Start 11 Feature Requests

from Stardock Forums

I would like to start by saying thank you for all your work. I would like and would love to see where Start 11 goes. Start 11 is the only reason why I'm even still using Windows 11. As it sits now Start 11 is great, but I think it can be better. Here are my ideas. 

I would like png icon support for all Start menus. I would like to right-click on a program and change the icon for normal icons in Windows 7+11 and for tiles in Windows 10. I was a big fan of EdgeTile Creators because I could make my own tiles. There would be a lot of cool layouts people could do if given custom icon support. 

Here is an example of my Windows 10 Start



Windows Tile Icon Sizes: 
70 x 70 pixels = Small Square
150 x 150 pixels = Medium Square
310 x 150 pixels = Wide Rectangle
310 x 310 pixels = Large Square


Then I found the "Use fullscreen menu". Wow, this option has some potential if I had a few options to go with the fullscreen menu. I'm also a big fan of WinLaunch, which is an app drawer for Windows. Just like app launcher/drawer found on macOS, Linux, and Android. I would like to see the fullscreen menu turned into an app drawer. Of course, it would need png icon support, custom icon sizes, and I would like to see an option to add a custom number of rows and columns. Oh yeah, folders here would be nice too if at all possible. 



Here is an example of my WinLaunch



EDIT: I just found out I can already do a few of those things. Since all of these are based on shortcuts, besides the Windows apps, I can customize the icons. I would still see like to right-click to change icons, png icon support, a custom number of rows and columns, and folders.



Now to convert a bunch of pngs into icos!!! 

start menu products
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Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
I have forward your request to the Stardock Support Team for their review and recommendations. Please keep an eye on this thread for any updates. We really do appreciate your feedback, Thanks

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

"I would like png icon support for all Start menus. I would like to right-click on a program and change the icon for normal icons in Windows 7+11 and for tiles in Windows 10. "

Made that suggestion aeons ago for Iconpackager.

DeskScapes - Bring your desktop background to life.
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Didn't Stardock have png support way back in the day? Png support for an app like Start 11 should have been featured before the beta came out. Png support would take this app to a whole new level. I would love to see the things people would make to customize their Start 11 especially if it's easy to do. But, as it is I think I ended up with something pretty cool.   

Anyways, boy was it a pain to set it up with this way. I learned that I could make shortcuts out of Windows Apps by using Run "shell:AppsFolder" and right-clicking "Create Short", then just change the icon of the app on the Desktop. Expect, this doesn't work with every app on Start 11. This Window App shortcut method works with Windows 11 Start, Explorer, and Taskbar but some apps show up as their default icon when pinned to Start 11.

Start 11 also does not like custom shortcuts that are "Internet Shortcuts". I would also imagine that this affects HTTP shortcuts that have custom icons. The problem I was having was with Steam/Ubisoft games. Adding a Steam shortcut to your Desktop creates an "Internet Shortcut". Luckily, I just made shortcuts out of the exes, which worked even if Steam or Ubisoft wasn't running in the background as programs just launch with the exe. 

I also heavily modified the Programs folders, both of them, to have a clean [All apps]. I found out if you delete those folders they will come back, but if you hide them they will be also hidden from Start 11. So I made shortcuts out of those hidden folders and stored them in another folder I could access easily later on down the line. I copied all the apps I wanted out of both folders, made sure there were no duplicates, cut all the apps out of the AppData/Programs, hid all the folders, and placed everything in the ProgramData\Programs folder. 

I added my custom icons to the apps in the ProgramData\Programs folder, went into [All apps], and then right-click to "Pin to Start 11". When changing icons in the ProgramData\Programs you are going to have to restart Explorer. I recommend making a "Restart Explorer.bat", and placing that under "Shortcuts List".

 


%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

Launch Notepad, save as "Restart Explorer.bat"

Code
  2. <span style="font-family: Consolas, Monaco, 'Andale Mono', 'Ubuntu Mono', monospace; font-size: 12.96px; white-space: pre; background-color: #f5f2f0;">taskkill /f /im explorer.exe</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Consolas, Monaco, 'Andale Mono', 'Ubuntu Mono', monospace; font-size: 12.96px; white-space: pre;" /><span style="font-family: Consolas, Monaco, 'Andale Mono', 'Ubuntu Mono', monospace; font-size: 12.96px; white-space: pre; background-color: #f5f2f0;">start explorer.exe</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Consolas, Monaco, 'Andale Mono', 'Ubuntu Mono', monospace; font-size: 12.96px; white-space: pre;" /><span style="font-family: Consolas, Monaco, 'Andale Mono', 'Ubuntu Mono', monospace; font-size: 12.96px; white-space: pre; background-color: #f5f2f0;">exit
  3. </span>