Restore the Windows 10 Start Menu in Windows 11 with TenStartMenuFixer
Many users have been testing Windows 11 ever since the Insider Program opened up for the Dev Channel a week ago. Not everyone likes the changes that the operating system brings.
One particular feature that has been drawing flak from users is the new Start Menu. The Centered Task bar icons and Start Menu, is something that Windows has never had before.
Update: it appears that Microsoft has removed the option to switch to the classic Windows 10 Start Menu layout in Windows 11 in the most recent build of the upcoming operating system. End
But there is another reason why users are crying foul, the interface of the menu. More specifically, it is the fact that the Windows 11 Start Menu lacks Tiles and the layout is completely different. Personally, I like the Start Menu for its minimal design, because you can replace the pinned icons with programs that you actually use. The All Apps button is sort of like an app-drawer to browse the list of installed apps, kind of like you see on smartphones.
TenStartMenuFixer is a freeware program that can bring back the Windows 10 Start Menu on Windows 11. Download and run the executable, and a command prompt window will open. It displays a couple of options. For now, press the number 1 key on your keyboard. A split-second later, the window will display a message that reads "Applying fix...Fix Successful". Close the window. You don't have to restart the computer, but you will need to log out of the operating system and sign back in for the change to take effect.
Now, TenStartMenuFixer doesn't change the alignment of the taskbar icons. But when you click the Start button, the menu opens on the left like on Windows 10, which is a little weird. You can use it as is, but if you want to move the Start button and the Taskbar icons to the left, Windows 11 has an option that can help. Right-click on the Taskbar and select Taskbar Settings. Scroll down to the Taskbar Behaviors section, click the caron button (downwards arrow) to expand the list. Click the menu next to Taskbar Alignment, and choose Left.
Regardless of whether you change the alignment or not, you will see that TenStartMenuFixer has replaced the Start Menu's design. Surprisingly, the Start Menu Tiles work as well, including Live Tiles. So they have not been removed in Windows 11. You can pin apps to the Start Menu, unpin them, create folders, etc., just like you can in the previous version of the operating system. The menu also has a recently added section to highlight newly installed applications. Even the right-click context menu is from the old version's design, which means you won't get the new options that are added in Windows 11.
If you change your mind, and want to restore the Windows 11 Start Menu, all you have to do is run TenStartMenuFixer again, and press the 2 key. The program does not change the icons of the Start button or the rest of the taskbar icons.
TenStartMenuFixer is technically a portable application, but it makes changes to the registry. This is good because even if Windows 11 doesn't offer us a choice to choose between the old and new Start Menu design, we can still use the one we like. Let's just hope Microsoft doesn't remove the old menu from being restored.
BTW… at 62yrs, i started using Dvorak. Learned something new; taught myself, thinks it’s the best thing since sliced bread. (Although i still use QWERTY on my iPhone.)
My problem with the Windows 11 start menu is NOT that it’s a new trick to be learned, it is simple: the menu, in particular, the program icon portion of it, is like one massive unorganized desktop. The tiles start menu allowed for, if nothing else, a logically organized, prioritized, hierarchical, visually accessible personalized layout of program icons. Now it’s gone.
The only reason to file is to be able to retrieve. The widows 11 start menu gives me the same shivers i get when i see a desktop with 50 to 150 icons in one massive mess.
Hello
I have Windows 11 Pro build 22000.co:release.210604-1628.
I have now tried the TenStartMenuFixer.exe program and nothing happened. Also the countless instructions with the Start_ShowClassicMenu do not work at all!
HOW do I bring back the start menu from Windows 10 to Windows 11???
Thanks and greetings
Hi, same here, not working:
Edition Windows 11 Pro
Version 21H2
OS build 22000.282
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22000.318.0
Not interested in Windows 11. Hoping 12 will be more like Windows 7 without all the nonsense.
Bleeping Computer is reporting that Microsoft has removed this hack from Windows 11
Microsoft removes Window 11 hack to enable Windows 10 Start Menu
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-removes-window-11-hack-to-enable-windows-10-start-menu/
SOS, a third party needs to step in and re-create the 7-10 taskbar including taskbar on top, etc.
Bleeping Computer is reporting that Microsoft has removed this hack:
“Microsoft removes Window 11 hack to enable Windows 10 Start Menu”
Microsoft removed a registry hack in the latest preview build that allowed Windows 11 users to revert to the “Classic” Windows 10 Start Menu.
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-removes-window-11-hack-to-enable-windows-10-start-menu/
Everything on Windows is getting ridiculous. The lastest being this dick-move with the taskbar on 11 and thing like the never-ending print nightmare saga on the rest from 10 down to you-name-the-version.
Basically MS is selling a can of worms. If you buy Windows and keep it wrapped, you are safe. Now, once you unwrapped/opened/installed, the “fun” begins and it only ends when you smash your PC with a hammer, cry, or desensitize forever. No, installing other OS is not an option. Otherwise, you will be already there.
+1
Each one has expressed their thoughts rightfully.
I’m not that eloquent.
All I can say is that M$ is, or wanting to go down-
spiraling in terms of sanity… maybe not, don’t know
the shadow of, in terms of f/sucking dollars whatever.
(Well, this k guy has his noggin. Which could work,
properly.)
Just my wrangled figuring on this (should be happy)
early morning sunshine.
All best wishes to everyone!
^ghoti>
it’s windows 8 all over again! we really do live in clown world.
> do you get confused by change?
I don’t have any such learning disabilities, hence I’m always open to learn new things that might server me better.
I never understood the complaints about the Windows 8.1 – 10 Start Menu. Incomparably more flexible solution than in other versions.
You’re forgetting – Windows 8.1 didn’t have a Start Menu. Windows 8 didn’t even have a Start Button, which they made a great fuss of bringing back in 8.1 – but it didn’t DO anything except load the Start Screen. They didn’t bring anything like a Start Menu back until Windows 10.
It took me years to change over to Windows 8,10 style tile start menu from Windows 7 start menu, now that I’m used to a tile menu Microsoft is making me relearn how to use the Windows 11 start menu? No I’ll stay with 10 till Microsoft comes to their senses maybe in Windows 12?
In the release notes to the latest Winaero Tweaker update, I recall reading that the only change was an additional tweak allowing users to restore the Windows 10 menu in Windows 11. I assume Winaero might have to, uh, keep tweaking that tweak until Windows 11 is finalized.
DISCLAIMER: I don’t have Windows 11 installed on anything, so I haven’t tried the new tweak and can’t vouch for it. In Windows 10, I use Open-Shell.
Great application thank you
We see history repeating itself over and over
Microsoft changing things for no other reason than ‘change for change sake’
I am still waiting for the compelling reason to upgrade from Windows 7. None of these Windows 11 features improve productivity
In fact the changes just make things harder to find
Don’t be hoodwinked
Having upgraded to windows 11 a while back from windows 10 classic shell works perfect especially if you have saved your menu configuration ,but i wish Microsoft would stop playing around with the start Menu and work on more that’s underneath the hood
The downward spiral of Windows continues. It seems the same idiots who were working on Windows 10 are also working on 11. By the time 11 is released there will be one big button on the taskbar that can only open Edge. There will be no user customizability.
Now there’s irony for ya! “restore windows 10 start menu” oh my sweet lord… this is how low we have gone..
Spend years learning something and you have a strong habit using things ‘as they are’. It makes it difficult to shift to something new.
Grow up with the dvorak keyboard would not be a problem. Learning it after many years of qwerty would be incredibly difficult. Which you prefer would depend which you learnt. That doesn’t explain why Microsoft keeps changing layout!
If PhoneScreen Or TouchScreen Then
CentreAlign
Else
LeftAlign
End If
We all know this won’t last forever. Microsoft will remove it the same way they removed the option to copy over Windows 7 files onto Windows 8 in order to restore the start menu.
Also the Windows 10 start menu wasn’t that great, it is as bad as the one in Windows 11, just different kind of bad. The only good start menus of the new Windows era were the ones of XP and 7. And the latter is available through 3rd party programs like StartIsBack++ or OpenShell.
The Windows 10 Start Menu is a complete abomination. There isn’t any way in the world that I’d want to revert the Windows 11 Start Menu to it. In fact, I use the freeware program “Open-Shell” (formerly known as “Classic Shell”) at https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu to restore it to earlier versions (I prefer the XP version) of the Start Menu. Now that Windows 11 is going to be coming out though, one of the Open-Shell authors has pointed out several changes to the OS that will cause problems with the program (https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu/discussions/745).
I absolutely hate all W11’s visual/internal changes
now.
Why are M$ doing this? simply confounds me.
I’d stay with W7 (settings) on W10 (OS), having
been forced out of the former.
+1
I am with John C. all the way. Running a virtual Windows 11; moved taskbar icons to left. But Open Shell doesn’t work for me. If I were forced to choose, Windows 11 start menu is better for me than the Windows 10 start menu.
I don’t know why Microsoft is trying so hard to get rid of their Iconic Start Menu.
Its the starting point of Desktop. you can give the options, left, middle right, wherever the user feels comfortable.
The marketing department said, “we need a fresh look and feel to attract more sales”.
If they didn’t change it people would realize Win 11 is just Win 10 with more TPM.
Come on Microsoft, stop “fixing” what ain’t broke. Stop ruining what has worked for decades.
Who would want this trash downgraded OS anyway? Insider builds are total crap so far. Every week we have tiny minor tweaks that break and hide more useful features that were part of Windows for years. Nothing for the new taskbar has been done yet. The new right click menu looks like transparent garbage that you can’t see because it’s bleeding through your wallpaper. Who the hell is asking for this entertainment widget crap? I don’t see that part of the feedback hub. While there’s million useful feedback that they could be implementing right now.
We got fools like Jen and Branden on the Microsoft engineering team that’s giving critical feedback the deaf ear, only listening to Windows Phone fanboys. These fools want to turn Windows into some useless smartphone OS. They want to break 29 years of Windows workflow for people who want to be productive just so they can please fanboys.
They can keep this crappy OS. Windows 10 LTSC will be fine till 2029. Maybe by then these dense people at Microsoft will be fired.
If ur using windows 11 prefer start menu, start menu reviver works then you can run classic menu, also nexus also works