Alternatives To The Windows 11 Start Menu
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- Опубліковано 4 жов 2024
- The Windows 11 start menu is very basic. So in this video I'm going to show you some alternatives that might be more useful for many people. Also, some people simply might not like the look of the Windows 11 start menu and might want to try something different. Now you can.
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#Windows11 #StartMenu #Tech
If you use the Windows 11 style menu in Start11, it gives the option to remove the recommendation section and arrange the pinned apps into a group. You cannot do this with the start menu that comes with Windows 11. It can also make the Start Menu transparent
Cool name!
Just saying.
Good to know.
Aren't the folders that you can arrange pinned apps into, counting as groups for you? Like on an Android phone, I just drag one app onto another and it creates a group. Which I can then rename.
This is great to know, this was the only thing really stopping from updating to Windows 11. I hate that when I set the behaviour to show more apps than recommended, and I even empty the recommended section it still shows the empty section. It's such a waste of space.
@@CyberCPUhave they fixed the bug where u need to install it again after every windows upate?
I love the way how you explain Windows 11 topics without hate, but with optimistic criticism 😅🤣
Yeah, speaking to actual 'users' who are non techie, they love the win 10/11 paradigm of search for everything.... Us power users can't stand it lol
Glad you enjoyed it.
The only thing I use windows for is testing malware...
The best Windows 11 tweak I've found is staying on Windows 10 and I am not the only one that think about this.
For now, that's what I recommend as well. However, lots of people use Windows 11 now and Windows 10 looses support in 2025.
Also I’m buying a notebook without drivers for windows 10 :(( sadly
@@xKhaozs what laptop?(brand and model)it is very rare that computer hardware factories make devices that support exclusively a single OS, probably the manufacturer of the laptop have drivers for windows 10 on its page
@@xKhaozsyour drivers sould install automacly if its a network connection
@@CyberCPUWindows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 21H2 has support from Microsoft until 2032 and can be permanently HWID activated using MAS.
Open-Shell is in active development, the latest version is 4.4.190 released today. You just have to go to the releases page and you will find it there. The version you installed is the latest non beta release from 2022. Also, Shift+Click brings up the original Windows menu, no need to click on the edge of the menu icon.
Good too know.
Please note, 4.4.190 is a pre-release version. It's still more or less stable, but can have a few bugs or glitches.
Thanks for this!
@@CyberCPU hello can u help please
i have problem when i point on icons on desktop the details not showing like size or video time any fix for this thx
windows would be out of my house if open-shell did not exist. It is the last resort to windows sanity :)
StartAllBack is pretty cool. It adds full dark mode to legacy stuff like the control panel. And it's smaller than Start11 (And you can put folders into the programs section unlike ExplorerPatcher)
Yeah is it before 22h2 or after.
The thing with StartAllBack to keep in mind is that it doesn't work with Stardock WindowBlinds. I tried it once and it just keeped crashing the explorer until I stopped either StartAllBack or WindowBlinds.
@@markusTegelane They even said that they wouldn't give StartAllBack compatibility, because they're a competitor. Even though from what I remember, WindowBlinds and StartIsBack were compatible in Windows 10. Seems like a sabotage
@@UltraCenterHQ oh wow, I didn't know that
don't think I'm going to be buying any software from them ever again, just because of that
Does it make control panel dark mode for windows 10 too? Or is it only for 11?
I LOVE StartAll Back. It has great Taskbar settings and it brings back Toolsbars to W11.
yea it just should be free like the shell version.
I use Start 11 Modern. Very space efficient on my ultra-compact 10" laptop, love being able to scroll through all programs without opening another submenu, just like 10.
I always use Classic Shell. What I like especially about that and Open-shell is that it has a fair selection of skins and it actually ADDS a start menu next to (or over) the original one. (If it overlaps the original one you can use _Controls_ to add keybinds to choose which menu to open) On Windows 11 I use the Classic Shell menu to access my games; on the default one I access other apps (that aren't already pinned to the taskbar).
why would you use classic shell?
it's extremely outdated
@@dk4kja8 They already told you why..
Oh god i'm so stupid@@raincadeify
@@dk4kja8 lol. Glad I could help.
Appreciated more than you know. I only just now realized windows 7 was old and find myself utterly confused by windows 10 or 11. The start menu re-skin/modification helps immensely
I'm trying to find out more about the telemetry aspect and how to curtail that
Glad it helped.
@@CyberCPU very much
Love your channel, been working on computers since windows 3.11. very failure with dos prompts and commands here. I'm 60 years old and have no problems with learning new things you describe on your page. thanks for explaining everything the way you do.. GREAT JOB!
Forgot how good Windows 7 was.
Windows 7 interface was my favorit with the Aero.
Did you see the video I did on that a month or so ago?
I like the look of Windows 98 SE and even XP (minus some of the cartoonish stuff), best. I have used Classic Shell since it came out. Love it.
Have not swapped over to Win 11 yet but watching your videos to learn as much as I can! Thanks
I paid for Open shell about 10 years ago. I love it
Do you mean you donated? I don't believe they have a way to pay for it.
I already run Open Shell as a better start menu (and Explorer Patcher on my wife's Windows 11 system). So I'm mainly here because I loved the thumbnail. Timestamps would be helpful. Thanks for another great video.
I installed OpenShell on a new Win11 PC but with problems. The settings fonts are so small I have to use the magnifier to read them no matter how I resize the window. Also, I CANNOT make the start menu dark no matter what I try.
@@LeeBv9983 It may be your general font size settings, dependant on what you're running them at. For 1440p, we have font size generally set at 115 in custom scaling, under 'Advanced scaling' in Windows Settings. But it shows greyed out as 225% under 'change the size of text, apps and other items. ' We have Open Shell running on my wife's Windows 11 PC with these settings that you can try:
Start Menu Style:
Classic with two columns.
Skin:
Full glass.
Default transparency.
Large font.
No icons in second column.
Menu Look:
Small icon size: 16
Large icon size: 32
Enable Menu Shadow.
Enable Menu Glass.
Opacity: 50%
You can alter the icon size obviously, depending on your screen resolution.
@@ZenAndPsychedelicHealingCenter Thanks! As for monitor, it was small but OK on Win10 with 1980x1200 monitor but new Win 11 is on a 4K 3840x2160 already set at 150% font.
But, I'll try the rest of the settings.
Thanks!
I had windows 8.1 for 10 years modified. Loved it.
Blasphemy!!!!
@@CyberCPU :D
9:54 the 11 style is because you can install this on more then just windows 11. So if you wanted to to look like 11 for example (as you mentioned too). It's possible. Or if you just want a few of stardocks tweaks but keep 11 style.
Yeah, that's what I figured.
In Start11, I found the Windows 11 style the most useful! I customized my icons into custom labeled categories and turned off the "Recommended" category. You can also combine apps into folders, like in Android, but I don't use that feature. I tried some of the other start menu apps, and none of them were as stable or as useful as Start11 has been for me.
I hate not having chapter markers more than you hate Windows8.
For anyone using open shell in windows 11 i suggest using retrobar aswell, to avoid the double start menu thing
Explorer patcher will also help avoid that.
Since the August '23 release openshell replaces the startbutton again ...
Great video. I used a Stardock product on my wife's Windows 8 laptop. It was so much nicer than the Windows 8 start menu.
BIG feature in Start11 that practically makes it a must-have: seamless Everything search integration. Replaces Windows Search with Everything as long as you have it installed on your system and can be used by hitting the Windows key and typing.
I want to think that StartAllBack has/had this feature, but my experiences with it were buggy, and required you to focus the search, and wasn't implemented anywhere near as cleanly as Start11.
I've been using Startisback since 2014, I hated Win 8 UI but the performance was great so I found a workaround an stuck with it, I can't believe its been nearly 10 years WOW
Openshell works great on my win 10. My only issue with open shell is they didn't concentrate on making a consistent UI so explorer, context an other menu's don't match the basic shape of the start menu you choose. also mad at Microsoft for that too because we should have a consistent dark them through out the os an the option to round the corners of all menus is the user so desires!
With start all back, you can set the windows and search ect buttons to be on the left, while your tasks and programs stay in the middle
I have been using StartisBack/StartAllBack for years and love it. I think it is the best overall. The fact that it makes the GUI closer to Windows 7 is the thing I like most.
Windows 7 is still the best-looking UI, for me. Glad there's a way to get close to that in 11.
Thank You. I didn't know about moving Start Menu to the left. Now both my laptops are set to the same.
Open Shell is still being updated and I haven't had any problems with Windows 11 Pro. The version I am using is 4.4.189.
I've been using Open Shell for years and I swear by it.
Tell me we can still move the taskbar to the LEFT side. In what universe would a customer want to have FEWER options about how to customize the desktop and taskbar?
Setting the taskbar to the left has always been a thing in Windows 11
Ohhh you meant the taskbar itself, not the icons
Explorer patcher will let you move the taskbar.
The "Pin folder menu" in Start 11 is essentially the "Toolbar" feature in WIN10 which I really love and miss in WIN11. Not having it feels archaic!, glad I found Start 11!!!
2 months after this video has made, I have a very good opinion on Explorer Patcher. Bugs have been fixed, and also allows you to put the task bar in vertical position. I love it. Very smooth. Live titles, grouping titles, make folders, all works.
This aged poorly (Explorer Patcher is now broken in the newer versions of Windows 11)
@@darkidk341 It works well in my W11 that is up to date. What problems did you see?
@@georgebetrian676 nvm i realised that it isn't *yet* but it will probably break later because microsoft is erasing the Windows 10 taskbar/start menu code from 11 and explorer patcher uses registry hacks to bring them back so it uses that left out code instead of replicating the start menu/taskbar
@@darkidk341 Thanks for the notice. I hope that removal will come not in a monthly release but in a new version so I can skip it. I will update the image stored of my windows, in case that chage happens suddenly
OpenShell does have a newer beta version… I think it ends in.189… it makes the start button play much nicer with windows 11, though still not quite perfect, but much closer!
A few other people have mentioned that. I may have to look into it further.
The Best Windows Start Menu by far was Windows 7... That is a hill I will die on.
As a Network and System Admin I configure all the start menus the same so that all the employees have the same desktop experience.
All The Software is uniform and where and how to launch them is uniform.
Windows 7 Allows you to create "Folders" to group similar applications
If you are limited in how you can structure your startmenu you have defeated the purpose of an application launcher.
If you make the Start menu difficult to manage or require that you type the name of the application you want.... most people will just drop a shortcut on the desktop.
Preach it! What's the point of having icon "shortcuts" on your start menu when you can put them on your desktop. I keep a shortcut on my desktop to C:/...Start Menu and C:/... User Start Menu so I can manipulate or combine what is in the start menu. I also created a new folder in the User/Start Menu so I can put shortcuts to documents or programs I need to access all the time. "C:\Users\Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu" and "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu". I really hate 11 menus!
Nice video Rich I use Open Shell (yes my Windows 11 does support it and I have never had to get support for it) for my machines and it still has the Windows 11 menu as well plus Open Shell is free and I have the start button set as the old Windows7 orb . What I do is pin the the taskbar things that I use frequently ie : regedit, command prompt, Control panel, Notepad, snipping tool(old version) Settings Libre Office, calculator, disk clean, Powershell, etc etc this gives me a quick start to those apps although some like the command prompt still need a right click to admin rights. By the by Google Chrome 115 has just been released and it seems to me to be more intrusive than ever so I use the Brave browser which works on the Chrome principles .
Anyway mate your channel is on of my go to channels so keep up the good work😀
In my opinion, the Windows 10 style is the best! You get full use of your monitor to display the files, folders, & apps you use. The bonus is that you can create tabs within the groups. The bonus+ is that you can create pages too! Didn't cross my mind to even have and once you do you don't want to go back. You can easily scroll from one page to another with your mouse. Definitely worth the $10! Only downside and why I watched this video is to figure out how to sort based on folders withing the group first then files but I'm on day 2 of the 30 day trial.
did not know the classic-shell is no longer being developed and had the source code released and picked up by opene-shell
so thx for the tip, not that I see many changes but always nice to have something actively developed rather then something 5 years old even though it worked perfectly on win10
I like using Open Shell because you can export a settings file to transfer to other computers so they’re all set up the same.
Start 11 is best alternatives is best, it gave me back the old win 7 menu
Thanx for the video. I've been using Open Shell for years in "Classic" mode. Free and works well..
The options shown in the video to show "More pins" or "More recommendations" in the Windows 11 Start menu requires Windows 11 22H2, which you must manually update if you've forced Windows 11 on older hardware. Windows Update won't keep you updated.
I did a video a while back showing how to update an unsupported system to 22H2.
It took 3 OEM keys to get Win11 Home to move to Pro. Not my first rodeo. I'm an old-school MCSE. The good news is that your discount did work and my son's PC went from home to pro.
I started using Classic Shell with Windows 8 and have stuck with it and Open-Shell through successive Windows versions. I haven't found anything else even remotely as customizable, including the ability to use a utility such as Resource Hacker to customize skins.
Start11 having the Windows 11 as one of the plethora of options. It is about changing the grouping and texture that you demo’d plus all the other settings.
I use start menu from stardock it’s working great and they have other great programs too
Best tip was using the temp e-mail...
I hate programs that require me to enter my email.
I don't need any more spam. 🤣😂
Explorer Patcher is so incredibly good! I'm amazed! That's exactly and precisely what I wanted, and it does sooo much more! Thanks!
Though limited in some ways, I love StartAllBack! I have it on 3 Win11 computers I work on. The old context menus and file explorer changes alone are well worth the $5
I have W10. with taskbar verticaly on left (as ubuntu), start menu is cleaned from all the "tiles", so looks as win7 menu...
it`s very handy setup.
but! I love the windows 11 start menu!!!! can't get it due to hardware limitations... But! Now i know that "Start 11" can bring me that! ThankY!
I did use a Windows 7 PC for awhile. When I saw Windows 8 on someone else’s PC, I thought to myself, “No thanks. I stay with Windows 7 for now. “. After some time, I bought a Windows 10 PC, and used it for awhile. Now, I have a new Windows 11 Pro PC. Even though I never used Windows 8, I can understand why you don’t like it all. Thanks for all the info about the Windows 11 start menu alternatives.
What would be cool, whether MS or someone else could pull it off, is to be able to place your start menu anywhere on the desktop.
we need the Classic theme back.... all my time fav.
Start eleven is awesome especially if you want your taskbar at top and the different styles of Windows 11 start menus are great and the transparency effects are nice. It's totally worth the price.
At 3:31 actually you forgot to mention the 2 horizontal dots on the right of the Start Menu window. When click on them will show you more apps that one pins to the Start Menu
14:00 Really you hate win 11 context menu? I get it's a setback, if you really take time and customize the context menu. That said I like how they cleaned up the context menu for vast majority of users who never get into customization of the context menu.. it hides everything you might not want to have your menu cluttered with. And if you need any shell extension and you use it by going an extra click to open the classic start menu.. it will automatically add that option to the modern context menu.. it's pretty cool if you ask me.
I loathed Windows 8 and I ran it on a new, cheap Asus laptop for about an hour.......and the I wiped the hard drive and installed Linux Mint which I ran on it for 4 years until the crappy Asus laptop died. I am puzzled that Microsoft hasn't offered built-in options for the customer to choose, either during a fresh install, or after the install, to choose a different Start Menu.
Danke Schoen, I enjoyed the segment.
StartAllBack best start menu hands down.
which of them allow vertical taskbar on the side?
Since the last update Explore patcher doesn't let you change the windows 10 start menu anymore :"(
imo the best one by far is explorer patcher bc it does not run in the background, doesnt keep the old start menu and you can tell its not just an overlay. as far as i can tell, its just a gui to change windows registry values
I use Start 11 on my Windoze 11 PC. One of the worst things about Win11 is they removed the ability to add a custom toolbar to the task bar. I never used the start menu that much in Win10 because my task bar toolbar was more efficient for me. I'm a software junky so I have a lot of software on my PC. The Windoze 11 start menu was not a workable solution for me, plus the missing custom toolbar really made a hater out of me. Start 11 was the best fix I could find at the time, but I'm still not a fan of Win11 at all.
Atleast the terrible tiles are gone. I always hated that in windows 8 and 10 but the spacing is too large between the icons on the windows 11 start menu because the start menu is simply too big and there’s too much wasted space. They haven’t did the start menu right since windows 7.
Don't install the preview updates in windows update to avoid most problems with windows Explorer Patcher.. Preview updates are not fully tested
I used the paid for Start10 and now use Start11. It's great, with many different options.
These are all good alternatives tbh
Except for that weird Windows 8 one. 🤣😂
I have been using classic shell for many years and have it on my win 11.... I use it as my system looks like windows 7 and it is the best.
thanks for the video.
Nice Video Rich. 🙂
When i first installed Windows 11 2 years ago I used StartAllBack for a month. I hated (and still do) the context menu and other things about the way to operate Windows 11. Registry hacks came later and I only had the program for the test period. When 22H2 was released I made a clean install of Windows 11. I installed Explorer Patcher at that time. I have one problem with it during that time after a Windows update, and I had to roll back to a point the system worked. The next day an update to Explorer Patcher was released a Github and I installed it again. I have not since spring have had problems with it. My Windows 11 is striped out a lot. I've used ThisIsWin11 to strip it and have used "One tool for everything" to remove Edge from Windows. Only Windows Security is in the system. I don't know if thats the reason for that Explorer Patcher is working so well?? Please continue the good job making the videoes 🙂
Not sure about what triggers the explorer patcher bug. Some people just don't experience it but a lot of people do.
Personally I think it's one of the best mods for Windows 11. It will allow you to use the Windows 10 or 11 start menu as well as the Windows 10 or 11 taskbar. Absolutely amazing program. I just wish they would get that bug fixed that so many people are experiencing. That's the only reason I don't recommend it for everyone. I only recommend it for advanced users.
Using alternative start menus made my recent update to Windows 11 unusable, and now my OG Start menu doesn't work :/
Thanks for a great video. Explorer Patcher was exactly what I wanted.
I have been using and still love the quick launch task bar, but cant find a way to get it back in windows 11
ExplorerPatcher is perfect for me. Start button in the left and apps are centered.
Funny how they all replicate Windows 7 or 10 (even to the point of using the remains of Windows 10) but the only start menu that is actually built from scratch is Start Menu Reviver because - unlike what you claim - it's not a clone of Windows 8, it is an attempt to make a brand new Windows 8 start menu that still allows to be touch compatible and other "Windows 8 stuff" instead of just cloning the past versions of the start menu. It was also built for Windows 8 and still claims to this day to be Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 compatible and make no mentions to be compatible with newer windows. So, the fact that it really sucks is beyond the point, you are just beating a dead horse.
No links in the description... kinda disrespectful to the (github) devs , not bothering to link their page despite that being said in the video...
i don't use 11 yet, but when i'll use it, i have bought some StartIsBack licences, that i could upgrade to StartAllBack
The start 11 start icon change would be cool if they let you change it when centered instead of forcing left aligned.
I like Start11 because it integrates the search from Everything.
I dual-boot with Linux (Kubuntu specifically) and Windows 11, and I use StartAllBack on Windows 11. It's a great program. You can customize the start menu a bit by right-click settings options and adding different control panel settings to the start menu. So I can right-click display and have display show up on the start menu.
Love the videos, Rich. Any chance of incorporating timestamps/chapters in videos, when quick-reviewing various programs? on the back of watching this i went and bought Start11 and StartAllBack. Start11, for me, has the edge over StartAllBack..slightly more polished
I've done it in the past. It takes a long time to do so I don't often do it.
Very nice! I always come to your videos for your great ideas. I always have to change things on my wife's computer because she's particular and likes to keep using what she's familiar with. These help. Thanks!
That would be sweet!
Thank you for all the work you give us. Although I knew about the programs you mentioned, I continue with the original version of open shell, which is the Classic Shell version 4.3.1, which works without problems even in 11.
I like Open Shell, hope it works well on the new Win11 laptop arriving today.
Thank you. This was straight to the point and informative. Liked & subbed!
StartAllBack all the way, pity it can't be used on Windows 10 (older StartIsBack does work there though),
speaking of Windows 8 start menu, those square tiles were actually really well designed for tablets and bigger phones, Microsoft will inevitably try to push them again with Windows 12 and proper tablet mode...
Nice job, but it would have been nice if you included the URL's for the programs.
Sure would be nice if Windows gave you these options in themes Like Linux mint does.
Simple classic theme+openshell+retrobar
You're welcome!
ClassicShell works a treat with Windows 11. Installed it on about a dozen client PCs so far, as well as my own. I'd avoid OpenShell if it has all these issues, there's really no need when the original project from which it was forked still works perfectly. I use a classic Windows 7 orb set I downloaded from their website for the start button and my customers really can't tell the difference. If you set the Win11 taskbar alignment to Left, and choose a large enough orb (I have a collection of several for different display font sizes), the Win11 start button gets hidden behind the Win7 version. Or you can keep the taskbar centred - then you get both 7 AND 11!
Classic Shell itself points towards openshell.
They stopped development in 2017.
Openshell IS basicly Classic Shell ...
@@COOTJENZ Fair play. Also I should add I'm not correct anymore - latest build of 22H2 fights ClassicShell and only appears to allow it if you do an in-place upgrade from Win10 with an already installed copy...
The developer of OpenShell just updated the software some two days ago with Windows 11 support.
StartAllBack is really good for me , however it constantly crashes for me for some reason :(
That's weird, that never happens to mine
Idk if this is just outdated or what but you can have it ceentered and change the button
im using start all back and its working good
If you use explorer patcher openshell will work perfectly without replacing the start button
The "new" Windows start menus are the reason why I am using Classic/Open Shell since Windows Vista
Thanks for the reviews of the different options. But have you tested if some of the alternatives have an drawback as for the Cpu and Gpu performance? I expect some of the programs will eat more clock cycles than others. Would be nice to know this as well. Thanks
I just use the Windows 10 start menu. It's still in the operating system, as well as the taskbar.
i'm Fine with the Windows 11 Start Menu, i don't think it's the Best, but it works
I don't completely hate it. However, if I used Windows 11 on one of my systems I would probably use explorer patcher. Currently all of my systems have Windows 10 still.
@@CyberCPU it's finr if you don't like it, i do have Startallback installed for a Better start Menu, but i only use it to make my Laptop look like it Runs Windows 7, but However it's fine not to like something
that beard and the star wars toys scream “i have no credibility whatsoever”
Start11 + Nexus toolbar + Launchy + Everything search is all u need to dominate the world 😎