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sdRohan
sdRohan
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Start11 2.56 Release Feedback

October 27, 2025 11:33:14 AM from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

With the Start11 2.56 release today, we are creating this thread so that users can report any observed issues.  

Obtaining the product

Object Desktop members can get the release from within Object Desktop Manager 

Individual purchases (as well as Object Desktop Members) can also be obtained from your account page: https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products

For guest check-out purchase (no account), from this link: http://www.stardock.com/support/productkeyretrieval

Reporting an issue

Please include the following for anything found:

  • Exact Windows version \ build (winver.exe)

  • Detailed steps to recreate the issue seen

  • Screenshots and videos are very helpful.  Videos can be uploaded to a cloud drive service (GoogleDrive, DropBox, OneDrive, YouTube), with a shared link included in your post.  Images can be copied and pasted directly into a post.

  • If there are specific apps that the app does not work (well) with, please note what apps and their exact versions.  If any app is not common, a link to a trial version would be appreciated.

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sdRohan
sdRohan
Join Date 10/2012
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Reply #1 October 27, 2025 11:35:33 AM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Start11 2.56 Changelog (Released 10/28/2025)

Date

10/28/2025

Version

UI: 2.56
File Version: 2.5.6.3

Changes 

  • This addresses an issue on multiple monitor setups with 25H2 when using certain Start11 settings causing it to become confused about which screen was which.

  • Resolves an issue with the background image on a tab/group not always loading up correctly initially

  • Adds in support for small taskbar icons mode that 25H2 adds in so when in small taskbar mode it will make the OS search etc buttons small too (note you need to reset small mode from S11 settings for this)

  • Resolves an issue stopping pinned websites from being saved inside a folder in the start menu.

  • Resolves having center for taskbar buttons on (which impacts horizontal taskbars only) causing no buttons to paint on a secondary taskbar sometimes.

  • Resolved a crash with picking a custom background image, but then clicking onto other windows whilst the open dialog was still open

  • Resolved issue with some custom background images being the wrong way up depending on how the image has been saved (mostly Apple)

  • Resolves a crash issue with taskbar painting

  • Fixes an issue with centered mode on the taskbar on Win11 not instantly applying sometimes

  • Resolves vertical taskbar thumbnails being clipped sometimes.

  • Changes

  • Should address the issue with not being able to open the network window quickly in explorer with 2.55

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sdRohan
sdRohan
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Reply #2 October 27, 2025 11:36:22 AM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Known issues

While we appreciate all feedback, please remember that we offer no official support for beta \ preview \ developer channel versions of Windows. If you report issues while in any of those early release channels, you should not expect them to be addressed unless it still exists in a retail version of Windows.

  • tbd
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sdRohan
sdRohan
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Reply #3 October 27, 2025 11:37:02 AM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

***Reserved***

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pelaird
Join Date 12/2018
+767 moderator
Reply #4 October 27, 2025 11:44:22 AM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

The issue I was having with the first tab on the page not painting the texture after a restart of Explorer or after a computer restart seems to be resolved.

Ref. "Group Tab's Texture won't Stay Applied"

https://forums.stardock.com/538357/page/1/#3979058

I'm not sure this was a fix on your end or the fact that I updated from 23H2 to 25H2.

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aaroncar31
Join Date 09/2016
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Reply #5 October 30, 2025 3:54:31 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Ever since today's major W11 update, my start menu opens aligned to the left no matter what.

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basj
Join Date 03/2001
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Reply #6 October 30, 2025 7:55:21 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Quoting aaroncar31,
reply 5

Ever since today's major W11 update, my start menu opens aligned to the left no matter what.

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. It is best if you include your current Windows11 version and OS Build number. So we can check it.

Thank you,
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

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aaroncar31
Join Date 09/2016
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Reply #7 October 30, 2025 8:02:44 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Sorry about that, here you go. 

I had just got the 25H2 update today, and that's when the problem started. 

OS Name: Microsoft Windows 11 Pro

Version: 10.0.26200 Build: 26200

 

Quoting basj,
reply 6


Quoting aaroncar31,
reply 5

Ever since today's major W11 update, my start menu opens aligned to the left no matter what.



Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. It is best if you include your current Windows11 version and OS Build number. So we can check it.

Thank you,
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

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sdRohan
basj
Join Date 03/2001
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Reply #8 October 30, 2025 8:19:42 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Quoting aaroncar31,
reply 7

Sorry about that, here you go.
I had just got the 25H2 update today, and that's when the problem started.
OS Name: Microsoft Windows 11 Pro
Version: 10.0.26200 Build: 26200

Thanks you, I haven’t received the Windows 11 25H2 update yet, but I’ll try to force it and see if I can reproduce the issue on my end. That said, I haven’t seen any recent reports from other users about this issue.

I believe there are folks already running 25H2 with Start11 2.56, so hopefully someone else can chime in and help confirm. Appreciate the report, thanks again!

In the meantime, you might want to try uninstalling Start11, rebooting immediately, then downloading the latest version again. After reinstalling, reboot once more and check if the issue still occurs.
These steps can help ensure that any necessary files are properly reset. It’s possible that something during the Windows 11 25H2 update may have disrupted Start11’s configuration.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

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sdRohan
plowed
Join Date 05/2009
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Reply #9 October 31, 2025 12:13:04 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Same behavior as 2.55 with Windows built in autohide taskbar enabled:

Win 11 Pro 24H2 - Windows 11 style

Autohide taskbar enabled. When clicking on Start button, Start11 menu draws underneath the taskbar instead of above it. This prevents using the buttons on the bottom of the menu, to include Shutdown.

 

In addition, with autohide enabled, clicking the Start button now has a significant delay before showing the Start menu.

 

If 'Let Start11 enhance the taskbar' is enabled and autohide is enabled by Start11, it works properly. But if not, and autohide is set through Windows via Taskbar Settings -> Taskbar behaviors, then the above.

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pelaird
Join Date 12/2018
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Reply #10 October 31, 2025 12:29:03 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Quoting plowed,
reply 9

Same behavior as 2.55 with Windows built in autohide taskbar enabled:

Win 11 Pro 24H2 - Windows 11 style

Autohide taskbar enabled. When clicking on Start button, Start11 menu draws underneath the taskbar instead of above it. This prevents using the buttons on the bottom of the menu, to include Shutdown.

 

In addition, with autohide enabled, clicking the Start button now has a significant delay before showing the Start menu.

If 'Let Start11 enhance the taskbar' is enabled and autohide is enabled by Start11, it works properly. But if not, and autohide is set through Windows via Taskbar Settings -> Taskbar behaviors, then the above.

 

Where do you have the taskbar? Top or Bottom. If at the bottom, Use Start11 autohide instead of the Windows setting.

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albertsgd
Join Date 10/2025
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Reply #11 October 31, 2025 3:53:01 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

pinned websites don't display the website icon.  They appear correctly in the Win11 menu but not n the Start11 menu.

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sdRohan
sdRohan
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Reply #12 October 31, 2025 6:00:15 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Quoting albertsgd,
reply 11

They appear correctly in the Win11 menu but not n the Start11 menu.

For ALL Start11 menu styles?

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