Windows 11 has brought a wave of change to the computing landscape, with its new Start menu being a prime example. This fresh design, reminiscent of the one Microsoft initially crafted for Windows 10X, showcases a floating interface above the taskbar adorned with rounded corners. It seamlessly combines traditional icons with recently accessed documents and folders. However, the revamped design isn’t to everyone’s taste. A significant number of users have expressed their fondness for the classic Start menu, which sprouts from the screen’s left side and displays the iconic Live Tiles. If you’re among this group and yearn for the familiar feel of the old design, there’s good news! A simple registry adjustment can transport you back in time, enabling the classic Windows 10-style Start menu on your Windows 11 system. In this risewindows guide, we’ll unravel the steps to achieve just that.
How do I switch to the Classic Start Menu on Windows 11?
Before proceeding with the steps, we recommend creating a full backup of the Registry and making a system restore point since it involves registry tweaking. You can revert your PC to a previous working state if something goes wrong.
If you want to see Windows 10 style Start Menu in Windows 11, do the following steps:-
Step 1. First, open Registry Editor.
Step 2. In the Registry Editor window, navigate to the following registry key:-
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
Step 3. Then, right-click on the Advanced key, select New, and then the DWORD (32-bit) Value option.
Step 4. When you’re done, a new REG_DWORD entry on the right-side pane of the Advanced key will be generated. Rename it to Start_ShowClassicMode. Next, double-click on and set its Value data to 1.
Step 5. Then, click OK to save the settings.
Step 6. Lastly, reboot your computer to see the changes.
If you would like to restore the default Windows 11 Start menu, navigate to the following key:-
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
After completing the above step, on the right side of the Advanced key, double-click on Start_ShowClassicMode and change its Value data from 1 to 0. Restart your computer to see the changes.
Also Read: How to Configure Windows 10 to Show Only Tiles on Start Menu?
Conclusion
Switching between the modern and classic Start menu on Windows 11 is feasible through a few tweaks in the system’s registry. For those accustomed to the classic Windows 10 style Start menu, the steps outlined in this guide provide an easy way to revert to that familiar look. Always remember to back up your registry and create a system restore point before making any changes, ensuring a safe environment to revert to if any issues arise.
