Windows 11 has certainly made waves in the tech community, yet many users find themselves longing for the familiar comfort of Windows 10’s Start menu. Despite Microsoft’s ongoing efforts to enhance the Start menu experience, it seems that the nostalgia for the previous version’s flexibility and customization remains strong among users.
Revamping the Start Menu Experience
For those who feel the same, there’s a silver lining: the third-party application Windhawk offers a variety of modifications that can breathe new life into your Windows 11 experience. Among its many features, one standout mod allows you to recreate the Windows 10 Start menu’s convenience while still enjoying the sleek aesthetics of Windows 11.
One of the most appreciated elements of Windows 10 was its ability to display both pinned tiles and a comprehensive list of apps on a single screen, eliminating the need for unnecessary clicks. In contrast, Windows 11’s Start menu defaults to a layout that prioritizes pinned apps and recommendations, requiring users to navigate through additional clicks to access the full list of applications. However, with the Windhawk mod, users can enjoy a more intuitive layout: pinned apps are centered, the complete app list is conveniently located to the left, and recommended content is displayed to the right. This streamlined approach minimizes clicks and enhances overall usability.
To transform your Start menu layout, follow these straightforward steps:
- Download and install Windhawk from the official website.
- Locate the “Windows 11 Start Menu Styler” mod and proceed with the installation.
- Navigate to the “Advanced” tab and paste the code from the “Modern Start Menu” section. For those who prefer a layout without the Recommended section, use the code from the “Start Menu without Recommended” section.
- Click Save, then Load.
- Open the Start menu and relish in the newfound convenience of your customized layout.
What sets this mod apart is its high level of customization, allowing users to tweak nearly every aspect of the Start menu, provided they can decipher the parameters and values involved. Even in its default state, however, it presents a significant improvement over the standard Windows 11 Start menu, assuming users are comfortable with third-party modifications.
