Windows 11 has been around for a while now and many users find it very appealing and elegant. That said, as many are very familiar with the Windows 10 Start Menu taskbar system, the new default Windows 11 start menu and taskbar system might seem to be a “sin”. The Start menu is centered by default in Windows 11 and this can be jarring for users who are used to the Start menu being located in the bottom-left corner of the screen.

But with Start11, you can fix the Windows 11 start menu and taskbar sins! Customize the Start menu and Taskbar in Windows 10 and 11 with several different layouts, positions, and aesthetic options using Start11! Make the Start menu appear as it does in previous versions of Windows, enhance its functionality, and customize your setup just the way you like it.

Microsoft’s Windows 11 Start Menu and taskbar criticisms

The Windows 11 Start menu and taskbar have been criticized for a number of shortcomings, including:

• The Start menu is centred by default. This can be jarring for users who are used to the Start menu being located in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
• The Start menu does not have live tiles. Live tiles were a popular feature in Windows 10 that allowed users to see at a glance the status of their favourite apps.
• The Start menu is limited in terms of customization. Users cannot change the layout of the Start menu or add new features.
• The taskbar is not as customizable as it was in Windows 10. Users cannot move the taskbar to the top or right side of the screen, and they cannot change the size of the taskbar buttons.
• The taskbar does not support drag-and-drop. This can make it difficult to move apps around on the taskbar.

Microsoft has acknowledged some of the shortcomings of the Windows 11 Start menu and taskbar, and it has said that it is working on improvements. However, it is unclear when these improvements will be released.

In the meantime, there are a number of third-party tools that can be used to customize the Windows 11 Start menu and taskbar. These tools can add new features, change the layout, and improve the overall usability of the Start menu and taskbar.

What is Start11?

Start11 is a software application developed by Stardock that allows users to customize the Start menu and taskbar in Windows 10 and 11. It offers a variety of features, including the ability to change the layout, position, and appearance of the Start menu, as well as the ability to add new features and functionality.

Start11 is a paid application, but it offers a free trial that allows users to try out all of its features before they buy it. The full version of Start11 costs $6.99.

Here are some of the key features of Start11:

• Customizable layout: Start11 allows users to change the layout of the Start menu, including the position of the Start button, the size of the Start menu, and the number of columns in the Start menu.
• Customizable position: Start11 allows users to change the position of the Start menu, including whether it is located at the top of the screen, the bottom of the screen, or the left side of the screen.
• Customizable appearance: Start11 allows users to change the appearance of the Start menu, including the colour, transparency, and font of the Start menu.
• Additional features: Start11 also includes a number of additional features, such as the ability to add new features to the Start menu, the ability to change the behaviour of the Start menu, and the ability to create custom themes for the Start menu.

Pros:

• Powerful customization options
• Wide range of features
• Easy to use
• Free trial

Cons:

• Paid application
• Some features may be too complex for some users

Overall, Start11 is a powerful and versatile tool that allows users to customize the Start menu and taskbar in Windows 10 and 11. It offers a wide range of features and customization options, and it is easy to use. If you are looking for a way to customize the Start menu and taskbar in Windows 10 and 11, then Start11 is a great option.

How Start11 is Used

Design and Deploy Standardized Desktops

Take complete control of the Start menu by deploying a standardized Start menu for your entire organization. Reduce training expenses and downtime when moving between versions of Windows as Start11 can make Windows 11 look like Windows 10 or Windows 10 look like Windows 11.

• One desktop experience across all supported versions of Windows and Windows Server.
• Simplify Windows migration by making it easier for users to transition to a common desktop experience.
• Reduce training and documentation expenses by making Windows 11 look like Windows 10 or even Windows 7 and vice versa.

Bring Your Branding to the Desktop

The desktop is prime real estate that your users see every day. Our clients are creating customized desktops that transform Windows from a plain interface to a digital asset that is extending their brand to where users are spending a significant amount of time.

• Create a branded desktop experience to extend your marketing efforts to the desktop.
• Create unique desktop experiences for desktops accessed in public places that reinforce promotions or extend marketing messages.
• Make the desktop look like a custom experience rather than a vanilla Windows desktop.

Features That Your Users Expect

Windows 11 lacks features that many users expect but Start11 brings them back including ungrouping windows on the taskbar. Advanced options include the ability to pin local and network drives to the Start menu, create new sections, and more.

• View open applications on the taskbar with ungrouped windows.
• Quickly access shared network drives and folders directly from the Start menu.
• Advanced customization options to add or remove sections from the Start11 menu.

Remove Unwanted Content

Windows 11 includes more advertisements than any previous version. From pinned apps in the Start menu, the web content being forced into local search results and other advertisements sprinkled throughout the OS – Windows 11 is optimized for Microsoft’s metrics, not your experience.

• Start11 search experience removes the advertisements and prioritizes your content.
• Option to remove the “Recent Documents” section of the Windows 11 Start menu.
• Advanced functionality allows you to search for text inside files.

Tools for Fleet Management

Our StartX products are used by thousands of organizations every day and our advanced configurations for silent installs and deployments with tools like ManageEngine, and Start11 make it easy to deploy a standard Start menu to your entire organization.

• Support for scripting makes it easy to deploy Start11 at scale across your entire fleet.
• Centralized license management lets you effortlessly activate or deactivate an installation.
• The single license option lets you manage your entire fleet with a single key for easier administrative management.