Have more than 18 Start Menu Items with Windows 11

Windows 11 contains a dramatically simplified Start menu and taskbar, both of which lack many of the power-user options of Windows 10. You can't resize the Start menu or the taskbar and you can't position the taskbar on different sides of the screen.

Users have been crying foul, so it's possible that Microsoft will in the future return these features. Until it does, you could use some third-party alternatives to Microsoft's Start menu.

Here are some of them:

• Open-Shell-Menu (free). Emulates the Windows 7 menu.
• StartAllBack (free). Emulates Windows 7 and 10.
• Stardock Start11 (€6.99 with trial). The most complete : Emulates Windows 7, 10 and 11.

Is there a way to enlarge the Windows 11 start menu that it does show more than 18 favoured start menu items ?

The Windows 11 Start menu can hold more than 18 items, but the size of the menu is fixed and cannot be changed.

Also the things that you value most can be moved to the top - you are not bound by what Microsoft deems to be favorite.

You can add and drag items to the Start Menu and then sort them as you wish.

Also notice the buttons at the side of the Start Menu. This allows "pages" in the Start Menu and allows you to scroll through the entire list.

To put it another way, put your 18 most used items to the top of the menu and you do not have to scroll very much at all.

The main Start menu size in Windows 11, however, cannot be natively changed with Windows 11 settings.

I can readily use the dots on the side of the menu to get between pages very quickly. I also use my desktop for highly used apps (Office, Email, Adobe, and like) which can reduce dependence on the Start Menu, which can then be used for lesser used apps. It depends on individual needs.

I am not hampered by the Windows 11 Start Menu in any way. I just adapted to it.