Change the appearance of the Windows Start button. What to do if the Start menu does not open How to customize the start view in Windows 10

Greetings!

Whatever one may say, habits stay with us for a long time. Having used Windows 7 for a long time, there is no particular desire to give up its familiar environment when switching to a new version of Windows.

And in Windows 10, as we know, the Start menu interface has been significantly redesigned. In general, it was changed back in Windows 8, but some users are switching to Windows 10 straight from Windows 7, delaying the upgrade process until the last minute.

It is clear that everything new a priori cannot be the best, so the same can be said regarding the Start menu in Windows 10, at least this is the opinion of some users, including the author of these lines.

But the situation with the Windows 10 menu is not fatal, but fixable. The design and functionality of the Windows 10 Start menu is quite returnable. And the process of returning the good old Start menu, which has delighted users since time immemorial, will be described in the best traditions of the site resource

Making the Windows 10 Start menu exactly the same as it was in Windows 7

To accomplish this task, we need to use a free and, importantly, Russian-language interface program called Classic Shell.

This program consists of several modules that are selected during installation. Let's take a closer look at which modules are responsible for what and what exactly we need in order to return the design and functionality of Start in 10, similar to what was in Windows 7.

Classic Explorer– using this module you can return the file explorer design that was in Windows earlier, before Windows 10, 8
Classic Start Menu– this module is responsible for returning the Start menu, it must be installed without fail (the rest are optional)
Classic IE– as you might guess, this module is responsible for setting up the interface of the Internet Explorer Internet browser, which is built into Windows by default.
Classic Shell Update– this module is responsible for the ability to update the utility itself, checking the release of a new version via the Internet

After downloading and installing the utility, you need to configure it. As soon as you click on the Start menu, a settings window will be displayed.

In the first tab, which is called Start menu styles, you can select the desired design of both the Start menu itself and the button that calls it.

In the main settings tab, you can set the behavior of the menu when you click on certain items, display recent or frequently used programs, configure when you click on the shutdown item, and some other parameters.

On the cover tab, you can select the menu design and customize its accompanying elements.

And the Start menu customization tab allows you to specify which menu items and options should be displayed and which should be hidden.

It is worth noting that this is not a complete list of all possible settings that can be configured in this program. If you check the box Show all options, then you will see a much larger number of options and settings that can be changed thanks to the program.

A truly flexible and powerful solution with which you can not only return the original design and functionality of the Start menu that was available in Windows 7, but also flexibly customize it for yourself.

The Start menu, which was missing in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, is back with Windows 10. It is available on PCs and laptops, while touch device users have the infamous Start screen turned on by default. But even so, the new version of the operating system still allows you to turn on the Start screen on traditional computers with just a few clicks.

If you've already installed a preview version of Windows 10, or are just following the news, it won't be a revelation to you that the Start menu in Windows 10 is not identical to the one we know from Windows 7 and Vista. Yes, the new Start menu includes elements from Windows 7, but in addition to that, it also carries over features from Windows 8. According to Microsoft, it offers the best of Windows 7 and Windows 8.

By default, the left side of the menu shows recently used programs and pinned programs, while the right side consists of dynamic tiles. Luckily, users who don't need these tiles, or users who would like a simple, clean Start menu, can remove them quickly and easily.

If you want a clean but still functional Start Menu in Windows 10, all you need to do is follow the instructions in one of the two methods below.

Making a Windows 7-like Start menu in Windows 10 without third-party utilities

Here we will simply remove all the tiles you see on the right side to end up with a simple yet functional menu. The advantage of this method is that you do not have to install any third-party utilities, but the end result will not completely repeat the menu from the “seven”. If you want to get a menu that is as close as possible to that in Windows 7, you can immediately proceed to the second method.

Step 1: So, open the Start menu.

Step 2: Right-click on any of the tiles on the right side of the menu, and then select the "Unpin from Start" option from the context menu. Repeat the same with the remaining tiles.

Step 3: After you clear all the tiles, you will get a result like the screenshot below.

Making a Windows 7-like Start menu in Windows 10 using third-party utilities

If you want to get the menu exactly like in Windows 7, there are many paid and free programs that will help you with this.

Classic Shell, ViStart Menu, and IObit Start are just some of the best free Start menu replacements that you can install to get a Windows 7-like Start menu style in Windows 10. Among the many third-party menus, the most popular is Classic Shell.

Questions about how you can return everyone to the familiar Windows 10 start menu as in Windows 7 are quite relevant when the computer icon does not appear on the desktop of a freshly installed OS after installation, and the changed Start menu, to put it mildly, is “not very good”!

Returning the Windows 10 start menu to the same as in Windows 7

It is not possible to return the full start menu to Windows 10 using the operating system, but you can change the start menu look, so that it becomes similar to the usual version. For this:

Programs for creating a start menu

Classic Shell

This program is completely free and has Russian language. Its parameters can be customized to your taste and different design themes can be used.

Start 10

This is a product of Stardock, which specializes in developing applications for Windows design changes. You can use Start10 free 30 days. Its installation takes place in English, but the interface itself has support for the Russian language. The application can set not only the color, but also the texture for the start menu.

StartIsBack++

This program also has a Russian-language interface, and it is provided free use for 30 days. StartIsBack++ changes not only the menu itself, but also the taskbar.

How to get the My Computer icon back on the Windows 10 desktop

To enable the computer icon on the new system, you will need to right-click on the desktop and click Personalization .
Then:

Now the icon My computer will be placed on the Windows 10 desktop, only it will be called This computer, but the name can be changed.

With this quick guide, you can get your Windows 10 MY COMPUTER icon and start menu back like they were in Windows 7

Many users were dissatisfied with the appearance of the radically new Start menu in Windows 8 and in the new version of the operating system, Microsoft decided to listen to the demands of millions of users from around the world and gave them a choice: use the full-screen Start menu or install the classic version familiar to users Windows 7 and older versions of the operating system. Are you new to Windows 10? Here are instructions for changing the appearance of the Start menu in Windows 10.

The traditional Start menu, installed by default in Windows 10.

By default, Windows 10 comes with the classic design, which looks like a combination of the Start menu from Windows 7 and Windows 8. On the left side, you will find a list of frequently used applications and recently added ones, as well as a button that will open you a list of all installed applications. The right side of the menu displays all of your apps' pinned tiles, just like Windows 8.

The Start menu personalization window in Computer Settings.

If you prefer full-screen display mode or just want to try an alternative interface, you can change it as follows:

Full screen Start mode in Windows 10.

This will switch the Start menu to full-screen mode, similar to Windows 8. Note that in this case, the computer's power key will appear at the bottom left, along with the all applications button. A list of installed apps will open in the sidebar, and a button in the top left corner will take you to a panel with frequently used apps and four links to File Explorer, PC Settings, All Apps, and Power Management.

How do I turn off frequently used and recently added apps from showing in the Start menu?

Alternative Start Menu from Stardock.

Bonus.

Of course, no one has canceled third-party applications with which you can change the appearance of the Start menu. If you're still unhappy with the way Microsoft has changed the menu, you can install the classic option, which will look exactly the same as what is used in Windows 7. Please note that you need to use third-party applications for this. Stardock provide a great app called Start10 for just such purposes.

Windows 10 is a stylish, modern and feature-rich operating system. However, many users do not like its new Start menu: it seems overloaded and confusing. Therefore, there was a justified need to return the Start menu to its usual appearance, as in Windows 7 or even earlier versions. There are several ways to solve this problem.

Return to "classic" on Windows 10

There are a lot of options for returning the “traditional” Start menu. But most of them require the installation of third-party software. You should not be afraid of this, since such additional programs do not contain anything dangerous for your OS. In addition, there is a way to customize the Start menu exclusively using Windows 10 itself.

Setup using standard Windows 10 features

This method brings the appearance of the Start menu as close as possible to the classic one. The essence of the setting is to get rid of bulky “tiles” that occupy almost a third of the screen surface. It is completed in a matter of minutes.

Open the Start menu, right-click on each tile in sequence and select the “Unpin from Start Screen” option. We repeat this until there are not a single tile left in the available space.
When you right-click on a tile, you can change its settings
Once the “tile area” is free, move the mouse cursor to the right edge of the Start menu window until the double-sided arrow icon appears. Hold down the left mouse button and drag the edge of the menu to the left until it stops.
If you don't unpin all the tiles, you won't be able to resize the tiled area.
By hiding the Windows tile display area, you end up with a Start menu that is closer to the standard version.
By leaving only the Start menu area, you will be visually closer to the “classic” look

Video: How to remove the “tile area” from the Start menu on Windows 10

Thanks to this method, the Start menu begins to resemble the “classics”, but still very distantly. Therefore, for deeper settings it is better to use special utilities. Let's look at the most popular programs that allow you to return the Start menu to its usual appearance.

The most popular programs for customizing the Start menu on Windows 10

There are many free and paid utilities for Windows 10 on the Internet that allow you to return the Start menu to its usual appearance. However, millions of ordinary Microsoft OS users have long chosen a small group of them that are the most convenient, efficient and easily customizable.

StartIsBack - select the correct version

Some top lists of “popular Start Menu customization programs for Windows 10” recommend StartIsBack. But keep in mind that not all versions of this program are suitable for Windows 10. Today there are three versions:

StartIsBack version for Windows 8;
StartIsBack+ version for Windows 8.1;
StartIsBack++ version for Windows 10.

For Windows 10 OS you can only use the StartIsBack++ version.

StartIsBack++ for Windows 10

If you download a version of the program that is not intended for Windows 10, it will not run for you.

After downloading, run the installer. During installation, you can select Russian language.

The program only has a 30-day free version, after which you will have to either buy it (the latest current price is 125 rubles), or completely remove it (without leaving traces in the system registry) and install the trial version again.

After installation, a window will appear where you can immediately go to the Start panel settings by clicking on the “Configure StartIsBack” entry.

Once the installation of the program is complete, you will also be told about the main launch options using hotkeys

If you accidentally closed the installation window, but want to change the program settings, you can access them by right-clicking on the “Start” menu and selecting the “Properties” function.

The StartIsBack utility has four different settings windows, which together allow you to create a complete, personalized Start menu style.

Start menu customization window. Makes it possible to change the display order of installed programs, the size and illumination of icons, and also configure the search bar.
The Start menu customization is so rich that everyone can choose the best option for themselves.
Appearance settings window. Helps you choose the style of the Start menu window.
The design style of the Start menu allows for fairly flexible customization
“Switching” settings window. It includes settings for hot keys and placement of the Start icon on the monitor screen.
When assigning hotkeys, be careful that they do not duplicate other commands in Windows.
Additional settings window. You can configure the display of all recently opened documents or running programs.
In the “Advanced” settings, you can also disable the StartIsBack++ program without removing it from the system

After completing the setup process, you will have a “classic Start”.

By changing your Start menu settings, you can check the result in real time without restarting your computer

Classic Shell - a program with wide settings functionality

This utility is perhaps the most famous, popular and convenient of all. It is available in many languages, including Russian. To return to the classic Start menu using Classic Shell:

Go to the official website of the program, where immediately on the main page click the Download Now button to download.
After downloading, running the program and accepting the license agreement, Classic Shell will give you the right to select the installation folder and those utility components that you would like to install. There are only four such components:
After completing the installation and clicking on the “Start” menu, you will immediately be taken to the Classic Shell settings window. It has four tabs:
- The Start menu style settings window allows you to customize the appearance of both the menu itself and the corresponding button;
  The Classic Shell program offers the classic Start menu view not only from Windows 7, but also from the earlier version of Windows XP
- the basic settings window allows you to set hotkey combinations that will be used to execute Windows commands;
  Clicking the “Archive settings” button will allow you to quickly save the current settings for later access
- The cover settings window allows you to set the window background in the Start menu;
  There are a total of 8 Start menu appearance styles available.
- The Start menu customization window is responsible for customizing the display of icons in the menu.
  The Customize Start Menu window allows you not only to choose how individual items will look, but also to completely disable some of them
After selecting all the necessary settings, the Start menu will take on its usual classic appearance.
The Classic Shell program consumes virtually no additional resources on your PC

Video: the process of installing and configuring the Classic Shell program on Windows 10

Start10 is a program with the best integration for Windows 10 style

Another utility in the “top” is Start10. It allows you to customize the visual style of the Start menu so that it will be in perfect harmony with the overall style of Windows 10. To make sure of this, just follow a number of simple steps:

Go to the program developers page and click the Try It Free!
On the main page you can watch a video depicting the program's capabilities
After downloading and installation, the main window of the utility will open, where you can create the desired Start menu option using the existing settings.
- The “Style” setting contains two tabs that help you customize the appearance of the Start menu: the main button, size, number and illumination of icons, etc.;
  The “Style” settings window is divided into two sub-items
- the “Manage” setting is responsible for redistributing hotkeys for commands related to the Start menu;
  If you have only one WIN key on your keyboard, then some settings will not be available
- The Desktop setting allows you to change the gamma and texture of the bottom toolbar, as well as hide the Start button.
  Although the Start10 program supports the Russian language, it is only partially Russified
As a result, we get either a strictly classic Start menu, or a more modern version with notes of WIndows 10 design.

While writing this article, the author noticed that the Classic Shell utility is the most popular among both Russian-speaking and English-speaking users. If we take into account foreign Windows 10 users, then IObit’s Start Menu and Power8 programs are also in demand. When testing the above-mentioned applications, it turned out that IObit’s Start Menu not only has much less settings functionality than other programs, but also a slower response of Start menu items. Moreover, its installation may even lead to Windows Explorer freezing or incorrect display of icons on the desktop. If we talk about Power8, its obvious advantages will be the minimal consumption of PC resources, as well as the integrated search bar, which allows you to search not only on local drives, but also on the Internet, without the need to manually launch the browser. The main disadvantage of the utility is a very specific set of settings for the Start menu and quick access panel.

Alternative way to set up for a "special occasion"

The reason for the desire to return the “classic Start” to Windows 10 may be another “special case”. Imagine that you booted up a computer with the Windows operating system, opened the Start menu and suddenly saw not the usual window, but a set of tiles expanded to fill the entire screen.

In tablet mode, not only the Start menu changes, but also the bottom toolbar

In this case, returning the normal appearance of the start menu is quite simple. The fact is that “tablet mode” is enabled on your computer. To deactivate it you must:

Go to the “System” console settings (right-click on the “Start” menu, and then select “Options”).
In addition to disabling tablet mode, in the settings you can also enable an activation notification the next time you launch this mode
Now, when you click the “Start” button, the usual launch window will open.

Video: how to disable “Tablet Mode” in Windows 10

Are there other ways to customize the Windows 10 Start menu to look classic? The answer is no, you can only try different third-party applications or be content with the standard system settings. This was confirmed by an official employee (moderator) of Microsoft Corporation. A similar question from a user on the Microsoft technical support website (link with original English text) was answered by the following answer (translated by the author of this article):

Unfortunately, the new Windows 10 OS does not have the option to return to the classic Start menu. If you need it that much, you can use third-party programs. But Microsoft does not recommend using third-party software and other hacking methods.

Having checked all the available methods for returning the classic view of the Start menu on Windows 10, the author of this article came to the conclusion that the optimal solution would be to use third-party programs such as StartIsBack++ and Classic Shell. These utilities showed the most stable operation, while having the widest functionality of settings.

The new Windows 10 OS has undoubtedly taken a step forward in terms of modernization, simplification, versatility and greater responsiveness to users. However, not all Microsoft innovations were to the taste of users. One of the most controversial is the emphasis on the “tiled Start menu system”, so many would like to return to the familiar “classic” Start option. And this is quite possible not only thanks to the built-in functionality of Windows 10 itself, but also, first of all, to numerous third-party programs.