How to Import & Export Start Layout in Windows 11

Customize your Start menu & reduce clutter

4 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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On Windows 11, the Start menu was redesigned and now comes with a simplified set of apps arranged in a grid of pages, unlike its predecessor, which had folders, apps, and groups.

You can customize the Start menu Layout and import & export it to other Windows machines per your preferences.

In this guide, we will discuss step-by-step instructions to Import-StartLayout on Windows 11 to customize the default layout.

What is Import-StartLayout?

The Import-StartLayout is a cmdlet used in Windows 10 and earlier versions to import the customized layout of the Start menu into a mounted Windows image.

Unfortunately, the Import-StartLayout command doesn’t work for Windows 11 as it only supports XML file format, and the Export-StartLayout cmdlet on the latest version of Windows exports the JSON file.

However, you can use Mobile Device Managers,Microsoft Intune, or copy the start.bin file in a user profile to achieve the desired outcome.

Apart from the Start menu layout, many other things have changed with Windows 11, like the Start menu position; if you don’t like the newer arrangement, you canmove the Start menu to the leftin a few simple steps.

How do I import the start layout in Windows 11?

Before we go to the detailed steps to customize the Start menu, here are some prerequisite checks you need to perform:

1. Create a profile using Microsoft Intune

You can customize the Start menu layout by turning on or off context menus, hiding apps, etc.

2. Deploying the changes to user profiles

Once you deploy the policy, the existing layout of the Start menu for the default user profile will be replaced with the new one. To ensure everything is in place, you can check the registry entries of the PC.

If these steps are too tricky, you can alwaysget to the Windows 10 classic viewon your Windows 11 computer.

How do I export the start layout in Windows 11?

Importing customized Start menu layouts in Windows 11 on single or multiple machines can help you focus on what’s important, giving you a cleaner interface.

However, if you still don’t like it, you can alwayschange it to the classic menu; go back to the simpler times and access all the modern features in a traditional setting, giving the sense of complete control.

Stuck somewhere while following the instructions? Feel free to drop in your query in the comments section below! We will be happy to help!

How to Import & Export Start Layout in Windows 11#

What is Import-StartLayout?#

How do I import the start layout in Windows 11?#

1. Create a profile using Microsoft Intune#

2. Deploying the changes to user profiles#

How do I export the start layout in Windows 11?#