How to Add and Remove Folders in the Windows 11 Start Menu
Folder shortcuts in the Windows 11 Start menu sit next to the Power button and open places like Documents, Downloads and File Explorer in one click. You add or remove them in the Settings app. The steps are the same on Home and Pro editions of a currently supported Windows 11 version (25H2 or 26H2), and you do not need to restart.
Open Settings, go to Personalization Start Folders, and turn the switch On next to each folder you want beside the Power button in the Start menu. Turn a switch Off to remove it. The change applies immediately, with no Save button and no restart needed.
Open Settings and go to Personalization Start Folders. Turn on the switch for each folder you want next to the Power button, such as Settings, File Explorer, Documents or Downloads. Turn a switch off to remove that folder.
- Open Settings. Click the Start button (the Windows icon), then click Settings. If Settings is not pinned, search for it. You can also press
Windows key + Ito open it directly.
Windows 11 Start menu search panel for opening OpenSSH Client settings - Click Personalization in the list on the left. The right side shows options such as Background, Colors and Themes.
Settings › Personalization - Click Start. Scroll down if you do not see it. This page holds the Start menu options, including layout, recently added apps and recent items (formerly recommended items).
Windows 11 Settings Personalization Start menu options for recent files - Click Folders. This page lists each folder with its own on/off switch.
Start Menu
If you cannot find Start, make sure you selected Personalization on the left first. The menu is laid out the same way on current builds of Windows 11.
Each switch is independent. The list includes Settings, File Explorer, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, Videos, Network and Personal folder. Turn on as many or as few as you want. Windows sets the order they appear in, and you cannot rearrange them.
- Add a folder. Turn the switch On next to the folder you want. The change applies immediately.
- Remove a folder. Turn the switch Off next to the folder you no longer want. To bring it back, return to this page and turn the switch On again.
Toggle folders on or off for Start menu
There is no Save button. Open the Start menu and the folders you chose appear as small icons near the Power button. If a folder is missing, go back to the Folders page and check that its switch is On. If the switches are greyed out or will not change, a work or school account may be managing your Start settings.
Tip: Right-click any folder shortcut in the Start menu and choose Personalize this list. This opens the Folders settings directly and skips the clicks through Settings.
Summary
To undo any change, return to Personalization Start Folders and flip the same switch back. If the switches stay greyed out, a work or school account is controlling your Start settings, and you cannot change them until that management is removed.
Frequently asked questions
How to customize start menu folders in 🪟 Windows 11?
Open Settings, then go to Personalization Start Folders. Turn on the switch for each folder you want next to the Power button, such as Settings, File Explorer, Documents or Downloads. Turn a switch off to remove that folder. The change takes effect right away, with no restart needed.
How to remove folders from start menu?
Open Settings, go to Personalization Start Folders, and turn off the switch next to each folder you want gone. The folder disappears from the Start menu. Only the shortcut is removed, so the folder and its files stay where they are.
How to make all of your folders on home creen go away but you still have them?
Turn off every switch on the Start folders page to hide all the folder shortcuts. Open Settings, go to Personalization Start Folders, and switch them off. Your Documents, Downloads and other folders stay on your PC, and you can turn the switches back on at any time.
How do I delete folders from the start menu in win 11?
You can't delete these folder shortcuts from the Start menu itself. Open Settings, go to Personalization Start Folders, and turn off the switch for each folder you want removed. Your actual folders and files are not deleted.
Where is start menu folder in 🪟 Windows 11?
The folder shortcuts sit next to the Power button at the bottom of the Start menu. To change which ones appear, open Settings and go to Personalization Start Folders. Each folder has its own on/off switch there.
How to make folder in start menu 🪟 Windows 11?
Windows 11 doesn't let you create your own folder in the Start menu. Instead, open Settings, go to Personalization Start Folders, and turn on the switch for a built-in folder such as Documents, Downloads or File Explorer.
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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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