Start Menu Optimization in Windows 10 and 11: Speed Up and Customize

Introduction

The Start Menu is one of the most frequently used interface elements in Windows. Over time, it can fill up with numerous tiles, recommendations, and recent files, leading to slower opening times and reduced convenience. In this guide, you will learn how to optimize the Start Menu in Windows 10 and 11: disable unnecessary content, adjust the size and number of elements. After completing these steps, the menu will become more responsive, and your workflow more efficient.

Requirements

• Windows 10 (version 1903 and later) or Windows 11 operating system.
• Administrator privileges are not required for most settings, but may be necessary when changing parameters via the registry (this guide uses only graphical settings).
• It is recommended to create a system restore point before making changes (Settings → System → Recovery → Create a restore point).

Disable Recommendations and Ads

One of the main factors slowing down the Start Menu is app suggestions, file recommendations, and advertising blocks. Disabling them will immediately improve performance.

1. Open Windows Settings ( Win + I ).
2. Navigate to Personalization → Start.
3. In the "Recommendations" section, turn off all toggles:
   • "Show suggestions occasionally in Start"
   • "Show recently added apps"
   • "Show recently opened items in Start"
   • "Show most used apps"
4. Also in this section, disable the "Show recommendations" option (if present).

💡 Tip: In Windows 11, recommendations may appear as separate tiles labeled "Recommended". You can remove them by right-clicking the tile and selecting "Remove from Start".

Configure the Number of Tiles (Windows 10)

In Windows 10, you can limit the number of displayed tile rows, reducing system load and making the menu more compact.

1. In the same Settings → Personalization → Start section, find the "Number of tile rows" setting.
2. Select "1" or "2" instead of "3" (default). This will reduce the Start Menu's height and speed up its rendering.
3. Close the settings window. Changes apply immediately.

⚠️ Important: This setting is not available in Windows 11. There, the Start Menu size is fixed, but you can manage individual tile sizes.

Disable Automatic Start Menu Resizing (Windows 11)

In Windows 11, the Start Menu can automatically resize when new tiles are added, causing slight delays. Disable this feature.

1. Open Settings ( Win + I ).
2. Go to Personalization → Start.
3. Find the "Automatically adjust the Start Menu size" toggle and turn it off.
4. The Start Menu will now maintain its set size, and adding new tiles will not stretch it.

Manually Manage Tile Sizes

Even after disabling automatic resizing, you can manually adjust each tile's size to make the menu more compact.

1. Open the Start Menu.
2. Hover over a tile (e.g., "Weather" or "News"), then right-click.
3. In the context menu, select "Resize".
4. Choose "Small" or "Medium" (avoid "Large" and "Wide" unless you need expanded content).
5. Repeat for all tiles that take up excessive space.

💡 Tip: Some system tiles (e.g., "Power" or "Settings") do not support resizing. Focus on third-party apps.

Clear the Recent Documents List

The Start Menu can display recently opened files and apps, requiring additional indexing resources. Disabling this feature will speed up menu opening.

1. Again, go to Settings → Personalization → Start.
2. Turn off the toggles:
   • "Show recently added apps"
   • "Show recently opened items in Start"
3. You can also clear the history of recent items: click "Clear" next to "Recent items" (if available).

Verify the Result

After applying all changes, check how the Start Menu performs:

1. Press the Win key or click the Windows logo.
2. Note the opening speed: the menu should appear instantaneously, without delays.
3. Ensure recommendations and advertising tiles are absent.
4. Check that the menu size is stable (in Windows 11) and matches your settings.
5. If the menu is still slow, perform additional cleanup of temporary files (via Disk Cleanup) or scan the system for malware.

Potential Issues

Settings Don't Save or Apply

Sometimes changes to Start settings don't take effect due to cache. Try:

• Restarting the computer.
• Signing out and back in.
• Checking for Windows updates (Settings → Update & Security).

Some Settings Are Missing in Windows 11

Certain parameters available in Windows 10 (e.g., "Number of tile rows") are absent in Windows 11. In this case, focus on managing tile sizes and disabling automatic resizing.

Start Menu Is Still Slow

If the issue persists, other factors may be involved:

• Disk fragmentation (for HDDs): run defragmentation.
• Insufficient free space on the system drive: free up at least 10% of space.
• Corrupted system files: run SFC (open Command Prompt as administrator and type sfc /scannow).
• Too many installed applications: uninstall unnecessary programs via Settings → Apps.

Access Error When Changing Settings

If you cannot modify certain settings (e.g., due to group policies in a corporate environment), contact your system administrator. In a home version of Windows, ensure you are signed in with an administrator account.