How to Make Your Own Start Menu with a Custom Toolbar in Windows
Applies to Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and Windows 10.
As everyone knows that Windows 8 killed the Start Menu, and that Windows 10 have bring it back.
But those who miss the Start Menu in Windows 8 don't need to upgrade to Windows 10 to get the Start Menu back.
In Windows, you can hack a Start Menu-like quick launcher using Taskbar toolbars. Here’s how to make your own Windows Start Menu with a custom toolbar.
1. In Windows, right-click on an empty space in Taskbar. Select Toolbars > New Toolbar.
2. Type below folder path into the address bar of the Explorer window that opened, and press Enter key.
3. Select the Programs folder and click Select Folder button.
You’ll see a new toolbar section appear on the right of the taskbar. Drag the resize bar next to the new toolbar all the way to the right, so that you see two small arrows pointing right.
Initially, your Start Menu folder, will likely be nearly empty, but you can customize its contents by adding the applications and shortcuts you want. Just locate the original paths to the applications, folders, and documents, create shortcuts, and then move the shortcuts to the Start Menu > Programs folder.
This is certainly not a complete replacement for the traditional Start Menu. Key features such as easy access to the Run command, system power options, and Windows Search are missing.
If you decide that you don’t like your new Windows Start Menu, just right-click again on an empty section of the Taskbar, hover on Toolbars, and uncheck your new toolbar from the list. It will disappear from the Taskbar, but the original folder and its contents will remain in place unless you manually delete it.
As everyone knows that Windows 8 killed the Start Menu, and that Windows 10 have bring it back.
But those who miss the Start Menu in Windows 8 don't need to upgrade to Windows 10 to get the Start Menu back.
In Windows, you can hack a Start Menu-like quick launcher using Taskbar toolbars. Here’s how to make your own Windows Start Menu with a custom toolbar.
1. In Windows, right-click on an empty space in Taskbar. Select Toolbars > New Toolbar.
2. Type below folder path into the address bar of the Explorer window that opened, and press Enter key.
Code:
%Appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu3. Select the Programs folder and click Select Folder button.
You’ll see a new toolbar section appear on the right of the taskbar. Drag the resize bar next to the new toolbar all the way to the right, so that you see two small arrows pointing right.
Initially, your Start Menu folder, will likely be nearly empty, but you can customize its contents by adding the applications and shortcuts you want. Just locate the original paths to the applications, folders, and documents, create shortcuts, and then move the shortcuts to the Start Menu > Programs folder.
This is certainly not a complete replacement for the traditional Start Menu. Key features such as easy access to the Run command, system power options, and Windows Search are missing.
If you decide that you don’t like your new Windows Start Menu, just right-click again on an empty section of the Taskbar, hover on Toolbars, and uncheck your new toolbar from the list. It will disappear from the Taskbar, but the original folder and its contents will remain in place unless you manually delete it.