Personalization Restore Classic Start Menu in Windows 11


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The method in this tutorial no longer works starting with Windows 11 build 22000.65.


The Start menu contains shortcuts of all your apps, settings, and files.

Windows 11 comes with a new Start menu without live tiles.

If you do not like the new Start menu in Windows 11, you can restore the classic Start menu similar to the Windows 10 Start menu.

This tutorial will show you how to restore the classic Start menu for your account in Windows 11.

EXAMPLE: Default and classic Start menu in Windows 11

Default_Start_menu_in_Windows_11.jpg
Classic_Start_menu_in_Windows_11.jpg




Here's How:

The downloadable .bat files below will modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

Start_ShowClassicMode DWORD

0 or <delete> = Default Start menu
1 = Classic Start menu


1 Do step 2 (classic) or step 3 (default) below for what you would like to do.


2 To Restore Classic Start Menu in Windows 11

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Restore_classic_Start_menu_in_Windows_11.bat​



3 To Restore Default Start Menu in Windows 11

This is the default setting.


A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Restore_default_Start_menu_in_Windows_11.bat​



4 Save the .bat file to your desktop.

5 Unblock the .bat file.

6 Run the .bat file

7 You will now notice your screen flicker and a command prompt quickly opens and closes as the explorer process is restarted to apply the registry changes.

8 You can now delete the downloaded .bat file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink
 

Attachments

Last edited:
Click to expand...
John,

Thanks for those suggestions. I've noted them all for investigation.

Denis
 

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Cool.

However, I really do hope they bring that functionality back - I missed in your ss the first 10 times I looked at it that you were clicking on the bar beside the Menus 'button' - and then the light bulb went off.

I doubt they will bring it back - but it's still an early dev build, so.....
 

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Corona said:
So, Win 8/10 start menus are considered "classic" now. Fuggin fantastic. :cautious:
Click to expand...
Yep, win10 is "classic". In 10 I use classic shell to get win7 start button. Does work in win11
 

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dupek said:
Yep, win10 is "classic". In 10 I use classic shell to get win7 start button. Does work in win11
Click to expand...
I have Classic Shell too. Good to know it'll work in Win11. ;)
 

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dupek said:
In 10 I use classic shell ... Does work in win11
Click to expand...
Sorry, are you saying, "It does work in Win11.", or are you asking, "Does it work in Win11?"?

Denis
 

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Windows 11 Home x64 Version 25H2 Build 26200....
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Windows 11 Home x64 Version 25H2 Build 26200.9168
z3r010 said:
I don't understand this obsession with the start menu, the only time I go near it is once a week or so to reboot my pc, everything useful is pinned to my taskbar or I use the search.
Click to expand...
I completely agree!
 

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Try3 said:
Sorry, are you saying, "It does work in Win11.", or are you asking, "Does it work in Win11?"?

Denis
Click to expand...
It works in win11 ( at least for me)
 

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Fair warning for those that want install "classic shell" in win11. It will add the start button on the left. It my get in conflict with win11 start button if you switch taskbar to left
 

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Restore classic no longer seems to work with the July 8th 22000.65 build
 

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geneo said:
Restore classic no longer seems to work with the July 8th 22000.65 build
Click to expand...
It's no longer working for me either. :(
 

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was so excited when i woke up getting the notice from windows update for the new build...

was hoping there would some bits of improvement from the taskbar/explorer....

and....

mygod. im just gonna laugh it out.

effin bs.


:(
 

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geneo said:
Restore classic no longer seems to work with the July 8th 22000.65 build
Click to expand...
I'm more concerned with 'Classic Start'.
WTF is 'Restore Classic'?
 

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Corona said:
I'm more concerned with 'Classic Start'.
WTF is 'Restore Classic'?
Click to expand...
Restore Classic... is the topic of this thread, that's WTF.
 

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Same here, Start Menu returned to default and no obvious way back. That would be an epic fail because I rely on the Start Menu so heavily.
 

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W11 Pro x64 ongoing Canary 29500 latest buildsIntel i58GbIntel HD Graphics
OS
W11 Pro x64 ongoing Canary 29500 latest builds
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
Dell 7760 Mobile Precision 17"
CPU
Intel i5
Motherboard
Unknown
Memory
8Gb
Graphics Card(s)
Intel HD Graphics
Sound Card
Realtek
Monitor(s) Displays
Internal
Hard Drives
2 x 256Gb SSD
PSU
Dell 240 watt
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Dell Premier Bluetooth
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50Mbps
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Edge
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Default Microsoft Security
The Winareo Tweak does not work for me no more as well.

I hope some one comes up with a solution I much prefer classic start menu full screen and grouped Apps.
 

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win11
OS
win11
ldrvisions2016 said:
The Winareo Tweak does not work for me no more as well.

I hope some one comes up with a solution I much prefer classic start menu full screen and grouped Apps.
Click to expand...
Most definitely. I would urge everyone to report this via the Feedback Hub as well.

I'm a bit out of my comfort zone altering reg keys but I did look at the key before and after the update (I have an image backup chain and so could undo the problem. Also deferred updates until August 8th).

These are the keys from before and after the update and I double checked they are not mixed up. The Classic key seems to have a 0 as value and the value changes after the update to a 1.

Those in the working system seem to be the opposite of the values mentioned at the thread start for a system with Classic Start Menu.

After the update I do indeed see a 1 which agrees with the TUT but of course it is not working. What I am saying is the update has changed the 0 to a 1

I also exported the working key from before the update and tried applying it after the update but no good. Curiously the key from after the update does not seem to change the Classic menu back to Default when it is applied.
 

Attachments

  • Classic Start Menu Reg Key.jpg
    Classic Start Menu Reg Key.jpg
    65.7 KB · Views: 201
  • Default Start Menu Reg Key.jpg
    Default Start Menu Reg Key.jpg
    42.9 KB · Views: 223

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

W11 Pro x64 ongoing Canary 29500 latest buildsIntel i58GbIntel HD Graphics
OS
W11 Pro x64 ongoing Canary 29500 latest builds
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
Dell 7760 Mobile Precision 17"
CPU
Intel i5
Motherboard
Unknown
Memory
8Gb
Graphics Card(s)
Intel HD Graphics
Sound Card
Realtek
Monitor(s) Displays
Internal
Hard Drives
2 x 256Gb SSD
PSU
Dell 240 watt
Mouse
Dell Premier Bluetooth
Internet Speed
50Mbps
Browser
Edge
Antivirus
Default Microsoft Security
Noooooooooo I want the Win10 start menu back 😭😭
 

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At a glance

Windows 11Intel Core i7 8700 @ 3.20GHz Coffee Lake 14nm...32,0 GB 3200 Mhz Kingston3071MB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB
OS
Windows 11
CPU
Intel Core i7 8700 @ 3.20GHz Coffee Lake 14nm Tech
Motherboard
MEDION B360H4-EM (U3E1)
Memory
32,0 GB 3200 Mhz Kingston
Graphics Card(s)
3071MB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB
Sound Card
Realtek High Definition Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
TCL SMART TV
Screen Resolution
3840 x 2160 60 Hz
Hard Drives
931GB TOSHIBA DT01ACA100 (SATA )
119GB FORESEE 128GB SSD (SATA (SSD))
1862GB Western Digital WD Elements 10B8 USB Device (USB (SATA)
3725GB Western Digital WD My Passport 25E1 USB Device (USB (SATA) (SSD)
1862GB Western Digital WD Elements 25A3 USB Device (USB (SATA))
Browser
Firefox Beta 64 Bits
Antivirus
Windows Defender
Is StarkIsBack working for you on Windows 11 22000.100?
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11i5-8265U12 GBNVIDIA GeForce MX150 2GB
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
ASUS Vivobook S15
CPU
i5-8265U
Memory
12 GB
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce MX150 2GB
Antivirus
NOD32

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two Other systems

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS ROG Strix

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS VivoBook
  • ASUS VivoBook 'Lite' ~ Windows 11 Home
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