The Start Menu, ever since its inception, has been a staple of the Windows operating system. Over the years, especially with the introduction of Windows 10 and 11, the ability to customize the Start Menu has been greatly enhanced. Users can easily pin their frequently used apps or folders, ensuring that their most essential tools are always just a click away. However, with system upgrades or unexpected errors, there’s always the risk of losing these personalized settings. To prevent the inconvenience of setting up everything from scratch, it’s prudent to have a backup of your pinned items.
Whether you’re safeguarding against potential mishaps or transitioning to a new device, creating a backup of the Start Menu’s pinned items can save time and effort. This RiseWindows guide aims to offer you a streamlined approach to backing up and, if the need arises, restoring your Start Menu pinned items in both Windows 10 and 11. Let’s delve into the steps to ensure your Start Menu remains as customized as you want it!
How to back up the items pinned to the Start menu for a current user account on Windows 10/11?
To backup pinned Start menu items for the current user account, do the following steps:-
Step 1. Firstly, launch the Run dialog box by pressing Windows + R keys on the keyboard.
Step 2. Next, copy and paste the following and hit the Enter key on the keyboard to access the LocalState folder:-
%LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState
Step 3. In the LocalState folder, you will see a start.bin file containing your pinned Start menu items. Copy this file and keep it in a separate folder on your PC.
That’s it.
You can successfully take a backup of pinned items in the start menu.
How to Restore Pinned Items of Start menu for the Current User Account in Windows 11/10?
To restore pinned Start menu items for the current user account, do the following steps:-
Step 1. Firstly, open the Run dialog box by pressing Windows + R keys on the keyboard.
Step 2. After that, copy and paste the following and hit the Enter key on the keyboard to access the LocalState folder:-
%LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState
Step 3. Then, under the LocalState folder, delete or rename the start.bin file.
Step 4. Next, paste the start.bin file from your backup into the LocalState folder.
That’s it.
Now, you can see the changes.
How to Backup Pinned Start Menu Items of a Particular User on Windows 11/10?
To backup pinned Start menu items of a specific user in Windows 11 or 10, do the following steps:-
Step 1. Firstly, open the Run dialog box by pressing Windows + R keys on the keyboard.
Step 2. Then, type the following and hit the Enter key on the keyboard to access the LocalState folder:-
C:\Users\ENTERUSERNAMEFOLDER\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState
Note: Please replace ENTERUSERNAMEFOLDER with the actual folder name for that specific user. You can find the folder name for a particular user by navigating to the C:\Users path.
Step 3. After that, copy the start.bin file from the LocalState folder and keep it in a safe place.
How to Restore Pinned Start Menu Items of a Particular User on Windows 11/10?
To restore pinned Start menu items of a specific user in Windows 11 or 10, do the following steps:-
Step 1. Firstly, open the Run dialog box by pressing Windows + R keys on the keyboard.
Step 2. Then, type the following and hit the Enter key on the keyboard to access the LocalState folder:-
C:\Users\ENTERUSERNAMEFOLDER\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState
Note: Please replace ENTERUSERNAMEFOLDER with the actual folder name for that specific user. You can find the folder name for a particular user by navigating to the C:\Users path.
Step 3. Then, delete the start.bin file from the LocalState folder. After that, paste the start.bin file from the backup to the LocateState folder.
Step 4. After that, restart File Explorer or your computer to see the changes.
Conclusion
The Start Menu, acting as the central hub for users’ most accessed applications and files, is vital for productivity. Its configuration, especially the pinned items, can save time and streamline workflows. By understanding how to back up and restore these configurations in Windows 10 and 11, users can ensure that they maintain their preferred setup regardless of system changes or migrations, providing consistency in their digital workspace.
