How to Set Default Start Menu Layout for Users in Windows 10?

Posted in Windows10 Managements

Andrew Wise

Windows 10 comes with a completely reworked Start menu, which combines Live Tiles introduced in Windows 8 with classic app shortcuts. It has an adaptive design and can be used on displays with various sizes and resolutions. Here is how to force a specific Start menu layout for users in Windows 10.

Here is How to Set Default Start Menu Layout for Users in Windows 10:

  • STEP 1: At first, open the Registry Editor. To do so, just press Win+R, type regedit.exe and press OK.
    windows-10-open-registry-editor
  • STEP 2: Then go to Registry key
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
    If you do not have such a key, then just create it.
    windows-10-find-create-explorer-key
  • STEP 3: After that, create a new 32-bit DWORD value LockedStartLayout.
    Set it to 1 to prevent users from changing the default Start menu layout. Leave its value data as 0 to allow users to customize the Start menu.
    windows-10-create-LockedStartLayout-key
  • STEP 4: Modify or create a new expandable string (REG_EXPAND_SZ) value named StartLayoutFile. Set its value data to the full path to the StartLayout.xml you created earlier.
    windows-10-set-path-default-start-menu-layout
  • STEP 5: Finally, you have to restart your Windows 10 to apply all changes.
  • Andrew Wise

    Andrew is just a guy who uses computers every day, and hates if troubles come into his life. He loves to sing also. But don't worry his voice never bother you, just text.