Windows 11 lets you tailor Start using built-in controls for app views, pinned items, recommendations, and folder shortcuts. Microsoft documents these settings, including which layout choices stick and what makes a section collapse.

Pick a view for browsing, then use pins and folder shortcuts to put the things you reach for most within easy reach.

Choose the app view that suits you

Windows Start menu with pinned apps and recent items, the Category view selected, and a phone panel on the right.

In Start’s All section, choose Category, Grid, or List. Category groups apps, Grid presents them as a grid, and List displays them in a list. Microsoft says Pinned and All remember their last-used view. Selecting Show all also leaves Pinned expanded the next time you open Start.

To check that your view choice stuck, close and reopen Start. The selected view is remembered.

Organize pinned apps, folders, and websites

  • Pin an app: Find it in Search, right-click it, and choose Pin to Start. To remove a pin, right-click it and choose Unpin from Start.
  • Pin a folder: In File Explorer, right-click the folder and choose Pin to Start.
  • Reorder pins: Drag a pinned item to its new position.
  • Group pins: Drag one pinned item over another to create a folder. You can rename the folder.
  • Pin a website: In Microsoft Edge, open More tools and select Pin to Start.

These controls let you arrange shortcuts around the apps, folders, and websites you use most.

Manage recommendations and section space

Turn off recommendation providers in Settings to reduce what appears in Recommended. Microsoft says that section collapses when all recommendation providers are disabled. Pinned collapses when you remove all pinned items. The sections remain visible as long as their respective pins or providers remain.

Add folder shortcuts and move Start on the taskbar

To add folder shortcuts beside the Power button:

  1. Open Start and right-click the bottom of the menu.
  2. Select Start settings, then Folders.
  3. Turn on the locations you want, such as Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, Videos, Network, or Personal folder.

The selected shortcuts appear beside Power in Start. Check there after enabling a location.

To move Start to the left, open Taskbar settings > Taskbar behaviors > Taskbar alignment and change the alignment. This setting changes the taskbar alignment; it does not rearrange the Start menu’s contents.