Solved Do You Use A Third Party Start Menu?

cereberus · Jul 4, 2023

The only time I used a 3rd party menu was on Windows 8 where MS completely dropped the ball by not having an intuitive menu (albeit there was the full screen menu but it was not obvious).

Windows 8.1 was technically very good but MS lost the hearts and minds of its users by one incredibly bad decision.

In the end, W11's start menu is perfectly adequate albeit it could do with a bit more flexibility.

The most important thing is to get rid of that useless pox ridden "recommended" section. There have been many thousands of upvotes on Feedback Hub to ditch it, and is probably the most upvoted item ever.

MS lie when they say feedback is important when they just do not care really.

Edwin · Jul 4, 2023

I use one cuz Windows is capable of all kinds of crazy

, so why the hell not!? It's not sacrilege!

neemobeer · Jul 4, 2023

I've never felt the need to use any 3rd party tooling. Most are not really needed. The only thing I use is Power Toys and I really only run apps from its run menu or from a terminal (which is where I spend a lot of my time anyways)

MilesAhead · Jul 4, 2023

cereberus said:
MS lie when they say feedback is important when they just do not care really.

If they cared they would not hide the settings with each new release. The only possible motive is to frustrate users during new system setup. The Control Panel still lurks under the covers so why waste programmer time on shuffling the settings?

TechnoMage2021 · Jul 4, 2023

I developed a desktop setup that I liked and was easy to use, way back in ??? Win-98 maybe? And, I've use the same basic setup ever since.
Yesterday I got a bit patriotic and hung some new wallpaper.

I was getting tired of snow scenes anyway. The taskbar is hidden, (automatically).
But, when it pops up, it looks just like it did 20 years ago.

Scott · Jul 4, 2023

MilesAhead said:
The Control Panel still lurks under the covers

Mine lurks on my taskbar

TraderGary · Jul 4, 2023

I put Control Panel on my Start and it is always ready., Nothing is hidden here.

MiguelAngel11 · Jul 4, 2023

The Start Menu fulfill my needs. Even when I had Windows 8 never wanted to use a third software solution.

James · Jul 5, 2023

cereberus said:
The only time I used a 3rd party menu was on Windows 8 where MS completely dropped the ball by not having an intuitive menu (albeit there was the full screen menu but it was not obvious).

Windows 8.1 was technically very good but MS lost the hearts and minds of its users by one incredibly bad decision.

In the end, W11's start menu is perfectly adequate albeit it could do with a bit more flexibility.

The most important thing is to get rid of that useless pox ridden "recommended" section. There have been many thousands of upvotes on Feedback Hub to ditch it, and is probably the most upvoted item ever.

MS lie when they say feedback is important when they just do not care really.

Exactly. I don’t want Candy crush saga, what don’t you get about that MS?!

Stigg · Jul 5, 2023

cereberus said:
The most important thing is to get rid of that useless pox ridden "recommended" section. There have been many thousands of upvotes on Feedback Hub to ditch it, and is probably the most upvoted item ever.

All I see in my "Recommended" section are "Recent Items".
Although the "Recommended" section is much more obtrusive than "Recent Items" in previous Windows operating systems' start menus.

Winuser · Jul 5, 2023

I Use Power Start Menu (MS Store) and StartAllBack.

badrobot · Jul 5, 2023

Yes I do. Because it's the easiest way to get rid of useless "Recommended" space.

Stigg · Jul 5, 2023

Winuser said:
I Use Power Start Menu (MS Store) and StartAllBack.

That might be worth a look.

Get Power Start Menu from the Microsoft Store

Tweak the start menu of windows 11 to unleash the full POWER. This app currently enables you to customize the looks of the Start menu in Windows 11, including background transparency, hide search box, hide suggestions. You may customize how power button works, and how all apps panel is...

apps.microsoft.com

BobD · Jul 6, 2023

I've been using Start11 from Stardock since the beginning of Win 11.
I'm using a linear start menu on the left. I got sick of using multiple clicks to get through the Win 11 start menu.
I use the Start11 mods for the taskbar and it also gives me seconds on the taskbar clock.
Given that Win 11 Momentum 3 is on us now it might change the way I work when I see what changes that brings.

Stigg · Jul 30, 2023

BobD said:
I've been using Start11 from Stardock since the beginning of Win 11.
I'm using a linear start menu on the left. I got sick of using multiple clicks to get through the Win 11 start menu.
I use the Start11 mods for the taskbar and it also gives me seconds on the taskbar clock.
Given that Win 11 Momentum 3 is on us now it might change the way I work when I see what changes that brings.

ExplorerPatcher and StartAllBack also appear to be popular.

Jim75 · Jul 30, 2023

CLassic Shell/Open Shell and Explorer Patcher used with my Windows 11 Pc's.
Classic Shell gives the original Start Menu and I've used it since MS stopped allowing you to have the start menu you wanted.
Classic Style with smoked glass skin.
Still the best way to view the start menu for me.

Comp Cmndo · Aug 1, 2023

Open Shell 4.4.190 has been released for Windows 11. Works just like 4.4.170 did for Windows 10.

LeeB · Aug 2, 2023

I use Explorer Patcher because it gives me a Win10 Task Bar and Start Menu. It's compact, easy to use and free. The developer has been regularly updating it as necessary to adapt to new versions of Win11.

antspants · Aug 2, 2023

For windows 10 I most certainly used a 3rd party menu—Start11. I’ve also loaded it in Windows 11 but after getting used to the native menu in 11 (on my laptop) I’m thinking of removing Start11.

pparks1 · Aug 3, 2023

I haven't used a 3rd party start menu since early on with Windows 8. I interact very little with the start menu. If I want to open notepad, (and I haven't pinned it to menu) I just hit the windows key on keyboard, type notepad and hit enter. Notepad pops up. To me, that's faster than reaching for my mouse, or cursoring through a bunch of flyouts.