Last month, we wrote about how Windows is not the only operating system out there and that new users may be coming to the OS for the first time. We want to continue this discussion by sharing how to navigate the many features of Windows 11, including one of the more useful ones: the Start menu. You’ll find the other articles in this series by checking the “Learning Windows” tag here on our blog.
Understanding the Windows Start Menu
The Start menu gives you access to pretty much everything you would want to do with your computer, and accessing it is as easy as can be. Click on the Windows logo, which you’ll find on your screen, or you can press the key on the keyboard.
Screenshot courtesy: Microsoft
What You Can Do with the Start Menu
Now that you have the Start menu open, you’ll see different sections: Search, Pins, Recommendations, and Account.
Search lets you find content on your computer in areas such as apps, files, and even different settings. This can make it much easier to find what you’re looking for, provided you know the right keywords.
Pins are the various apps, files, folders, and websites you’ve pinned to the menu for quick access. They’re basically a convenient way to find applications, and this also provides you with a list of all apps in alphabetical order.
Recommendations are the apps that you use most often, as well as your most recently accessed files.
Account lets you access your profile, along with the ability to log out, lock the computer, power off the device, and restart your computer.
You can see why the Start menu is such a valuable asset (and why people got so bent out of shape when it was removed in Windows 8); work becomes harder and more complicated without quick access to these important features.
How to Customize the Windows 11 Start Menu
It’s easy to add and remove pins from the Start menu, and if done right, you can transform your Start menu into a hub for all your most frequently accessed apps.
Start by right-clicking an app and selecting Pin to/Unpin from Start. You can pin folders in the same way. If you enjoy Microsoft Edge, you can pin webpages to this menu by following this path: three-dot menu > More tools > Pin to Start.
You can further rearrange and organize these pins into folders by clicking and dragging them.
If you want to experiment with different layouts beyond the Default one, you can right-click the bar at the bottom of the menu and select Start Settings:
- More Pins
- More Recommendations
You can make further adjustments to the menu if you’d like, including making the menu focus more on apps you interact with and show recommended tips.
From your Start settings, you can customize the folders that appear next to the power button. These folders can be for Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, Videos, Network, and Personal.
And finally, you have the Taskbar settings to determine if your Start menu will remain centered or if it will show up in the traditional place. You just need to expand Taskbar behaviors to find the options that work best for you.
We’re Just Getting Started
If your business needs a hand with adjusting to Windows 11, we’re happy to help. Just reach out to us at (732) 360-2999 to learn more.