MS rolled out the ability to customize W11 Start Menu layouts, to their MDM clients. After reading a few articles, I figured how to do this without MDM or learning to write in JSON. With a custom layout, you can change the list and order of pinned Start Menu apps.
You need to install W11 first (and all your apps) since we need a list of package names.
Run the first script to export the current Start Menu layout.
Copy this list to Notepad. Remove all the apps you don't want, and move the lines around so the list runs in left-to-right order (6 apps per row). Run the second script to convert this text file into a registry file.
Load this reg file into your image (Registry or Post-setup), it will apply to any user who hasn't logged on before.
ConfigureStartPins_ProviderSet manages if the user is allowed to change the layout or not. Win32 apps are supported as desktop LNKs (read the 2nd link below).
FAQs
What does this do? Create a custom layout, showing only the Pinned Apps you want.
Does this remove any apps? No, it only hides them from the pinned screen. Remove unwanted apps the normal way.
What about the All Apps listing? Sorry, MS doesn't support this.
What about Recommended Apps? Layouts don't touch Recommended Apps. Disable suggestions the normal way.
Manual customization is faster? Yes. But we can deploy this as a registry file for all users.
Why do I have to install W11? If you know the exact package names, you can run the 2nd script alone.
Thanks to:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/configuration/customize-start-menu-layout-windows-11
https://www.petervanderwoude.nl/post/customizing-the-start-menu-layout-on-windows-11-devices/
https://oofhours.com/2021/10/27/customize-the-windows-11-start-menu/
You need to install W11 first (and all your apps) since we need a list of package names.
Run the first script to export the current Start Menu layout.
PS C:\Users\GARLIN\Downloads> .\Export_Layout.ps1
{"packagedAppId":"microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe!microsoft.windowslive.mail"}
{"packagedAppId":"microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe!microsoft.windowslive.calendar"}
{"packagedAppId":"Microsoft.WindowsStore_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App"}
{"packagedAppId":"Microsoft.Windows.Photos_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App"}
{"packagedAppId":"windows.immersivecontrolpanel_cw5n1h2txyewy!microsoft.windows.immersivecontrolpanel"}
{"packagedAppId":"Microsoft.MicrosoftOfficeHub_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.MicrosoftOfficeHub"}
{"packagedAppId":"Microsoft.MicrosoftSolitaireCollection_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App"}
{"packagedAppId":"Clipchamp.Clipchamp_yxz26nhyzhsrt!App"}
{"desktopAppId":"MSEdge"}
{"packagedAppId":"2FE3CB00.PicsArt-PhotoStudio_crhqpqs3x1ygc!App"}
{"packagedAppId":"5319275A.WhatsAppDesktop_cv1g1gvanyjgm!WhatsAppDesktop"}
{"packagedAppId":"Microsoft.Todos_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App"}
{"packagedAppId":"CorelCorporation.PaintShopPro_wbjqpk9xt50t4!PSPPROUWP"}
{"packagedAppId":"Facebook.317180B0BB486_8xx8rvfyw5nnt!App"}
{"packagedAppId":"NAVER.LINEwin8_8ptj331gd3tyt!LINE"}
{"packagedAppId":"Microsoft.WindowsNotepad_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App"}
{"packagedAppId":"Microsoft.Paint_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App"}
{"desktopAppId":"Microsoft.Windows.Explorer"}
Copy this list to Notepad. Remove all the apps you don't want, and move the lines around so the list runs in left-to-right order (6 apps per row). Run the second script to convert this text file into a registry file.
PS C:\Users\GARLIN\Downloads> .\Configure_StartPins.ps1 .\LIST.TXT
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\current\device\Start]
"ConfigureStartPins"="{\"pinnedList\":[{\"desktopAppId\":\"MSEdge\"},{\"desktopAppId\":\"Microsoft.Windows.Explorer\"},{\"packagedAppId\":\"Microsoft.MicrosoftOfficeHub_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.MicrosoftOfficeHub\"},{\"packagedAppId\":\"microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe!microsoft.windowslive.mail\"},{\"packagedAppId\":\"microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe!microsoft.windowslive.calendar\"},{\"packagedAppId\":\"Microsoft.WindowsStore_8wekyb3d8bbwe!
App\"},{\"packagedAppId\":\"windows.immersivecontrolpanel_cw5n1h2txyewy!microsoft.windows.immersivecontrolpanel\"}]}"
"ConfigureStartPins_ProviderSet"=dword:00000000
Load this reg file into your image (Registry or Post-setup), it will apply to any user who hasn't logged on before.
ConfigureStartPins_ProviderSet manages if the user is allowed to change the layout or not. Win32 apps are supported as desktop LNKs (read the 2nd link below).
FAQs
What does this do? Create a custom layout, showing only the Pinned Apps you want.
Does this remove any apps? No, it only hides them from the pinned screen. Remove unwanted apps the normal way.
What about the All Apps listing? Sorry, MS doesn't support this.
What about Recommended Apps? Layouts don't touch Recommended Apps. Disable suggestions the normal way.
Manual customization is faster? Yes. But we can deploy this as a registry file for all users.
Why do I have to install W11? If you know the exact package names, you can run the 2nd script alone.
Thanks to:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/configuration/customize-start-menu-layout-windows-11
https://www.petervanderwoude.nl/post/customizing-the-start-menu-layout-on-windows-11-devices/
https://oofhours.com/2021/10/27/customize-the-windows-11-start-menu/
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