Screenshots: http://imgur.com/a/iGmEr

I recently got a new laptop. My old laptop, running Windows 10, had a really nice Start menu. The buttons for "File Explorer", "Settings", "Power", and "All apps" were big and easy to click (first image).

My new laptop has a fresh install of Windows 10 (second image). I find I have to search for the right icon with the small buttons, and I find the Start menu is cluttered with the apps list there and not in a sub-menu.

Is there any way to get the old one back? I have looked through the settings but I haven't found anything relevant. Googling the issue just shows "how to get the windows 7 start menu in windows 10".

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It has been suggested that this is a duplicate of this question. I am willing to install third-party software to fix this, but I don't want to pay for a piece of software for something so simple.

Marcel

Posted 2016-08-23T23:10:31.930

Reputation: 228

What you want requires the use of third-party software. – Ramhound – 2016-08-23T23:14:43.833

4@Ramhound How is this in any way a duplicate of that? That was windows 8's god-awful fullscreen start screen! – Marcel – 2016-08-23T23:16:26.007

90% of those applications have versions designed for Windows 10, for example (StartIsBack) StartIsBack++ and (Start 8) Start 10 and ClassicShell – Ramhound – 2016-08-23T23:17:36.010

ClassicShell is free.... – Ramhound – 2016-08-24T00:44:58.373

It's almost always better to accommodate the current update of OS. World changes, and sometimes we'd better to follow the standards they give us. – T.Todua – 2016-08-25T06:57:40.797

Answers

What you see is the new start menu of Windows 10 Version 1607. Here MS placed the programs groups (A-Z) on the left side.

We have merged the most used apps list and the All apps list into a single view and elevated it to the top level of the UI to reduce clicking and scrolling. You can now access all your apps with one click on the Start menu. We have also moved important functionality such as Power, Settings, and File Explorer so that they are always visible in the left rail in the Start menu, and updated the Recently added section so that it will now show 3 entries instead of just 1, and can be expanded to see the entire list of new apps.

Currently there is no way to change this.

Add more apps/programs (pin to Start) to the start and click on the right border and make the startmenu larger to see what you had before.

Starting with Build 14942, there is an option in the settings app to disable the app list Hide app list in Start menu:

Now the list is gone:

So you have to install at least the Windows 10 Creators Update or newer (v1703 - Build 15063) to get this option to hide the list.

magicandre1981

Posted 2016-08-23T23:10:31.930

Reputation: 86 560

You can change it. The author can use one of the many start menu programs that were created for Windows 8 that also support Windows 10. – Ramhound – 2016-08-24T13:38:36.907

1@PimpJuiceIT I have no idea as I use StartIsBack++ on every Windows 10 system I use. – magicandre1981 – 2020-01-06T14:31:53.357

If what you're trying to achieve is mainly a larger tile area, you can treat the start menu like other windows and pull on the right edge to increase the tile space. The top edge is also adjustable.

Ouroborus

Posted 2016-08-23T23:10:31.930

Reputation: 2 549

How to get the old Windows 10 Start menu back

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Answers