How to remove Windows start button?

QuicktellPro · Jun 21, 2025

Hi,
I use the latest version of OpenShell. Because my PC is an Alienware, I use OpenShell's option to change the start menu button to the Alienware version. This worked fine in Windows 10, but since updating to Windows 11 24H2 the Alienware button is merely superimposed over the original blue Windows button. How can I remove it, please?

A Guy · Jun 21, 2025

Do you have the latest version?

GitHub - Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu: Classic Shell Reborn.

Classic Shell Reborn. Contribute to Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

Seems they were aware and looked to have fixed the issue long ago?

Windows 11 and the future of Open-Shell · Open-Shell Open-Shell-Menu · Discussion #745

I will continue to update this when I have more findings. I wanted to make a discussion on the status of Open-Shell and Windows 11 just to get some information out there. Microsoft has done a consi...

github.com

A Guy

QuicktellPro · Jun 21, 2025

Yes, I have the current version which is 4.4.196 and the issue clearly has not been fixed.

Nius · Apr 2, 2026

Install Windows Taskbar Styler using Windhawk and enter:
Taskbar.ExperienceToggleButton#LaunchListButton[AutomationProperties.AutomationId=StartButton] in Target
Opacity=0 in Styles.

QuicktellPro · Apr 3, 2026

Wouldn't this conflict with Open Shell?
Ditto Nexus Ultimate?

Kees · Apr 3, 2026

QuicktellPro said:
Wouldn't this conflict with Open Shell?

No it does not, but possibly your startbutton is too small or too large so you would have to adjust the width of the original (invisible) button.
My settings for that part of the Windhawk Taskbar Styler are:

1. Startbutton: remove original button, but leave the space to be used by the startbutton of OpenShell

Target: Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.AnimatedVisualPlayer
Height=0
alternative:
Opacity=0

You could replace that command by the command that @Nius posted in #4

2. Startbutton: adjust width / padding so it fits the space for the OpenShell Startbutton

Target: taskbar:TaskListButtonPanel#ExperienceToggleButtonRootPanel
Style: Margin=-8,0,0,0

Order of the Margin parameters: left margin, top margin, right margin, bottom margin

rogerrabbit · Apr 3, 2026

I also have this from time to time.
1. Try to repair Open-shell (re-run the installer or download Open-Shell again and run the installer again). It will ask you whether you want to repair teh existing installation or re-install completely. Chose "Repair". This does it for me most of the time.
2. You could also change the Start button in Open-Shell and then change it back (see screenshot 1).
3. Or you can tweak (resize) the start-button and see what happens (see screenshot 2).

Edwin · Apr 3, 2026

Same thing with StartAllBack, if you don't use the proper size, it's dickered.

dalchina · Apr 3, 2026

Works perfectly for me with v4.4.196 - I have a Win 7 orb (with glow effect) that I 'stole' from a skin pack.

As Edwin says, needs to be an appropriate icon.

QuicktellPro · Apr 3, 2026

rogerrabbit said:
I also have this from time to time.
1. Try to repair Open-shell (re-run the installer or download Open-Shell again and run the installer again). It will ask you whether you want to repair teh existing installation or re-install completely. Chose "Repair". This does it for me most of the time.
2. You could also change the Start button in Open-Shell and then change it back (see screenshot 1).
3. Or you can tweak (resize) the start-button and see what happens (see screenshot 2).

View attachment 167676 View attachment 167677

I tried repair and it made no difference. According to the Github discussion on this issue, there is no fix for this.

QuicktellPro · Apr 3, 2026

I fixed it!
I resized the width of my icon from 81 to 120 px and changed the background colour from transparent to the same colour as my taskbar. Looks perfect now.

dalchina · Apr 3, 2026

QuicktellPro said:
I tried repair and it made no difference. According to the Github discussion on this issue, there is no fix for this.

I think you're misreading that discussion. It comes down to using a correctly formatted icon as you've found and as we've said here.

QuicktellPro · Apr 3, 2026

dalchina said:
I think you're misreading that discussion. It comes down to using a correctly formatted icon as you've found and as we've said here.

As with Edwin's post, I use a 3 icon bitmap on my Alienware. Here's a png copy of the now working icon.

steel Alienware steel.6803.6807.6813.webp

hdmi · Apr 5, 2026

Download and install Windhawk
In Windhawk, install the Windows 11 Taskbar Styler mod
In the mod's Settings, switch to Textual mode
Replace the code in the box with this:
theme: '' styleConstants: - '' controlStyles: - target: Taskbar.TaskListButtonPanel#ExperienceToggleButtonRootPanel > Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.AnimatedVisualPlayer#Icon styles: - Visibility=Collapsed themeResourceVariables: - '' xamlDiagnosticsHandling: alert
Click on Save settings
Done!

Raj_ · Apr 8, 2026

Here You Go

QuicktellPro · Apr 8, 2026

Raj_ said:
Here You Go

I already fixed mine by covering the Windows button with my Alienware button. Nonetheless, if I had removed the button altogether via your Windhawk option, would that not have removed the option to click on my replacement button?

OpenShell has the option to replace the start button with the image of your choice, however, Win 11 keeps the original underneath which looks terrible.

Raj_ · Apr 8, 2026

QuicktellPro said:
I already fixed mine by covering the Windows button with my Alienware button. Nonetheless, if I had removed the button altogether via your Windhawk option, would that not have removed the option to click on my replacement button?

OpenShell has the option to replace the start button with the image of your choice, however, Win 11 keeps the original underneath which looks terrible.

Congrats For Your Successful Workaround, I Get It Now As Disabling/Removing It Was Not The Solution

hdmi · Apr 11, 2026

QuicktellPro said:
, if I had removed the button altogether via your Windhawk option, would that not have removed the option to click on my replacement button?

The method that I described only removes the Windows 11 icon that would otherwise be hidden only partly behind Open-Shell's icon under certain circumstances (when partial overlap occurs). The actual button itself is left untouched.

QuicktellPro · Apr 11, 2026

hdmi said:
The method that I described only removes the Windows 11 icon that would otherwise be hidden only partly behind Open-Shell's icon under certain circumstances (when partial overlap occurs). The actual button itself is left untouched.

View attachment 168391

Good to know, although my workaround basically provided a similar result.

hdmi · Apr 11, 2026

QuicktellPro said:
Good to know, although my workaround basically provided a similar result.

View attachment 168396

That's only because your taskbar background uses no texture nor uses an opacity level smaller than 1 so it matches. Otherwise the difference between the taskbar background and the solid background in your .png image would destroy the look.

How to remove Windows start button?

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