While it is true, W10 is the most current operating system developed by Microsoft and, officially, it was released at the end of 2014, while it was released to the public during 2015. Thus, thanks to all its years of experience, It has been classified as one of the most used OS worldwide.
Among its main characteristics, we highlight that, Windows 10 is based on the focus on harmonizing the user experience and its functionality on different types of devices. Also, is an operating system that brings back the Start menu and through it gives you more flexibility to the interface to be useful both on devices with mouse and keyboard, as well as touch screens.
However, you may wonder what the start menu of Windows 10, specifically. Reason why, through this post, we will define this essential element in W10, detailing its most important functionalities. In addition to this, we will also indicate how you can easily customize it.
What is the Windows 10 Start Menu and what is it for?
Basically the Start Menu Windows 10 it is the neurological center of the whole system. Thus, it consists of a user interface element used in Microsoft Windows from its first versions and refers to a graphical list of shortcuts to various functions that are based on the most common programs or options. So that, It is a totally essential feature in the operation of W10.
That is why, the start menu of this OS serves to optimize the user experience globally. Since, its origin lies in the need to be able to group all those programs with similar characteristics in submenus, with the aim that are easily reachable by the people who access the system.
Consequently, it is a useful element for start programs quickly, open commonly used folders, adjust computer settings, get help using the W10 operating system correctly, and search specific files. It is even essential to be able log out or change user, reboot and shutdown PC. So ultimately, this start menu it is estimated as the base of the SO operation.
How is the Windows 10 menu different from W7 and W8?
In view of the fact that each version of Microsoft Windows it has modified certain characteristics and even, the more modern it is, it has more improvements; certain differences are revealed between the W10 start menu compared to that seen in Windows 7 and Windows 8. Which is worth defining in a concrete way to verify the advantages offered by the start menu in Windows 10.
Thus, the main difference of all, is based on its appearance:
- In the case of W7, we could see a start menu located in the lower left corner that only contains two bars. One of them, located on the left side, provides the most used software. Whereas, the other bar simply provides common folders.
- In W8, the concept of the start menu Complete change. Well, the options to access the applications were replaced by much more colorful boxes in order to work better on touch screens and on older computers, simultaneously.
- After in W10, returned the traditional start menu and a combination between W7 and W8 occurred. Considering that, Windows 10 mix start menu W7 or Vista with the tiles that are in W8, characteristically.
Due, Windows 8 active tiles are included on the right side of the W10 start menu. Which, according to the preferences of each user, can be easily removed so that they do not appear on the OS desktop.
For its part, on the left side, this menu offers the particularities of W7 why maintains the presence of the programs or applications that are used more regularly. In addition to this, it contains a file explorer, the search bar and the configuration option.
Learn step by step how to customize the start menu of the Windows 10 operating system
While it is true, the combination of tiles with the classic menu had a positive impact on the operation of the latest version of Microsoft Windows. But, as if that were not enough, the OS also allows customizing said start menu in order to the user manages to get more out of it.
Either by editing its appearance or modifying certain options, depending on the requirements of each person. Therefore, it is necessary to know each step to execute in order to optimize your user experience, customizing the neurological center of the operating system to a great extent.
To do this, below, we teach you some determining tricks:
Adjust the size and appearance of items
This procedure, consists of configuring the tile panel to your liking, in order to improve your visibility around each of the elements or options shown in the right side section of the menu. To do this, you simply have to press and hold (in tablet mode) each tile and in that way, adjust its size.
You can also right-click each of those options to access the context menu and from "Change size", choose the size that you prefer. Even through this menu, you can select if you want to unpin the tile from startup, uninstall it or more options (pin to taskbar, disable, share, etc.).
Set what will appear on your Start menu
For those users it may seem a little strange the appearance of the start menu of W10 or, for whatever reason, they choose to customize what that menu shows, there is also a solution. For which, you have to enter the configuration menu.
Once you are there, click on the “Personalization” option. Then in the left sidebar, select "Start" and it begins to activate or deactivate each one of the alternatives exposed there. Added to this, at the bottom, there is an option that says "Choose which folders appear on Start"; Which, you can use for greater customization about what you prefer to see on screen.
See Windows 8 Start screen on W10
In case you feel more familiar with the start menu type of W8 and you want to transform the W10, there is the possibility of doing it by simply activating an option. This option, you can find it by entering the configuration menu, specifically in "Personalize"> "Home".
Then, among the available options, proceed to enable the one that says "Use full screen on Start", just by moving the switch from left to right. Finally, check that it has been activated correctly, with just click the start button in the lower left corner. Thus, the characteristic will be shown Windows 8 Start screen.
Group the menu tiles
It is also possible create groups or different categories with the tiles shown in the start menu and correspond to the various applications installed on the computer. If you want to group them, the process simply consists of “dragging and dropping” towards the indicated site, each one of them. That way, you can better organize the content presented from the Start menu, with which you will search and access more quickly any similar program.