The Windows 10 Start menu is getting a makeover. Until now reserved for users of the Windows Insider program, the new Start menu is now accessible to all computers running Windows 10 2004 (i.e. the major update that was released last May). So here’s how to take advantage of the new Start menu, without even having to subscribe to the Windows Insider program.
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The new start menu is now an integral part of Windows 10 beta versions which are currently running, but intended for users of the Windows Insider program. However, good news: this new Start menu is also accessible to those who have recently installed the 2004 operating system update, the one which has been available since last May to all Windows 10 users. There is nothing to download, the new Start menu has simply been hidden by Microsoft. Here’s how to activate it with a small change in the registry.
What’s new in the Windows 10 Start menu?
The new Windows 10 start menu is not restricted to Windows Insider program users. Microsoft actually released it to all Windows 10 2004 users via the optional KB4568831 update, but it’s well hidden. In this new menu, the main colored tiles give way to transparent tiles. The left pane apps also benefit from a similar change, since their icons are no longer placed on a colored solid. They are now displayed on a completely transparent background. It might not be enough to totally revolutionize the Start menu, but it’s likely that Microsoft will bring more new things to its Start menu in the coming months.
How to activate the new Start menu
No need to subscribe to the Windows Insider program to take advantage of the new features of the Start menu. There is almost nothing to download, but above all, you should take a little precaution. We are never safe from a handling error or a concern for stability. Here’s how to do it:
- Start by performing a full backup of your operating system or, to increase speed, by create a restore point.
- To do this, simply enter the term Point in the search field, in order to display the Create a restore point function. Click on it.
- Press the button Create in the field Create a restore point immediately for drives with system protection enabled. If the restore point function is not enabled on any of your drives, press the button instead. Configure.
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- Once you have your restore point, you are assured that in case things go wrong, you can still recover a fully functional version of Windows 10.
- Also make sure that the optional update KB4568831 is successfully installed on your system. Head to the Windows Update via functions Start menu > Settings > Update and security.
- Click on the button Search an update to download the KB4568831 pack. If the update does not appear, you can download and install it manually at this address.
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- Restart your PC.
- Open Notepad or any text editor. Copy and paste the following commands:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlFeatureManagementOverrides 2093230218]
« EnabledState »=dword:00000002
« EnabledStateOptions »=dword:00000000
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- Save your file with any name, but be sure to give it the .reg extension. In our example, we gave it the name of menudemarrer.reg.
- Double-click on the menudemarrer.reg file, then restart your system.
Note that this small foray into the registry also allows you to take advantage of a new icon representing the folders, but also to switch from one tab to another in Microsoft Edge using the keys [Alt]+[Tab].
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