Microsoft gave the Windows interface a complete makeover in Windows 11, and most of the old registry hacks no longer work to reverse these changes. That’s why I use Start11 to make it look how I want. Not vibing with the default look? It’s time to add your personal touch.
Get Started With Start11
The tool I use to customize Windows 11, Start11, offers a free trial and then costs a one-time fee of $9.99. A multi-device package is available if you want to use it across multiple devices. The best part is that the free trial lasts one month, so you can try it out and decide if it’s worth the price based on the features you like.
I recommend starting with the free trial. To do so, visit theStardock website, download Start11, and run the installation. Once installed, activate the trial, and you can start customizing Windows.
The History of the Windows Start Menu
For all the pomp and ceremony surrounding the release of Windows 10, one of the most well-received features of the operating system is the return of an old friend—the Start Menu.
Customize the Start Menu
The Start Menu in Windows 11 has had a major redesign. In Windows 10, it was left-aligned, featured pinned apps and recently opened files, and included live tiles. The new design is now centered and removes the live tiles feature. I prefer the older look, so I reverted to the Windows 10 style.
Tocustomize the Start Menuusing Start11, follow these steps:
Now, click theStartbutton to view the changes in real-time. You can also explore other Start Menu styles and use them if desired. By clicking on theConfigure menuat the bottom, you can also customize the interface by adjusting color, transparency, icon size, and other settings.
Change the Start Button
Start11 also allows me to customize the Start button, a feature not available by default on Windows. you may choose from icons within the app or upload your own by clicking thePick imagebutton. The app automatically resizes the icon to fit your Windows version, and you can even download images from an online library.
You can also adjust the taskbar alignment through theRelatedsettings found here. If you didn’t change its default position while setting up Start11, you can do it now. Open the dropdown menu and choose your preferred taskbar position.
Tweak the Windows Taskbar
Start11 offers a range of customization options to tweak the Windows taskbar. You can reposition and resize the taskbar, change its color, adjust transparency, display seconds on the taskbar clock, and even apply custom textures for a unique look. You can also add rounded corners to the taskbar and adjust the settings related to this for further customization.
The app also provides an automatic customization feature. To enable it, turn on the toggle next toLet Start11 enhance the taskbarand clickConfigure enhanced taskbarto access additional settings.
Here, you may adjust the appearance of taskbar buttons, manage how they combine, and more. You’ll have to restart Windows Explorer for the changes to take effect.
8 Ways to Personalize Windows 11
A few simple tweaks can make your Windows 11 desktop stand out. Try and see if they make a difference to how you work and play.
Pin Documents and Folders to the Taskbar
The feature I find most useful in Start11 is its ability topin documents and folders to the taskbar. While Windows offers workarounds for this, Start11 makes the process much simpler. You can pin individual documents, entire folders, or even a folder popup menu that grants quick access to subfolders.
This allows you to open important files and folders with just one click. Here’s how you’re able to use this feature:
Customize the Control Settings
Start11 also includes several control settings that let you customize how the Start button and Windows key behave. For example, you can choose what happens when you click the Start button or press the Windows key. Additionally, you can configure it to show the Windows menu when you Ctrl-click the Start button or press the right Windows key.
There are also separate options to control what happens when you press the Windows key while in a full-screen application and whether the Windows menu appears when pressing the right Windows key.
Follow the steps below to adjust these settings:
Swap Windows Search for Start11
Start11 also allows you to replace the default Windows Search with its own search feature. This comes with additional features not available in the native Windows Search. It enables you to filter results by item type, search for text within files, and even display Microsoft Edge open tabs in the search results.
To apply these changes, go to theSearchtab on the left and turn on the toggle next toUse Start11 search in the Start11 start menu. From there, you can enable or disable any features you want to use or omit. For example, you can turn on the option to search file contents along with file names to find specific text within documents.
If you want to keep your search history private, click theClear Search Historybutton to clear it, and you’re good to go.
Create a Backup of Start11 Settings
After configuring the Start11 app, I highly recommend backing up your settings by exporting them as a file and saving them locally. This allows you to restore your preferences if you ever reset the settings or reinstall Windows. This feature is also helpful if you’ve set up Start11 on one computer and want to replicate the same configuration on another device.
Here’s how you can back up the Start11 settings:
To restore your settings later, clickRestore settings, select the backup file, and your Start11 setup will be restored without you having to configure everything from scratch again. If you want to undo all changes, clickReset settingsto return to the default configuration.
That’s how Start11 helps mecustomize my Windows 11 interface. Give the trial version a shot, and if you find it valuable, you can pay the one-time fee to keep using Start 11.
