Start Layout in Windows 11 for All users


I'm trying to create a Windows 11 master image for my VDI (Horizon) environment. I've got everything pretty much working the way I want it, EXCEPT for the Start Layout.
I tried everything in this thread to get the Start menu looking the way I want it, but it's not working. Unfortunately I dont have access to MDT or Intune where I imagine this would be easier.
Has anyone been successful customizing their Start Layout using the methods above?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10, Windows 11
well one can only hope in the next big release next month for Win11 that Microsoft starts tweaking the start menu etc and allowing US
to tweak it to our liking. I hate the Recommended section. For me it is totally useless but as we all know we cant remove it..yet...well without maybe breaking something and then having to reinstall windows
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro Version 23H2(OS Build 22631.4317)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    AMD
    CPU
    12-Core AMD Ryzen 9 5900X, 4950 MHz (49.5 x 100)
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte X570 Aorus Master
    Memory
    4 - G Skill Trident Z Neo F4-3600C16-16GTZNC
    Graphics Card(s)
    PCI Express 4.0 x16: PowerColor RX 6800
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC1220 @ AMD K19.2 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 - 27 inch Westinghouse
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    2 SSD - 2 TB each
    1 SSD - 4TB
    1 HDD - 2TB
    Keyboard
    logitech
    Mouse
    logitech
    Internet Speed
    1 GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Eset Endpoint Security
start.bin methods seem to be deprecated since 22H2, my settings work if I upgrade my 21H2 image to 22H2, but they no longer work on a fresh 22H2 image anymore unless someone knows differently.

Is there any method outside of intune to customize the start menu in windows 11?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
22H2 replaced start.bin with start2.bin; likely because 22H2 supports Start Menu app folders, and 21H2 did not.
Your in-place upgrade would have converted the old format.

There is no word on how to group apps in folders.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
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?
This is working for me: Deploy a customized Windows 11 Start Menu, that allows users to change pinned apps - Everything 365
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11

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