How To Customize The Windows 10 Start Menu?

Windows 8.x and Windows 10 include the Start Screen Control feature. This feature allows you to configure your Start Screen layout to prevent users from making changes. You can assign a default start screen over Group Policy Object. So, the Start Screen cannot be changed!

The first thing is to export your “default” start screen with the Export-StartLayout cmdlet. Open up an elevated command prompt and run the following command:

PS > Export-StartLayout –Path C:\DefaultStartMenu.xml

Below is the xml content:

<LayoutModificationTemplate Version="1" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/LayoutModification">
  <LayoutOptions StartTileGroupCellWidth="6" />
  <DefaultLayoutOverride>
    <StartLayoutCollection>
      <defaultlayout:StartLayout GroupCellWidth="6" xmlns:defaultlayout="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/FullDefaultLayout">
        <start:Group Name="Default" xmlns:start="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/StartLayout">
          <start:Tile Size="2x2" Column="0" Row="0" AppUserModelID="microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe!microsoft.windowslive.calendar" />
          <start:Tile Size="2x2" Column="0" Row="2" AppUserModelID="Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe!MicrosoftEdge" />
          <start:Tile Size="4x2" Column="2" Row="0" AppUserModelID="Microsoft.WindowsStore_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App" />
          <start:Tile Size="2x2" Column="2" Row="2" AppUserModelID="Microsoft.BingWeather_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App" />
          <start:Tile Size="2x2" Column="4" Row="2" AppUserModelID="Microsoft.WindowsCalculator_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App" />
        </start:Group>
        <start:Group Name="Others" xmlns:start="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/StartLayout">
          <start:Tile Size="2x2" Column="0" Row="0" AppUserModelID="61908RichardWalters.Calculator_486nvj664v5b0!App" />
          <start:Tile Size="2x2" Column="2" Row="0" AppUserModelID="Microsoft.Office.OneNote_8wekyb3d8bbwe!microsoft.onenoteim" />
        </start:Group>
      </defaultlayout:StartLayout>
    </StartLayoutCollection>
  </DefaultLayoutOverride>
</LayoutModificationTemplate>

Now, you can deploy it easily by GPO or import it manually with the Import-StartLayout cmdlet:

PS > Import-StartLayout -LayoutPath C:\DefaultStartMenu.xml -MountPath $env:SystemDrive\

 

Thanks for reading! You can follow me on Twitter @PrigentNico

About Nicolas 282 Articles
I work as an IT Production Manager, based in Paris (France) with a primary focus on Microsoft technologies. I have 10 years experience in administering Windows Servers. . I am a Microsoft MVP for Cloud & Datacenter Management. I also received the PowerShell Hero 2016 award by PowerShell.0rg. And finally, I am "MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure", "MCSA: Windows Servers", "Administering & Deploying SCCM", and CheckPoint CCSA certified.