Start11 Bug: Can't Pin Items to Start Menu

from Stardock Forums

I'm running Start11 on Windows 11 but can't pin anything new to the Start11 start menu (no matter the style). The menu, when using Windows 10 or Windows 11 style, does contain some pinned items (I think nearly all of the pinned items I had when I installed the app), but I don't see any pinned items if I switch to the Windows 7 or Modern styles. I can unpin items, but nothing happens if I try to pin them back (except on the native start menu, where pinning works fine). Any ideas on how to fix this, or is it a bug that will require a version update?

start menu products
8,742 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

I have forwarded your report 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.

+1 Loading…
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Update: I did a purge and reinstall (using these instructions), and now I have the option to "Pin to Start menu (Start11)" when I right click on an app, but this choice is only available when I search for the app while "Use Start11 search in the Start11 start menu" is on. Is this expected? In case it matters, I disabled Windows "Show more options" context menu (using this registry edit). 

I expected pinned items to be consistent across each Windows style in Start11, but is it the case that each style has its own separate list of pinned items? The specific pinned items don't match up for me when I switch styles.

If I have the Start11 start menu active then switch to the native Windows start menu using the menu shortcut (from the "Pin Windows menu shortcut on Start11 menu" option), then clicking on the Windows button in the taskbar brings up the Start11 menu behind the native one (rather than closing the native menu and opening the Start11 start menu).

 

Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting AnonymousIV, reply 2

Update: I did a purge and reinstall (using these instructions), and now I have the option to "Pin to Start menu (Start11)" when I right click on an app, but this choice is only available when I search for the app while "Use Start11 search in the Start11 start menu" is on. Is this expected? In case it matters, I disabled Windows "Show more options" context menu (using this registry edit). 

I expected pinned items to be consistent across each Windows style in Start11, but is it the case that each style has its own separate list of pinned items? The specific pinned items don't match up for me when I switch styles.

If I have the Start11 start menu active then switch to the native Windows start menu using the menu shortcut (from the "Pin Windows menu shortcut on Start11 menu" option), then clicking on the Windows button in the taskbar brings up the Start11 menu behind the native one (rather than closing the native menu and opening the Start11 start menu).

 
End of AnonymousIV's quote

The second issue there will be a bug in the Windows operating system itself.  The Microsoft menu should have detected loss of focus and closed itself.  Windows 11 is very much a work in progress.

The reason why each of the menus has different pinned lists is because of how they are represented.  With groups and pages on the Win10/11 menus you may want entirely different placement of items between the styles so they have to be considered different things.  Likewise the Win7/modern styles have much less space for pinned items, so showing the Win10 style pinned items would result in all the space being used up quickly.

You should be able to pin to the menus from within Start11 itself (search or all apps list), plus from explorer windows with a right click.

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Neil, reply 3

The second issue there will be a bug in the Windows operating system itself.  The Microsoft menu should have detected loss of focus and closed itself.  Windows 11 is very much a work in progress.
End of Neil's quote

Got it.

The reason why each of the menus has different pinned lists is because of how they are represented.  With groups and pages on the Win10/11 menus you may want entirely different placement of items between the styles so they have to be considered different things.  Likewise the Win7/modern styles have much less space for pinned items, so showing the Win10 style pinned items would result in all the space being used up quickly.
End of quote

That makes sense, just making sure I understood the intended functionality.

You should be able to pin to the menus from within Start11 itself (search or all apps list), plus from explorer windows with a right click.
End of quote

I see, so you can't pin to Start11 from the native start menu apps list or native start menu search. Not a big deal, good to know that it's working as intended.

One last thing, a feature request, while I have your attention:

Start11 Windows 11 style unnecessary space

In Windows 11 style, would it be possible to remove the empty space outlined in red above (when your pinned items don't fill up the start menu area)? Thus the start menu would be less tall and the apps would be a closer mouse motion after opening the start menu using the taskbar start button. It also bugs me that the "All apps" button is hanging out all by itself at the top (when you remove the "pinned" text to the left of it). I wish the "All apps" button was at the bottom left where the user button currently is. I know this is more of a Windows 11 complaint, but maybe it's possible to have location options in Start11 for that button?

Thank you for your work on this app! I'm very excited for the upcoming ability to ungroup taskbar items.