Import-StartLayout doesn't change anything

Question

I'm trying to create a layout template on Windows 10 using the Export/Import-StartLayout commands.

Here's what I've done.

1. Open an admin PowerShell window.
2. Run Export-StartLayout -Path layout.xml.
3. Unpin some tiles from my start menu
4. Run Import-StartLayout -LayoutPath layout.xml -MountPath C:\

When I look at my start menu now, the tiles I remove haven't come back. The Import command gives me no errors.

Am I using the commands wrong? Is there something else I need to do before/afterwards?

Here's the contents of layout.xml

<LayoutModificationTemplate Version="1" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/LayoutModification">
  <DefaultLayoutOverride>
    <StartLayoutCollection>
      <defaultlayout:StartLayout GroupCellWidth="6" xmlns:defaultlayout="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/FullDefaultLayout">
        <start:Group Name="" xmlns:start="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/StartLayout">
          <start:DesktopApplicationTile Size="2x2" Column="4" Row="0" DesktopApplicationID="C:\Users\Jozsef\AppData\Roaming\Spotify\Spotify.exe" />
          <start:DesktopApplicationTile Size="2x2" Column="0" Row="2" DesktopApplicationID="{6D809377-6AF0-444B-8957-A3773F02200E}\NetBeans 8.0.2\bin\netbeans64.exe" />
          <start:DesktopApplicationTile Size="2x2" Column="2" Row="0" DesktopApplicationID="{6D809377-6AF0-444B-8957-A3773F02200E}\HeidiSQL\heidisql.exe" />
          <start:DesktopApplicationTile Size="2x2" Column="0" Row="0" DesktopApplicationID="{7C5A40EF-A0FB-4BFC-874A-C0F2E0B9FA8E}\Notepad++\notepad++.exe" />
          <start:Tile Size="2x2" Column="2" Row="2" AppUserModelID="Microsoft.WindowsCalculator_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App" />
        </start:Group>
        <start:Group Name="" xmlns:start="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/StartLayout">
          <start:Tile Size="2x2" Column="0" Row="0" AppUserModelID="microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe!microsoft.windowslive.mail" />
        </start:Group>
      </defaultlayout:StartLayout>
    </StartLayoutCollection>
  </DefaultLayoutOverride>
</LayoutModificationTemplate>

Answer 1

The Import-StartLayout command only works in the default user profile. It is used for creating and deploying windows 10 system images. It does not work in the current users profile or any other already created profiles.

Source and prior experience.

Answer 2

Simplest method is to use Backup Start Menu Layout

---

Another way:

Export:

1. Open an admin PowerShell window
2. Run Export-StartLayout -Path layout.xml

---

Import for current user:

1. Import layout.xml via Group Policy
2. Kill explorer.exe
3. Start explorer.exe
4. Disable Group Policy
5. Kill explorer.exe
6. Start explorer.exe
7. You are done :-) You now have layout imported from xml file

Without step 4 Menu Start tiles will be locked