Start Layout in Windows 11 for All users

Hi,

Is it not supported /possible to override the Windows 11 default start layout?

I am trying to set the following start layout for all users:


Following this article and created json file as
Customize the Windows 11 Start menu

1. {
2. "primaryOEMPins": [
3. { "packagedAppId": "Microsoft.Windows.Photos_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App" },
4. { "desktopAppId": "Chrome" },
5. { "desktopAppId": "308046B0AF4A39CB" },
6. { "desktopAppId": "{7C5A40EF-A0FB-4BFC-874A-C0F2E0B9FA8E}\\Notepad++\\notepad++.exe" }
7. ],
8. "secondaryOEMPins": [
9. { "desktopAppId": "::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}" },
10. { "packagedAppId": "windows.immersivecontrolpanel_cw5n1h2txyewy!microsoft.windows.immersivecontrolpanel" }
11. ],
12. "firstRunOEMPins": [
13. { "packagedAppId": "Microsoft.WindowsNotepad_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App" }
14. ]
15. }

Now copied this LayoutModification.Json file in mounted image as:
D:\Mount\Users\Default\Appdata\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Shell

Once image is deployed, the result wasn't as expected:

i was unable to do this as well. even if you manually set your start menu pinned items and enable the group policy for start layout, it does not let you pin new items to start but you are still able to unpin current items from the menu...

dacrone said:

i was unable to do this as well. even if you manually set your start menu pinned items and enable the group policy for start layout, it does not let you pin new items to start but you are still able to unpin current items from the menu...

Click to expand...

Yeah, as far as I can see, currently it's kind of impossible to override default layout and replace with a custom layout.

I haven't tested this below in Windows 11 yet, but if you test it be sure to create a system image first to be safe.

Brink said:

I haven't tested this below in Windows 11 yet, but if you test it be sure to create a system image first to be safe.

Set Default Start Layout for Users in Windows 10

How to Set Default Start Layout for Users in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

Click to expand...

Hi Brink,

No, this Windows 10 method is not more supported for Windows 11

try setting your preferred on a pc, then using sordum's utility to export/import it to another. may work for your needs

dacrone said:

try setting your preferred on a pc, then using sordum's utility to export/import it to another. may work for your needs

Backup Start Menu Layout v1.6

Backup Start menu layout is a portable freeware Sordum Tool to Backup ,Restore and reset Windows 11 and Windows 10 Start Menu layout.

www.sordum.org

Click to expand...

Would prefer using MS way, but thanks anyways, have tested this utility today already.

Hello!, an alternative is to use registry entries:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\current\device\Start]

"ConfigureStartPins"="{\"pinnedList\":[{\"desktopAppId\":\"308046B0AF4A39CB\"},{\"desktopAppId\":\"Chrome\"},{\"desktopAppId\":\"MSEdge\"},{\"desktopAppId\":\"Microsoft.Office.WINWORD.EXE.15\"},{\"desktopAppId\":\"Microsoft.Office.EXCEL.EXE.15\"},{\"desktopAppId\":\"Microsoft.Office.POWERPNT.EXE.15\"},{\"desktopAppId\":\"{7C5A40EF-A0FB-4BFC-874A-C0F2E0B9FA8E}\\\\CDBurnerXP\\\\cdbxpp.exe\"},{\"desktopAppId\":\"{6D809377-6AF0-444B-8957-A3773F02200E}\\\\Adobe\\\\Acrobat DC\\\\Acrobat\\\\Acrobat.exe\"},{\"packagedAppId\":\"Microsoft.WindowsCalculator_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App\"},{\"packagedAppId\":\"Microsoft.WindowsNotepad_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App\"},{\"packagedAppId\":\"microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe!microsoft.windowslive.calendar\"},{\"packagedAppId\":\"Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App\"},{\"desktopAppId\":\"Microsoft.Windows.ControlPanel\"},{\"packagedAppId\":\"windows.immersivecontrolpanel_cw5n1h2txyewy!microsoft.windows.immersivecontrolpanel\"},{\"desktopAppId\":\"Microsoft.Windows.Explorer\"},{\"desktopAppId\":\"{1AC14E77-02E7-4E5D-B744-2EB1AE5198B7}\\\\cmd.exe\"},{\"desktopAppId\":\"{7C5A40EF-A0FB-4BFC-874A-C0F2E0B9FA8E}\\\\TEAMVIEWER\\\\TEAMVIEWER.EXE\"},{\"desktopAppId\":\"prokzult ad\"}]}" "ConfigureStartPins_ProviderSet"=dword:00000001

joserf said:

Hello!, an alternative is to use registry entries:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\current\device\Start]

"ConfigureStartPins"="{\"pinnedList\":[{\"desktopAppId\":\"308046B0AF4A39CB\"},{\"desktopAppId\":\"Chrome\"},{\"desktopAppId\":\"MSEdge\"},{\"desktopAppId\":\"Microsoft.Office.WINWORD.EXE.15\"},{\"desktopAppId\":\"Microsoft.Office.EXCEL.EXE.15\"},{\"desktopAppId\":\"Microsoft.Office.POWERPNT.EXE.15\"},{\"desktopAppId\":\"{7C5A40EF-A0FB-4BFC-874A-C0F2E0B9FA8E}\\\\CDBurnerXP\\\\cdbxpp.exe\"},{\"desktopAppId\":\"{6D809377-6AF0-444B-8957-A3773F02200E}\\\\Adobe\\\\Acrobat DC\\\\Acrobat\\\\Acrobat.exe\"},{\"packagedAppId\":\"Microsoft.WindowsCalculator_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App\"},{\"packagedAppId\":\"Microsoft.WindowsNotepad_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App\"},{\"packagedAppId\":\"microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe!microsoft.windowslive.calendar\"},{\"packagedAppId\":\"Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App\"},{\"desktopAppId\":\"Microsoft.Windows.ControlPanel\"},{\"packagedAppId\":\"windows.immersivecontrolpanel_cw5n1h2txyewy!microsoft.windows.immersivecontrolpanel\"},{\"desktopAppId\":\"Microsoft.Windows.Explorer\"},{\"desktopAppId\":\"{1AC14E77-02E7-4E5D-B744-2EB1AE5198B7}\\\\cmd.exe\"},{\"desktopAppId\":\"{7C5A40EF-A0FB-4BFC-874A-C0F2E0B9FA8E}\\\\TEAMVIEWER\\\\TEAMVIEWER.EXE\"},{\"desktopAppId\":\"prokzult ad\"}]}" "ConfigureStartPins_ProviderSet"=dword:00000001

View attachment 16943

Click to expand...

Hi,
Can you email /attach the reg file?

See attached, now I'm racking my brain to not let users remove or add icons, any help is valid.

joserf said:

See attached, now I'm racking my brain to not let users remove or add icons, any help is valid.

Click to expand...

Thanks for attaching the file, will check it in my LAB environment.
To answer your question, maybe you can have your defined layout for all users and have it apply at startup (when computer starts), so if a user has modified the layout, will be reverted to what you defined.

I tried to do this, it doesn't work. I'm looking for a way to remove the add button or remove the pins

If you're still looking for a way -

I had a hard time with the JSON file for the start menu. What I found is that Windows creates a start.bin (\user\YourUSER\Appdata\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\) which has all the start menu pins. You can literally copy that and paste it in the default user folder path so that new users can have it.

What I do for my organization currently is I use PS App Deployment Toolkit to wrap it up:

Ex:
Note- I also use this to copy the taskbar pins


This will copy to the default + any profiles that exist (If you are doing an In place Upgrade)

So to test:

1. Log in to a profile
2. Change the start menu as you see fit
3. Copy the start.bin to another profile
4. Login to that profile and test (You can also restart Explorer for the change to take effect)

I attached an example snip below. My Start.bin has some of the office apps on there but, I didnt install office on my lab so it left them out. I really wanted the Microsoft store gone so this route was pretty kind to me.




This post explains it better

Hello, this is a solution that works, but I have many complaints, the user removes the icons and then they call to complain that they have changed and then returned to normal, the interesting thing is to remove the "unpin from start" option, but this is difficult find.

rb26dett62 said:

If you're still looking for a way -

I had a hard time with the JSON file for the start menu. What I found is that Windows creates a start.bin (\user\YourUSER\Appdata\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\) which has all the start menu pins. You can literally copy that and paste it in the default user folder path so that new users can have it.

What I do for my organization currently is I use PS App Deployment Toolkit to wrap it up:

Ex:
Note- I also use this to copy the taskbar pins

Code:

          $Profilepaths = Get-UserProfiles | Select-Object -ExpandProperty 'ProfilePath'
          ForEach ($Profile in $ProfilePaths) {
          Copy-File -Path $dirSupportFiles\start.bin -Destination $Profile\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState
          Copy-File -Path $dirSupportFiles\LayoutModification.xml -Destination $profile\AppData\local\Microsoft\Windows\Shell
          }

This will copy to the default + any profiles that exist (If you are doing an In place Upgrade)

So to test:

1. Log in to a profile
2. Change the start menu as you see fit
3. Copy the start.bin to another profile
4. Login to that profile and test (You can also restart Explorer for the change to take effect)

I attached an example snip below. My Start.bin has some of the office apps on there but, I didnt install office on my lab so it left them out. I really wanted the Microsoft store gone so this route was pretty kind to me.

View attachment 17100


This post explains it better

Click to expand...

New tutorial to help. :)

Currently working on this for domain joined machines and the start.bin file seems to not get copied from the default user anymore for a new domain user profile. This is with Windows 11 pro. Haven't had luck with the json file either as we don't currently use Endpoint manager or intune. The main objective is to modify the start menu pins to not show the promotional apps such as tiktok/climpchamp/etc. Any thoughts?

mk4d said:

Currently working on this for domain joined machines and the start.bin file seems to not get copied from the default user anymore for a new domain user profile. This is with Windows 11 pro. Haven't had luck with the json file either as we don't currently use Endpoint manager or intune. The main objective is to modify the start menu pins to not show the promotional apps such as tiktok/climpchamp/etc. Any thoughts?

Click to expand...

Hi,

You should copy the start.bin file to this path:

%SystemDrive%\Users\Default\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\

Regards.

Damian said:

Hi,

You should copy the start.bin file to this path:

%SystemDrive%\Users\Default\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\

Regards.

Click to expand...

I have this as a step in my mdt deployment task sequence and I can see by the time stamp on the file after deployment for the default user is the right file. When I look at the same file for the newly logged in domain user the time stamps are the day off and size is not the same. I have even moved the newly created profile's start.bin file to my reference machine and it is indeed not the correct file. It's almost as if that folder/file is not getting copied over from the default profile at all.

I found a way that maybe, with a lot of cost, can help you and help me (in parts). Come on!

My scenario is as follows, all the pcs here at the company run a standard "image", I cloned a disk from a newly installed machine, with all the apps and systems that we use, and every time I need to format a pc, I this image above, and it saves me a lot of time, but the default start of windows bothers me because it always comes loaded with useless apps for the desktop.

Looking around, I saw that the start saves its state in an encrypted file in this folder here: %LocalAppdata%\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState, in a file called "start.bin", many people said that it was just a copy and paste this file and the menu was exported, well, I tested it and that's not how it works, once the user has already logged into the machine, his start menu can no longer be changed (which for me doesn't have problem, because as I have few pcs, I manually change the start, but I have to configure each time a new user accesses, which takes me time and took me to look for this tutorial), but users who have not yet logged in machine can have their start menu changed already, which would save time.

Well, what I did was, in my user, I created a "standard" start menu, then I went to C:\Users, and changed the folder permissions so that the hidden files were displayed, so that the system's protected files operating system were displayed, and the known file extensions were displayed, in this way some interesting folders appeared to me, which windows hides by default, they are: "All Users, Default, Default User, All Users and Default User", but when access them, I only got to the AppData folder, the folder "\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\" didn't exist, so what I did was copy the entire path into these "default" users. When logging in with an existing user, the menu remains the same, however, when logging in with a new user, EURECA, we have the new menu.

Now the mission would be to find a way to, via GPO, include this altered path in the PCs of the domain, I still haven't been able to stop to test it, but maybe the easiest way is via script, unfortunately it's only possible to customize the menu according to the workstation location, not according to the user, but I believe it's a start.

If you can find a simpler way, let me know.

So....first post, and between this thread and a couple other links, found about the best solution I possibly can for my own situation. We run Win 10 Pro everywhere, since we're too poor to run Enterprise. 5-man IT team with 3 of them being barely to install Office without screwing it up. Myself and director are the only ones with a brain, and I'm only half his equal. Domain is still 2008r2 (yes, I know, I know). Feel free to criticize or use as you see fit.


Attempts to both the start.bin file copy and setting the registry. Thanks to joserf for giving me the base to create my own file.