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Is there a way to enlarge the Windows 11 start menu that it does show more than 18 favoured start menu items ?

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  • 12
    It's incredible how consistently Microsoft can f*** up one Windows version and correct it in the next version. We should wait for Windows 12 probably.
    – Thomas Weller
    Jan 17 at 17:51
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    Nobody needs more than 18 applications or 640kb of RAM.
    – HackSlash
    Jan 18 at 16:36
  • Obligatory: Use Ubuntu or Mint.
    – Carl Witthoft
    Jan 19 at 13:12

2 Answers 2

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Windows 11 contains a dramatically simplified Start menu and taskbar, both of which lack many of the power-user options of Windows 10. You can't resize the Start menu or the taskbar and you can't position the taskbar on different sides of the screen.

Users have been crying foul, so it's possible that Microsoft will in the future return these features. Until it does, you could use some third-party alternatives to Microsoft's Start menu.

Here are some of them:

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    That's not what I asked for. I wanted to see more than 18 items at once.
    – Bonita Montero
    Jan 17 at 6:33
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    These alternatives allow the resizing of their Start menu, so you'll be able to extend it to the limits of your screen.
    – harrymc
    Jan 17 at 8:04
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    Isn't that what you asked for?
    – harrymc
    Jan 17 at 11:12
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    @BonitaMontero If MS can not do that, it is the fault of the MS. Imho the answer describes the shortest path to have a 18+ start menu, and while I agree your unsatisfiedness, I think the MS is to blame and not harrymc.
    – peterh
    Jan 18 at 18:40
  • @BonitaMontero (Btw, I always avoid any MS OS upgrade until I can, exactly on this reason - experience is that I can always count with many similar pity, unexplainable feature removal)
    – peterh
    Jan 18 at 18:42
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Is there a way to enlarge the Windows 11 start menu that it does show more than 18 favoured start menu items ?

The Windows 11 Start menu can hold more than 18 items, but the size of the menu is fixed and cannot be changed.

Also the things that you value most can be moved to the top - you are not bound by what Microsoft deems to be favorite.

You can add and drag items to the Start Menu and then sort them as you wish.

Also notice the buttons at the side of the Start Menu. This allows "pages" in the Start Menu and allows you to scroll through the entire list.

To put it another way, put your 18 most used items to the top of the menu and you do not have to scroll very much at all.

The main Start menu size in Windows 11, however, cannot be natively changed with Windows 11 settings.

I can readily use the dots on the side of the menu to get between pages very quickly. I also use my desktop for highly used apps (Office, Email, Adobe, and like) which can reduce dependence on the Start Menu, which can then be used for lesser used apps. It depends on individual needs.

I am not hampered by the Windows 11 Start Menu in any way. I just adapted to it.

Windows 11 Start Menu

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    "It is really quite flexible." <-- I disagree with this. You've shown multiple ways on how incredibly restrictive the Start Menu is, and then you say it is flexible. Are you sure you meant "flexible"?
    – Ismael Miguel
    Jan 17 at 17:15
  • I can easily manage the Start Menu and 3 dozen or more start menu items. I am not hampered in any way. that is what I mean by flexible. I put most needed icons on my desktop (I always did this) and that helps with the start menu as well.
    – John
    Jan 17 at 17:52
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    Reasonable point and I re-wrote that section to indicate how I use it and the Desktop and that I am not hampered.
    – John
    Jan 17 at 18:24
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    And I've upvoted your answer. Thank you for taking criticism so well. It's really rare now-a-days. However, it is interesting how you use the desktop for programs you use more commonly, instead of the start menu, as I rely heavily on the start menu to open all my most common programs. I have the right-side populated with tiles, specifically placed so I can remember where the icon is and just open what I want, very quickly.
    – Ismael Miguel
    Jan 17 at 19:42
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    @IsmaelMiguel I find it interesting too, as I no longer use desktop icons anymore. Simply press Windows key then start typing the name, or click on the top 6-10 icons I've pinned there.
    – justhalf
    Jan 18 at 8:40

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