How to Enable Expanded Start Menu in Windows 11
- 12 steps
- Needs administrator rights
- Includes a restart or sign-out
The expanded Start menu in Windows 11 turns the default app launcher into a wider grid that shows up to 6 rows of pinned shortcuts at once. It replaces the standard 3-row view, so you can see all your favorite programs without scrolling down.
Microsoft includes this larger grid natively in Windows 11 Build 22635 or newer, which lets you fit twice as many icons on the main Start screen. Before you start, check your build number: press Win+R, type winver, and press Enter. If the build is older than 22635, the steps below will not work until you update Windows.
Open Settings Personalization Start and switch on “Show all pins by default” to get the expanded Start menu in Windows 11. The toggle needs Build 22635 or newer, and on builds that lack it you must first run the ViVeTool command in an elevated Command Prompt, then restart your PC.
What is the Expanded Start Menu?
The expanded Start menu is a hidden layout option. It shows all your pinned apps in one large grid instead of spreading them across multiple pages. You can open your favorite programs without paging through the pinned area or digging through other sections every time you open the menu.
All pinned items appear at once in this layout, so you spend less time scrolling and navigation is quicker. The tradeoff is that the recommended section gets less room, because the pinned grid takes more of the menu.
How to Enable the Expanded Start Menu
Enabling the expanded Start menu takes a free command-line utility called ViVeTool, which turns on hidden features in Windows. You download the tool, open Command Prompt or Windows Terminal, and run one command to switch on the hidden layout feature.
Step 1: Get ViVeTool
- Download the ViVeTool archive and extract it to a folder you can find again, such as a folder on your Desktop.
Step 2: Open Command Prompt or Terminal
- Click Start and type cmd or Terminal.
- Right-click the result and choose Run as administrator. ViVeTool changes system settings, so a normal window will return an access error.
- Click Yes if User Account Control asks for permission. A Command Prompt or Terminal window opens.
- Change to the folder where you extracted ViVeTool, so the command can find the tool.
Step 3: Run the Command
- Paste the command below into the window and press Enter:
vivetool /enable /id:49402389,49221331,47205210,48433719
You should see a message saying the feature configuration was set successfully. If you get an error instead, check that the window is elevated and that you are in the ViVeTool folder.
Step 4: Restart Your Computer
- Restart your PC. The change does not take effect until you reboot.
Turning On “Show All Pins by Default”
Showing all pins by default is a setting in the Windows Settings app. You open Settings, go to Personalization, and select Start to find the toggle that keeps all your pinned apps visible at once. The path is Settings Personalization Start.
Step 1: Open Settings
- Right-click the Start button and choose Settings. Alternatively, press Win+I to open the Settings app directly.
The Settings window should now be open, with a list of categories on the left.
Step 2: Go to Personalization
- Click Personalization in the list on the left side of the Settings window.
The personalization options now appear on the right.
Step 3: Click Start Settings
- Click the Start tile on the right side of the panel. It may be a little way down the list, so scroll if you do not see it.
The Start settings page opens, listing options for the Start menu layout and what it shows.
Step 4: Enable “Show All Pins by Default”
- Find Show all pins by default and switch the toggle to On.
With the toggle on, the expanded menu displays every pinned application at once. If the option is missing, you are probably on a build older than 22635, or the ViVeTool command has not taken effect yet. Make sure you restarted after running the command. If the toggle is greyed out, restart once more and check again.
Step 5: Close Settings
- Close the Settings window. The change saves as soon as you flip the toggle, so there is nothing else to confirm.
Open the Start menu to check the result.
What Happens When You Enable It?
The Start menu now shows all your pinned applications at the same time, in one view, with no scrolling. If you have many pins, the grid can still run longer than the visible area. In that case, remove pins you no longer use.
Want to Switch Back?
To go back to the original layout, return to Settings Personalization Start and switch Show all pins by default off. The Start menu restores the default layout right away, and you do not need to restart.
Summary
The expanded Start menu shows all your pinned apps without scrolling. ViVeTool activates the capability on builds that need it, and the Windows Settings app handles the rest of the configuration.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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