menu you can also disable the option to show recent apps (you can use it only if you leave the list of apps active).
If you hide the app list, it can always be displayed by pressing the third button from the top, just below the one with three lines in the leftmost column of the menu.
In the Start settings it is also possible to compact the menu by deactivating the " show more panels " option.
2) Disable automatic updating of app tiles
If you are not interested in seeing emails or weather conditions in real time in the Start menu, you can disable the function of animated panels by clicking on the app icon and pressing on More .
3) Add programs and apps in the main section
To move a program to the right column of the Start menu and put it in an easy to reach position, if not yet present, just click on its icon with the right button and choose to add it to Start.
This can be done from the list of all apps or even from the desktop or any other folder.
A new program added to Start is placed at the bottom of the list and you will have to move it with the mouse upwards or in the appropriate group of icons.
You can also add a program to the Start menu that is not listed in the list of all applications, therefore any executable file that is located on the desktop or in another folder .
You can also add items like the Control Panel or any other folder to the start menu, always using the right button menu.
By right-clicking on a program or app, you can remove it from the Start if you prefer.
4) Create groups and folders of apps
The programs and icons on the main pane of the Start menu can be grouped into folders.
To create a group, just move one icon over the other.
When you press on a group of Apps, the icon changes to a down arrow to indicate that the included apps are clickable just below the folder.
With a click on the folder the text box also appears to give a name to the folder.
The Start menu icons can also be grouped into sections, without folders, creating dividers inside the box.
To create a new section, an icon must be moved to the lower part of the Start menu, making a row appear.
That row can be clicked to give the section a title.
5) Add buttons to the left column of the Start menu
The left column can be customized by adding or removing buttons.
Then go to Settings> Personalization> Start and click the link on the bottom right, the one with the writing: Choose the folders to be displayed in Start .
You can then add quick buttons to open the settings, folders, documents, videos, downloads and images, network resources and personal folder.
6) Customize colors
To choose the color of the Start menu, open Windows 10 Settings, in the Personalization> Colors section.
You can choose to have a color that varies depending on the desktop background or by selecting a specific one.
To color the Start menu and not see it in a dark color, it is important that the Start menu, application bar and notification center option is activated, under Show the main color on the following surfaces .
In the color section it is also possible to activate the transparency effect.
7) See the full screen Start menu as in Windows 8
If you liked the full-screen Start menu like Windows 8, you can have it by activating the Full-screen mode option for Start under Settings -> Personalization> Start .
8) Go back to the Windos 7 Start menu
If, on the other hand, you want to go back to the good old Start menu of Windows 7 with the programs listed all together, without reqaudri and without frills, you can get it by installing a program such as Classic Start (heir to Classic Shell) which, as explained and described in another article, Bring the Windows 7 Start Menu back to Windows 10
9) Other Settings for the Start menu.
The Start Menu Settings found under Settings -> Personalization> Start still have some options that can be activated or deactivated depending on the personalization:
- Show app suggestions (which are advertisements)
- Show recent items on the Start or the taskbar, convenient although it may not be the best option if the PC is shared with other people and we want to maintain some privacy.
10) Finally, remember that pressing the right mouse button on the Windows icon of the Start menu, you will find immediate access to the most important system administration and configuration.
This menu can also be customized, if desired, as explained in the guide on how to add links to the Windows 10 Start Menu WinX
