The Windows Start menu is a key feature of the operating system, providing quick access to your apps, settings, and files. It includes a powerful search function and allows you to pin your favorite apps, folders, and websites for easy access. Customization options let you organize your pins into groups and change the Start menu layout to fit your preferences.
The Start menu is organized into six main areas:
- Search: Quickly find apps, files, and settings by typing keywords
- Pins: Pinned apps, files, folders and websites in a grid format for easy access. All apps shows an alphabetical list of all installed applications
- Recommendations: Recently added and frequently used apps, plus recently opened files
- All: Installed apps that can be viewed in category, grid, or list view.
- Account: Profile icon for account settings, switching accounts, or signing out. You can also add shortcuts for easy access to common folders. The power button lets you lock, sleep, shut down, or restart your device
- Mobile device companion: See your phone content like messages, calls, and notifications via Phone Link directly from the Start menu.
Here are common customizations for the Start menu. Expand each section to learn more.
Pin and unpin apps or shortcuts
There are different ways to pin apps or shortcuts to the Start menu. For example:
- In the Search
box on the taskbar or on the Start menu, type the name of the app you want to pin. Right-click on the app, then select Pin to Start
- From Explorer, right-click on a folder and select Pin to Start
- For websites, open Edge and navigate to the website you want to pin. Then select the more options menu
> More tools > Pin to Start
Unpin an item from the Start menu
To remove a pinned app or shortcut from the Start menu, right-click on it and select Unpin from Start
.
Rearrange and group the pins
Whenever you want to change the order of pins on the Start menu, drag the pin from its current position to a different one.
Organize your pins into folders
Grouping pins into folders in Start menu helps keep your apps organized, reduces clutter, and makes it easier to find and access related apps quickly. It also allows for better space management and personalization, giving your Start menu a cleaner and more efficient layout.
- To create a folder, drag one pinned item over another to create a folder. The folder will automatically be created, and you can rename it
- To add more pins to the folder, drag them into it
- To remove a pin from a folder, open the folder and drag the pin out of it
- Once only one pin is left, the folder is removed from the Start menu
Customize the layout
You can customize the Start menu layout in several ways.
The Pinned and All sections remember your last used view. For example, if you prefer to see all your pinned apps by default, select Show all and the section will remain expanded the next time you open Start.
The same applies to the All section. You can choose from different views for your installed apps, including Category, Grid, and List. You can switch between these views at any time, and Start will remember your last selection.
Additionally, users can unpin apps and/or toggle off different providers to Start Recommended. If users unpin everything or toggle off all recommended providers in Settings, then those sections collapse and users will not see them.
Customize the account area
You can choose which folders appear next to the power button on the Start menu. These folders can include common locations such as Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, Videos, Network, and Personal folder.
Simply toggle the switches for the folders you want to add. This customization allows you to quickly access frequently used folders directly from the Start menu, enhancing your workflow and making navigation more efficient.
Select
Start, right-click on the bottom of the Start menu and select Start settings or use the following shortcut:
Select Folders then toggle to On all the folders that you want to appear next to the Power button
Move Start to the side
Typically, the Start menu is centered, but you can change the alignment to the side of the taskbar.
Right-click on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings, or use the following shortcut:
Expand Taskbar behaviors and select your desired option for Taskbar alignment
To learn more, see Customize the Taskbar in Windows.
Note
- Support for Windows 10 has ended on October 14, 2025
- After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. Your PC will still work, but we recommend moving to Windows 11.
- Learn more
The Windows Start menu is a key feature of the operating system, providing quick access to your apps, settings, and files. It includes a powerful search function and allows you to pin your favorite apps, folders, and websites for easy access. Customization options let you resize tiles, organize them into groups, and change the appearance of the Start menu to fit your preferences.
The Start menu is organized into different areas:
- Account: Profile icon for account settings, switching accounts, or signing out. You can also add shortcuts for easy access to common folders. The power button lets you shut down, restart, or put your device to sleep
- App list: shows recently added apps on top and an alphabetical list of all installed applications
- Pinned tiles: this area features live tiles and shortcuts to frequently used apps, websites, and folders. Tiles can be resized, moved, and grouped into named sections for better organization.
Here are common customizations for the Start menu. Expand each section to learn more.
Windows 10 offers flexibility in configuring the Start menu, allowing you to either resize it by dragging its edges or set it to full screen. This customization helps you tailor the Start menu to your specific needs and preferences.
Opting for a full-screen Start menu can be beneficial if you prefer a more immersive and organized interface. This layout provides a larger canvas, making it easier to access all your apps and tiles at once. It's especially useful in tablet mode, where a touch-friendly interface enhances usability.
Change the size of the Start by dragging the edges:
- Open the Start menu by selecting the Start button
- Position your cursor on the top or side border of the Start menu until it changes to a double-headed arrow
- Select and drag the border to resize the Start menu to your preferred height and width
Change the size of the Start by making it full screen:
In the
Settings app on your Windows device select Personalization > Start or use the following shortcut:
Toggle the option Use Start full screen to On
Pin and unpin apps or shortcuts
There are different ways to pin apps or shortcuts to the Start menu. For example:
- In the Search
box on the taskbar, type the name of the app you want to pin. Right-click on the app, then select Pin to Start
- From Explorer, right-click on a folder and select Pin to Start
- For websites, open Edge and navigate to the website you want to pin. Then select the more options menu
> More tools > Pin to Start
To remove a tile from the Start menu, right-click on it and select Unpin from Start
.
Rearrange and group the tiles
Whenever you want to change the order of tiles on the Start menu, drag a tile from its current position to a different one.
Organize your tiles into folders
Grouping tiles into folders in Start menu helps keep your apps organized, reduces clutter, and makes it easier to find and access related apps quickly. It also allows for better space management and personalization, giving your Start menu a cleaner and more efficient layout.
- To create a folder, drag one tile over another to create a folder. The folder will automatically be created, and you can rename it
- To add more tiles to the folder, drag them into it
- To remove a tile from a folder, open the folder and drag the tile out of it
- To delete a folder, move all the tiles out of it
Hide app list
By hiding the app list, you can achieve a cleaner Start menu appearance. This can be useful if you prefer a minimalist look or if you primarily use pinned tiles for quick access to your most-used apps. Additionally, it can help reduce visual clutter, making it easier to focus on the apps and shortcuts that matter most to you.
To hide the app list in the Start menu, follow these steps:
- In the
Settings app on your Windows device
select Personalization > Start or use the following shortcut:
- Toggle to On the option Show app list in Start menu
Customize the account area
You can choose which folders appear above the power button on the Start menu. These folders can include common locations such as Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, Videos, Network, and Personal folder.
This customization allows you to quickly access frequently used folders directly from the Start menu, enhancing your workflow and making navigation more efficient.
- In the
Settings app on your Windows device
select Personalization > Start or use the following shortcut:
- Select Choose which folders appear on Start then toggle to On all the folders that you want to appear next to the Power button
