Q. Your April article (“Optimize Windows 11 With These 8 Settings Tweaks“) had good tips for adjusting the Start menu and taskbar, but I’d like to do more. How can I go deeper into customization? A.

Generated with Google’s Nano Banana 2. Microsoft is testing Windows 11 taskbar and Start menu updates, including movable taskbar positions, cleaner Start controls, and compact layout options.

Open the Windows Settings via the Start menu and click on Personalization and then Colors. In the menu next to Select Mode, set the option Custom and change Select Default Windows mode to Dark–you can ...

Something to look forward to: Many long-time Windows 10 users did not receive the Start menu overhaul in Windows 11 too well, in part because it lost many of its staple functions, including taskbar ...

It only took the better part of five years, but Microsoft is finally listening to Windows users and restoring desired Taskbar functionality to Windows 11 and addition some customization options to the ...

High-priority new functionality to allow the repositioning of Windows 11's taskbar is now in testing Changes to resize and customize the Start menu are coming to testing soon These look to be ...

In the upper area, you can define the general layout and control how many icons should appear in the Start menu. In the Start menu settings, you can use sliders to specify what Windows 11 should and ...

This guide covers four top Windows 11 Start menu replacement apps: Start11, StartAllBack, Open Shell Menu, and Flow Launcher. These apps offer a range of customization options, from classic layouts to ...

The Start Menu in Windows 11 features a centered layout, which is a departure from the left-aligned design seen in previous versions. This new layout provides a sleek and centered look, making it ...

Jake Peterson is Lifehacker’s Tech Editor, and has been covering tech news and how-tos for nearly a decade. His team covers all things technology, including AI, smartphones, computers, game consoles, ...