Forum Discussion
Windows 11, Start button menu, make it show all apps by default
In this case, I advise you to open start and search for feedback and open Feedback Hub app and file a suggestion and explain why you don't like these features and what is your expectation.
1.) Start Powershell -> Start Menu -> Run -> taskmgr -> File -> Run new Task -> %SystemRoot%\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe -> Select "Create this task with administrative privileges." -> Click OK.
Change the execution policy so you can run scripts locally:
2.) Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope LocalMachine -Force;
Run this in Powershell to reverse the Start Menu / Taskbar changes:
3.) Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell\Update\Packages" -Name "UndockingDisabled" -Value "00000000"
4.) Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search" -Name "SearchboxTaskbarMode" -Value "00000001";
5.) Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer" -Name "NoTaskGrouping" -Value "00000000";
Restart Explorer to see the taskbar changes:
6.) ./taskkill /f /im explorer.exe;
7.) ./CMD /Q /C START /REALTIME explorer.exe;
Reinstall ALL Apps first:
8.) Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"};
Reset All Apps:
9.) Get-AppxPackage | Reset-AppxPackage;
- ScruluceMay 06, 2024Copper Contributor
Very late to the discussion, I know.
All of the steps you've provided are the exact opposite of the request asked.
Differently stated, Barbloki is asking how to ENABLE the Classic Start Menu (a la Windows 10), as that display is preferable to the additional layer set as default on Windows 11.
- Don-1Dec 11, 2021Brass Contributor
Mousefluff Could you please provide the simplest possible instructions for how to disable the Windows 11 Start Menu, and enable the Classic Start Menu? - Thank you. (Your previous helpful post on Oct 30 2021 shows how to do the opposite task of disabling the Classic Start Menu, and re-enabling the Windows 11 Start Menu...)
- JohnSz365Nov 17, 2021Brass Contributor
WOW! So Microsoft really wants to make it difficult if not essentially impossible for the average Windows user to retain the perfectly logical conventional behavior of selecting from the full list of installed apps. I do really wonder where we are going when every new version of Windows becomes harder to use than the last one. It would never have occurred to me that something that could be handled with a simple configuration switch setting would require registry changes.
- saltpiefarmJul 31, 2024Copper ContributorDoh I need to apologise, Microsoft have already fixed this. If you click start and select the "All Apps" button you get an alphabetic list of apps. Thanks guys!
- Justin_EmlayJul 31, 2024Copper Contributor
That's not a fix. That requires using a mouse and clicking multiple things. A "fix" would be allowing the app list by default which is how Windows used to work. Or a third party fix would be to use WindHawk with the "Show all apps by default in start menu" pluggin.
Also, that Show All Apps link has been there from day 1. Nothing has changed.
- saltpiefarmJul 31, 2024Copper Contributor
JohnSz365 says "where are we going" , my answer is where Linux Ubuntu went in 2010 when they introduced the widely hated "Dash" box. Just like windows 11 it searches for apps on your computer (and stuff off the net) when you start typing their name. Which is fine if you can remember the name that some marketing guru gave the app. If you only recall what the app is for, it is less helpful. In fact in the Windows 11 case it is even a more bizarre development because windows 10 already had a box like Dash so you had the choice, start typing the app name or select it from an alphabetical list. "Progress" in Windows 11: They just took the list away!
- tom_bergerson0Feb 20, 2024Copper Contributor
This Windows 11, which is really Windows 10, because they skipped Windows 9
All the even numbered versions of Windows were just awful. Windows 8 being the worst, but also Vista which was 6.
7 Was just fine, and 10 was ok, which was really 9
11 is 10 and I do not like it either
Then again Microsoft tends to regard bugs as features. Like the Windows Explorer behavior where the folder cursor just randomly zings to the bottom or whatever
- CReyesOct 15, 2024Copper Contributor
tom_bergerson0 You forgot Windows ME (Millenium Edition, between Windows 98 and Windows XP). It was very bad also.