Where is the Start icon in Windows 10. What to do if the Start menu does not open. Using IObit Start Menu
After upgrading to Windows 10, many users were disappointed with the redesigned Start menu. In Windows 7, it consisted of two parts: the left - previously used programs, the right - My Computer, Control Panel, and other elements for setting up and managing the system. To return the classic look of the Start menu in Windows 10, just follow some tips.
Ways to return the classic Start menu in Windows 10
To make the Start menu in Windows 10 look like the classic one Windows menu 7, it is worth removing all the Subway tiles. To do this, perform the following steps.
- Click right click mouse on the element and select “Delete”.
- In this way, we remove all the tiles until we get the classic menu look.
You can return the classic view of the Start menu in Windows 10 using the ClassicShell program, which runs in compatibility mode.
- Download and install the program. Selecting components to install. In this case, we need “Classic Start Menu” and “Classic Explorer”. The latter modifies the Explorer. You can also return old look Control Panel, which in Windows 10 is not too different from the IE browser. Select the storage location for the program folder and click “Next”.
- Follow the prompts of the installation wizard. After completion, click on the Start button. A new settings window will appear. Select the element model.
- The Start menu will look like this.
- All elements on such a menu can be swapped, size and other parameters can be adjusted.
- The explorer will appear as follows.
- The control panel will not be too different from previous versions Windows.
You can also use the Settings menu to make the Start button and menu look classic. To do this, we do the following.
One of the main Windows differences 10 noticeable to users from previous versions was a change in the operating system interface. We will tell you how to customize the Start menu in Windows 10 for yourself. comfortable work with the system.
The graphical interface of Windows OS, called Metro, replaced Aero several years ago, when Microsoft's mobile OS and desktop Windows 8 were introduced. Instead of glossy icons, the company introduced a new menu format consisting of rectangular tiles.
This interface turned out to be very comfortable for owners mobile devices(smartphones and tablets) equipped with touch screens. But users of desktop PCs and laptops reacted ambiguously to the innovation. Navigating the tiled menu with a mouse turned out to be noticeably more difficult than using the touchscreen, and some people were hostile to the innovation.
However, given the growing popularity touch screens in the niche of laptops and desktop computers, we should expect that the popularity of the Metro interface will only increase.
The Start Menu is back
The Start menu has been an integral part of the Windows OS interface for many years, but in 2012 it was decided to abandon its use in favor of the Metro desktop. Not everyone was happy with this innovation, and in the latest version of their OS, Microsoft decided to return it, having significantly improved it.
Controversy over whether we need a Start menu in 10 Windows versions, there were quite a few, but the majority of users spoke out for the need to return this interface element. It is not known whether Microsoft listened to the opinions of users, or was guided by ergonomics, but, one way or another, the modified Start menu has returned.
The main difference between the new implementation of this interface element is the combination of classic menu items and live tiles. The customization options have also expanded: now everyone can customize the Start menu for themselves.
Setting up a tiled interface in Start
Unlike classic icons responsible for calling applications, tiles are interactive elements. They can be used not only as a shortcut, but also serve to display relevant information from the application. This could be the weather forecast, the number of unread messages, foreign exchange rates, service notifications.
The functionality of live tiles in the new OS remained at the level of Windows 10; Microsoft did not introduce any visible innovations. To customize the tiles, just click right key mouse over icon. You can edit the size, color, turn animation on or off, send the icon to the taskbar, or remove the icon from Start.
Adding and removing new tiles
To add a new application tile, find it in the list of programs and right-click on its name. From the pop-up menu, select “Pin to Home Screen.”
Similar operations must be performed to remove a tile, only you need to select the “Unpin from Start Screen” option.
In order to change the location of the icon in the menu, you need to right-click the tile and drag it to the desired location.
Size customization
Users have the ability to change not only the location, but also the size of the tiles. There are several size options available for each icon. Depending on them, the functionality of the tile also changes: at its minimum size, the tile serves only to call the program, but when enlarged, it can also be used as an output element. How much information an icon can display, and in what format it will do so, depends on its size.
In order to change the size of a tile, you need to right-click on it and select the “Resize” option.
The tiles can be rectangular or square in size. The larger the size, the greater the functionality, but on small screens the loss of space can cover all the benefits of this.
A small drawback of tiles is that if the size is set to small and the number is odd, there will be empty spaces in the menu. You can eliminate it by changing the size of individual icons and their location.
Prevent tile updates
Receiving various notifications from applications in real time is quite convenient. But sometimes developers pay too much attention to this feature, and as a result, the user is constantly distracted by insignificant program messages. To avoid this, Start Menu Settings provides an option to turn off notifications from individual tiles.
To do this, right-click on the tile and select the last option “Disable live tiles” from the pop-up menu.
After this, the tile design will always remain unchanged and annoying messages will no longer bother you.
Customize Start Menu Colors
The background of the background in Windows 10 can be changed in the same way as the color of individual tiles. To do this, right-click anywhere not occupied by the icon and select the “Personalization” menu item.
In the window that opens, you can specify the background color in the Start menu, as well as change some other parameters. You can choose not only the color, but also its saturation. The user can choose a ready-made color scheme, or customize it in detail to his taste independently.
Pin a program shortcut to the Start menu screen
If you need to provide maximum speed access an application or program from the Start menu, you can pin it to the Start menu screen.
To do this, right-click on the shortcut of the program or application you need on your desktop. After this, a pop-up menu will appear, where you need to click “Pin to Start Screen”. You can now open the menu and change the location of the created tile by moving it between groups.
Also, for a newly added tile, you can set the name of the group in which it is located. There is also a reverse process: you can make a shortcut from any tile located on the start screen by right-clicking the tile and dragging it to the desktop.
Icons pinned to the left side of Start can be easily removed from there, just right-click and select the “Advanced” and “Do not show in this list” options.
Adding special elements
This feature is also present in Windows 10, but the principle of its operation is somewhat different from adding tiles. First of all, you should go to the Desktop, and then right-click on an empty space and select the “personalization” option. In the window that appears, select the “Start” tab at the bottom. In the dialog box that appears, you can find a list of items that can be added to the left half of Start.
Bringing back the Start menu from Windows 7
Not everyone liked the updated interface of Windows 10. Some have long been accustomed to the old look of the OS, while others simply do not like the tiled elements of Start. In this case, the developers have provided the ability to return the menu to the classic look, familiar to everyone from Windows 7. You can configure Start so that in appearance it will not differ from the version of the OS from Microsoft the year before.
The easiest method to do this is to remove all live tiles. Unfortunately, it won’t be possible to disable them in a couple of clicks; you will have to delete each of them manually. You can then change the width of the right side of the window so that it is collapsed.
Bringing back the Metro tiled menu
Owners of small-screen tablets who are used to the Metro menu may find returning Start to be inconvenient on their device. Therefore, Microsoft developers have provided the ability to manually activate the Metro start screen in the OS.
To do this, right-click on the taskbar and select “personalization” from the pop-up menu. In the window that opens, open the “Start” tab and enable the “Open Start screen in” option. full screen mode" In the final build, Windows will no longer prompt you to log in again and you will be able to enjoy the start menu familiar from Windows 8 without rebooting your PC.
What you need to know before upgrading to Windows 10
In addition to the attractive innovations that many users have already liked, the new OS is not without its shortcomings.
Yes, on at the moment Full and error-free support for all devices that work perfectly under Windows 7 has not yet been provided. Inability to disable auto system updates in the usual way may also upset many users. After all, with limited traffic or low connection speed, downloading updates may result in additional costs or affect the quality of Internet browsing during the download period.
Those who do not like interference in their lives may be wary of the fact that the OS analyzes the user’s behavior and collects information about him. This is done both to improve work and for advertising purposes, so many people are not happy with this approach.
So, when installing a new version of the OS, you should be aware of its features and take full responsibility for its unstable operation or the dissemination of user information.
IN new Windows 10 the Start button is back, but it's now a hybrid of the previous two menus Windows versions, i.e. the “Start” button in “Seven” and the start screen in “Eight”.
It should be noted that Windows 8, precisely because of the absence of this familiar button, was subject to the greatest amount of criticism from users.
But in latest version operating system from Microsoft, this menu only vaguely resembles the beloved interface that was in Windows 7, so computer owners who have switched to OS with index 10 have no time to be bored and first of all have to figure out how to configure the start menu for Windows 10 for the most comfortable work in the future.
Settings for switching from classic view to full screen
Fortunately, “Ten” already has this menu preinstalled and users only need to familiarize themselves with the techniques for its operation.
To switch to the “Home Screen” mode, you need to perform several sequential steps:
There is another way to turn Start into a full-screen Start Screen. To do this, you only need to take the following couple of steps:
- Click on the “Notification Center” icon in the lower right corner of the display;
- Then click on “Tablet Mode”.
Color adjustment
In Windows 10, you can quickly make color adjustments to the Start window, System Action Center, window edges, and taskbar.
The algorithm of actions is as follows:
How to unpin and pin selected items to Start
To do this, you need to use the Explorer context menu.
The sequence of actions can be presented as the following brief step-by-step instructions:
- To unpin a tile, you need to call context menu on this tile;
- After that, click on “Unpin from Start Screen”.
Adjusting the locations of tiles and their sizes
In order to adjust the location of the tile, you should simply hold down the left mouse button and move it to the selected location that is convenient for the user.
To adjust the size of a tile, you need to call up the context menu on it and click “Adjust size”. Then indicate the value convenient for the user to work on the computer.
Sorting tiles
The new operating system allows the user to classify and sort tiles at their discretion. To do this, hold down the selected tile with the left mouse button and move it down to the “Start” button. In this case, a black strip will appear; it is under it that you need to install and release the tile. Done, it is now located in specific group. Next, you need to click in the field at the top of the tile labeled “Enter a group name” and type the name at the discretion of the computer owner.
Additional settings
To set up the display in “Start” of only constantly used programs and new ones installed on the computer, you need to set the slider in the corresponding section to “Off” mode in “Personalization”. You can also customize the display of specific directories in Start by clicking in “Personalization” on the line “Select directories shown in Start.”
If you are used to the look of the Start menu or the old look of the Start button on Windows 7 or Windows Vista, then you will probably want to return a similar look to Windows 10. There are several ways you can do this. The first method does not require you to install additional software. You can simply customize the appearance of the Start menu on Windows 10. But this will not lead to a 100% return to the classic version of the menu. The second option will require you to install additional software. This option is somewhat more complicated, but it will allow you to return 100% to the previous version of the Start menu, as well as return the usual appearance of the Start button.
How to return the classic look of the Start button and menu on Windows 10
Microsoft took into account Windows errors 8, so on Windows 10 the Start button and menu are there by default. But the appearance of the button and menu is different. If you want to return to your usual appearance, then choose one of two methods:- Use standard Windows features 10;
- Install additional software;
Start Menu on Windows 10
The Start button on Windows 10 is located in the same place as in previous versions of the OS. This means you won't have to struggle with moving it. But the appearance of the Start menu on Windows 10 is different from appearance Start menu on Windows 10. Microsoft has made the Start menu as flexible as possible, so it looks different for each user, for example, as follows:As you can see, on the left side of the menu are programs that have been recently used. On the right side there are so-called tiles that provide quick access to information or resources. Widgets are also displayed in this menu. Everything is very bright, flashes and distracts attention. This variety of information is the reason why many want to switch from the standard Start menu to the classic view.
How to bring back the classic Start on Windows 10
Everyone has their own understanding of the term “Classical”. Surveys have shown that most users consider the classic menu from Windows 7. Therefore, let’s look at this menu as an example. The first way is to customize the Start menu in the image and likeness of the previous version. To do this, you need to expand the menu and right-click on those elements that you do not need, for example, on tiles:Next, you need to select “Unpin from Start Screen” and this element will disappear. Once you unpin all the elements, you will only be left with the left column. Overall, it will be similar to the classic Start menu look. But in standard settings The menu area is very wide. Therefore, we use the mouse to tighten the menu area. You can make the menu of any width, but to make the menu convenient, we recommend making it at least 4 icons below it. As a result, you will get the following menu appearance:
This is all you can do without resorting to third-party programs. Agree, it looks like a classic look, but it isn't. Of course, this will suit some people, but for those who decide to go all the way, there is another way - installing additional software. This method does not require the preparatory steps described above. You need to download and install one of the programs, for example: There are other programs to return the classic menu on Windows 10. But these two are free and the best. Firstly, they only take up a few MB of space, and secondly, they allow you to return the appearance in just a couple of clicks. As a result, you should be able to get a Start menu look like this:
Agree, this is much more like the truth. But that's not all. So you returned only the Start menu. But you can also use programs to return the Start button, that is, the familiar round icon. All this can be done by the same programs. And as a result, you will get the same appearance, familiar from the days of Windows 7. But do not forget that all system decorations affect the performance of Windows 10, as well as battery life.
How to return back to the standard Windows 10 Start view
If the classic appearance does not suit you, then you can always return to the previous menu view. If you were using programs, simply disable them or delete them. After this he will return standard view Start menu. After all, if there is no program, then there is no appearance that she made. And if you used the manual method and removed all the extra tiles yourself, then you just need to return the necessary tiles in the same way. Just right-click and select the widgets and blocks that you would like to see in your Start menu on Windows 10.In the instructions on how to return the classic appearance of the Start menu, we used Windows 10 in Russian. If you have a version in English, we recommend that before you start working with the Start menu,
It compares favorably with its predecessors not only in its functional features, but also in the concept of customizing the main Start menu, which has undergone dramatic changes. Now we will look at how to change the Start menu in Windows 10 and customize it for yourself. In addition to the main issues, attention will be paid to some critical errors and problems that may arise when using some features of the tenth version of Windows.
How has Start changed in Windows 10?
Even a quick glance at the menu that opens by pressing the Start button allows you to immediately conclude that it combines the classic look and elements of the Metro interface, which appeared in Windows 8.
On the one hand, you can use regular navigation, which, however, sorts programs exclusively in alphabetical order, on the other hand, on the right side there is a set of tiles for quick access to frequently used applications or programs that, according to developers, the user needs every day.
This approach does not suit all users, which is why they are trying to resolve the issue of how to change the Start menu in Windows 10. This can be done in several ways and in several main areas. If you wish, you can return either to the classic view (Windows 7) or use the same Metro interface (Windows 8).
Windows 10: Start Menu Customization: Adding and Removing Items
Let's start looking at setting parameters for more comfortable use of elements with the simplest thing - adding and removing some elements to the main window.
In Windows 10, setting up the Start menu from this perspective is done in the simplest way. To add an element, you need to find it in the list of programs and use the right click to call it, in which, when you go to additional parameters, there is a line to attach the application icon to home screen(after this, the tile will appear in the corresponding location on the right). In order to remove a pinned element, you need to use the same right-click on the tile, but select the unpin line.
Setting the window size and display elements
For Windows 10, customizing the Start menu also means changing the size of the window that is called up. In the simplest case, you need to do it the classic way, placing the cursor on the corner or edges of the window and dragging them to resize the window with the mouse while holding down the left button.
There is another option for resizing. In Windows 10, the Start menu can be customized by calling up the personalization settings (right-click on an empty area of the screen and select the corresponding line in the submenu). In the settings window, you need to select the start section and set the switch to display when calling the menu.
Here, if desired, you can enable or disable the visualization of recently installed or used programs, frequently used applications, etc.
Changing the color scheme
It won’t be difficult to change the color scheme of the menu. In the same personalization section, the color line is selected, after which automatic selection is disabled. Next, in the presented palette, all that remains is to indicate your color and apply the settings.
By default, the color will be set only on tiles, but if you enable the display of color in the menu, notification center, and in it will be set for all elements. In addition, fans of the Windows 7 interface can use the inclusion of translucent display.
Prevent tile updates
Menu notifications are good. However, for many users, constant reminders are annoying, to put it mildly. They can be disabled.
To do this, you need to right-click on the tile to bring up an additional menu and select the option to disable live tiles from it. After setting these parameters, the user will no longer be bothered by annoying notifications. For all categories of parameters, the question of how to save Windows 10 Start menu settings is resolved quite simply - by simply confirming the changes with the “OK” buttons. If desired, you can save the selected scheme in the personalization section.
Return to Metro and Windows 7 view
For those who for some reason do not like the innovation, there is the possibility of returning to the old interfaces. As for the classic look, you can’t just switch to it. To do this, you will have to manually remove all tiles from the menu. Only after this the program section will remain.
To return to the Metro interface, you need to apply the settings for full-screen display of the Start menu, as described above.
What to do if the Start menu does not work in Windows 10?
Now the saddest part. When upgrading to the tenth version, many users find the start button stops working and the menu does not open at all. On Windows 10 critical error the Start menu is fixed by several methods, the main ones being restarting the Explorer.exe process, which is responsible for the system, using PowerShell tools, creating another account and editing the corresponding system registry keys.
First, you should go to the “Task Manager” by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Del or enter taskmgr in the “Run” console and find it in the tree. Right-click to call up an additional menu and use the restart line. You can also use the button of the same name in the bottom right. But this method does not always help.
The problem may not only be that the Start menu does not work in Windows 10. Even the start button is inactive. In this case, you should turn to a system tool called PowerShell. You can find the executable file in the program folder, which is located in the System32 directory, but it is better to do it easier by calling the service from the Run menu (powershell command) or launching it in the same way from the Task Manager. It goes without saying that this operation must be executed exclusively with administrator rights.
Next, the line Get-appxpackage -all *shellexperience* -packagetype bundle |% (add-appxpackage -register -disabledevelopmentmode ($_.installlocation + “\appxmetadata\appxbundlemanifest.xml”) is written in the console, and when the command is completed, the button and the menu itself will work.
If this option does not help, you can try to create another registration account with administrator rights, using the corresponding section of the standard “Control Panel”, access to which is most in a fast way can be obtained by entering the control command in the Run console. Then you just need to log in to the system under it. But it's inconvenient.
Finally, you can bring the button and the Start menu to life through the system registry, called by the regedit command in the Run menu. Here you need to use the HKLU branch, in which we go down the folder tree through the SOFTWARE and Microsoft sections to the Explorer directory, where the Abdanced folder is located. On the right is the EnableXAMLStartMenu key, the value of which should be changed to zero. If there is no such key in the list, you must first create a DWORD value, and then give it that name and set the corresponding value. After restarting the system, the problem will disappear.
Login without password
Now let's look at the question of how to log into Windows 10 without a password. There are two options here: logging in at system startup and exiting sleep mode.
In the second case, the setup is done by setting the current power supply scheme, where you need to uncheck the option to require a password upon exit. As an addition, you can disable quick start, which may resolve some system freezing issues.
But when you need to log into Windows 10 without a password at the system boot stage, you should use disabling the requirement in the account settings settings called by the netplwiz command (the item is simply unchecked).
You can use the system registry, where in the HKLM branch we find the Winlogon section, check the DefaultUserName entry for compliance with the user name and the DefaultPassword parameter, where the current valid password is written. If there is no such key, you need to create a string parameter (String Value), name it DefaultPassword, then enter the password and confirm it. Next, all that remains is to activate the administrator record (the AutoAdminLogon key is assigned the value of one).
Utilities to change the Start menu and fix problems
In principle, automated utilities can be used to change the appearance, configure startup components, or troubleshoot problems associated with it. Various kinds of starting tweakers can be used for the interface, and to correct errors, a “native” program for customizing the Windows 10 Start menu from Microsoft can be used, which can be downloaded on the company’s official website. But in general, as can be seen from the above, the necessary actions can be carried out independently.
What to give preference to? It seems that it is better to use manual configuration, because programs for changing the interface work in background and consume a significant amount of resources (CPU and RAM load).