How to Add and Remove Folders in the Windows 11 Start Menu

How to Add or Remove Folders on the Start Menu

To add or remove Start menu ⊞ folders, open the Settings ⚙️ app and go to Personalization › Start › Folders. Turn on the switches for the folders you want next to the Power button, such as Settings, File Explorer 📁, Documents or Downloads. Turn a switch off to remove that folder.

1. Open Settings ⚙️: Click the Start button ⊞ (the Windows icon) at the bottom of your screen, then click Settings. If Settings is not pinned, search for it. You can also press Windows key + I on your keyboard to open it directly. The Settings ⚙️ window should open with a list of categories on the left.
2. In the Settings ⚙️ window, click Personalization in the left-hand list. The right side of the window now shows personalization options such as Background, Colors and Themes.
3. On the right side, scroll down if needed and click Start to open the Start menu ⊞ settings. You should see options for layout, recently added apps and recommended items.
4. Click Folders to see which folders you can add or remove. The page that opens lists each folder with its own on/off switch.

Open Personalization › Start in Settings. If you cannot find Start, check that you clicked Personalization on the left first. The menu is laid out the same way on current builds of Windows 11.

Select which folders to show on the Start menu ⊞. Click Folders on the Start page to open the list.

Each switch is independent, so you can turn on as many or as few as you like. Windows decides the order they appear in, and you cannot rearrange them.

• To add a folder: Turn the toggle On next to the folder you want to see. The switch changes to the on position straight away.
• To remove a folder: Turn the toggle Off next to the folder you don't want to see. To bring it back later, return to this page and switch it on again.

What happens? Changes apply as soon as you flip a switch, so there is no Save button and no restart. Open the Start menu and the folders you selected 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, your PC may be managed by a work or school account that controls Start settings.

It takes you straight back to the Folders settings, so you can skip the clicks through Settings.

Summary

Managing Windows 11 Start menu folders puts your most-used locations within one click of the Start menu, which makes everyday file access faster. You can change the list at any time in the Settings app, and every change can be undone by flipping the same switch back.

• You can add or remove folder shortcuts from the Start menu in Windows 11 to reach your files faster.
• Use the Settings app and go to Personalization › Start › Folders to make changes.
• Changes take effect immediately, with no restart needed.
• Keep only the folders you actually use, so the Start menu stays tidy.
• Update your folder shortcuts anytime if your needs change.
• Now you know how to make your Start menu more useful by adding or removing folders.