Customizing the Start Menu layout in Windows can greatly enhance user experience by providing quick access to frequently used applications and tools. Windows 10 and Windows 11 offer the capability to customize this layout using the StartLayout feature in PowerShell. This article will guide you through the process of exporting, modifying, and importing a Start Menu layout using PowerShell.

Understanding StartLayout

StartLayout is a feature in Windows that allows administrators to define a specific layout for the Start Menu. This can be particularly useful in enterprise environments where consistency across user desktops is desired. The layout is defined in an XML file, which can be exported, modified, and then imported back into the system.

Exporting the Start Menu Layout

To begin customizing the Start Menu, you first need to export the current layout to an XML file. This can be done using PowerShell with the following command:

Export-StartLayout -Path "C:\Path\To\Your\Layout.xml"

This command saves the current Start Menu layout to an XML file at the specified path.

Modifying the Start Menu Layout

Once you have exported the layout, you can open the XML file in any text editor to modify it. The XML file contains information about the tiles and their arrangement on the Start Menu. You can add, remove, or rearrange tiles by editing this file.

Importing the Modified Layout

After making the desired changes to the XML file, you can import it back into Windows to apply the new layout. Use the following PowerShell command to import the layout:

Import-StartLayout -LayoutPath "C:\Path\To\Your\ModifiedLayout.xml" -MountPath C:\

This command applies the modified Start Menu layout to the system.

Applying the Layout to New Users

To ensure that the customized Start Menu layout is applied to new users, you can set it as the default layout. This is done by copying the XML file to the default user profile:

1. Copy the modified XML file to C:\Users\Default\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\LayoutModification.xml.
2. Ensure that the file permissions allow it to be accessed by new user profiles.

Examples

Here is a practical example of exporting, modifying, and importing a Start Menu layout:

1. Export the current layout:

   Export-StartLayout -Path "C:\Layouts\CurrentLayout.xml"

2. Modify the XML file:

   Open C:\Layouts\CurrentLayout.xml in a text editor and make your changes.

3. Import the modified layout:

   Import-StartLayout -LayoutPath "C:\Layouts\ModifiedLayout.xml" -MountPath C:\

4. Set as default for new users:

   Copy C:\Layouts\ModifiedLayout.xml to C:\Users\Default\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\LayoutModification.xml.

By following these steps, you can effectively customize the Start Menu layout in Windows using PowerShell.