In the realm of Windows 11, the Start interface has undergone a transformation, emerging as a streamlined, centered floating window rather than a traditional menu or full-screen experience. Users can access this new design effortlessly by clicking the Start button on the Taskbar or utilizing keyboard shortcuts such as WINKEY or Ctrl + Esc.
Keyboard shortcut: You can also open Start by tapping WINKEY or by Ctrl + Esc.
Defaults
The Start interface now presents a simplified user experience with several key features:
- Search: A prominently placed Search box at the top allows users to initiate searches for apps, settings, documents, and more without needing to select it first. Simply open Start and begin typing to transition into the Windows Search experience, complete with filters for apps, documents, the web, settings, folders, or photos.
- Pinned: This customizable grid showcases shortcuts to frequently used apps. While Microsoft and your PC manufacturer may pre-populate this section, users have the flexibility to delete or relocate existing shortcuts and add their own. An option to toggle between an expanded or contracted view is also available.
Tip: Right-clicking app shortcuts in the Pinned section reveals a context menu with additional options like “Run as administrator” and “App settings.”
- Recommended: This area displays recently installed apps, accessed documents, images, and suggested apps that can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store. Users can configure this section to show only specific recommendations if desired.
- All: A comprehensive display of all installed apps, organized by category by default, with options to switch to alphabetical Grid or List views.
- Account manager: Located at the bottom left, this button shows your user profile picture and name, providing access to account-related notifications and a “Sign out” option.
- Folder buttons: Although none are shown by default, users can configure Start to display system app and folder buttons, including Settings, File Explorer, Documents, Downloads, Music, and others.
- Power: This button in the lower right corner offers quick access to Lock, Sleep, Shutdown, and Restart options.
- Mobile device: If configured, Windows 11 can access content and capabilities from a smartphone or other mobile device via the Phone Link app, with a toggle for visibility on the right side of Start.
Customize Start
Customization options for Start are available directly through the interface, while others require navigation to the Settings app under Personalization > Start.
Tip: For quicker access to Start settings, right-click an empty area of Start and select “Start settings” from the context menu.
Among the customization options, users can:
Move Start (and the Taskbar icons) to the left side of the display
By default, Start and Taskbar items are centered, but users can opt for a left-aligned layout reminiscent of earlier Windows versions. To do this, navigate to Settings, then Personalize > Taskbar, and adjust the Taskbar alignment option from “Center” to “Left.”
Customize Search
Windows Search is accessible through Start, the Search Taskbar item, and File Explorer. Users can tailor its functionality in the Settings app under Privacy & security > Search.
Tip: Access search settings quickly by opening Start, clicking the Search box, selecting “Options” in the Search pane, and then clicking “Search settings.”
Windows Search options to consider customizing
- Show search highlights: Disabling this option removes distracting content suggestions from the Search box results.
- Search my accounts: By default, Windows Search includes content from your Microsoft account; this can be disabled.
- Search the contents of online files: This feature can be useful for OneDrive users but can be disabled otherwise.
- Find my files: Users can customize indexed locations for local file searches, with options to index the entire drive or specific folders.
Tip: Search indexing enhances file search speed by creating a database of files on your PC, although it can be resource-intensive initially.
Configure Windows Search to only search files on your computer
To limit search results to local files, disable the following options in Search settings:
- Show search highlights
- Search my accounts
- Search the contents of online files
Learn more: For further details on Windows Search, refer to the Search chapter.
Customize the Pinned section
Users can directly customize the Pinned section within Start:
- Pin an app shortcut: To add an app shortcut, select it from anywhere in the system and choose “Pin to Start.”
- Arbitrarily move an app shortcut: Drag any item within the Pinned section to change its location.
- Move an app shortcut to a specific location: Right-click a pinned app shortcut for options to move it to the front, left, or right.
- Unpin an app shortcut: Remove any shortcut by right-clicking it and selecting “Unpin from Start.”
- Create a folder: Right-click the Pinned section to create a new app folder or drag one app shortcut onto another to form a folder.
Tip: You can rearrange app shortcuts within folders just as you do in the Pinned section.
Customize the Recommended section and remove recommendations
Customization of the Recommended section occurs in Start settings, though individual recommendations can also be removed directly in Start.
Customize Recommended
To adjust what appears in Recommended, navigate to Start settings in the Settings app:
- Show recently added apps: Keeping this enabled helps users find recently installed apps easily.
- Show recommended files in Start, recent files in File Explorer, and items in Jump Lists: This option is enabled by default, but individual configuration is not available.
- Show recommendations for tips, shortcuts, new apps, and more: This is often seen as advertising and can be disabled.
Remove individual recommendations
As users interact with Windows 11, items will populate the Recommended section. To remove unwanted items, right-click any entry and select “Remove from list.”
Customize the All section
The All section displays all installed apps and offers three layout choices. Users can toggle the “Show most used apps” option to display a “Most used” group in Grid and List views. The available views include:
- Category: The default view categorizes apps into types, opening into a folder-like display upon selection.
- Grid: This layout maximizes screen space by displaying apps horizontally, with a “Most used” group at the top if enabled.
- List: Similar to Grid view, but presents apps vertically, also featuring a “Most used” group if enabled.
Customize the Account manager
Customization options for the Account manager are limited to enabling or disabling account-related notifications in Start settings.
Add folders to Start
Users can enhance Start by adding system apps and folders through the Start settings interface. This can be done by accessing the Folders page in Start settings and selecting desired links.
Add the Mobile device slice to Start and configure how it works
To utilize the Mobile device slice, users must follow several steps, including enabling access to mobile device content in Settings and configuring the Phone Link app. Once set up, the Mobile devices slice will appear in Start, allowing for further customization of notifications and displayed content.
Learn more: While the initial setup may be intricate, further information can be found in the Phone Link chapter.
For those seeking quick access to legacy management interfaces, right-clicking the Start button on the Taskbar reveals the Quick link menu, providing a streamlined approach to system tools.
Keyboard shortcut: The Quick link menu can also be accessed using WINKEY + X.
