Windows 11 Start Menu folders

Question

Hello,

With the new version Windows 11 22H2, it is now possible to create, manually, folders in the start menu.

My question is very simple, under Windows 11, is it possible by a script to create folder in the start menu ? (or retrieve this configuration to duplicate it during a deployment via configuration manager).

On Windows 10, it was possible to import an xml file containing all the configuration (pinned apps and folders) of the start menu with the powershell command Import-StartLayout

Exemple xml file with group of apps :

<LayoutModificationTemplate xmlns:defaultlayout="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/FullDefaultLayout" xmlns:start="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/StartLayout" Version="1" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/LayoutModification">
  <LayoutOptions 
StartTileGroupCellWidth="6"
StartTileGroupsColumnCount="2"
FullScreenStart="false"
/>
  <DefaultLayoutOverride>
    <StartLayoutCollection>
      <defaultlayout:StartLayout GroupCellWidth="6">
        <start:Group Name="Group apps name">
          <start:DesktopApplicationTile Size="2x2" Column="4" Row="2" DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\OneNote 2016.lnk" />
          <start:DesktopApplicationTile Size="2x2" Column="0" Row="0" DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Word 2016.lnk" />
          <start:DesktopApplicationTile Size="2x2" Column="4" Row="0" DesktopApplicationLinkPath="%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\PowerPoint 2016.lnk" />
                    
        </start:Group>
      </defaultlayout:StartLayout>
    </StartLayoutCollection>
  </DefaultLayoutOverride>
</LayoutModificationTemplate>

On Windows 11, the json file can only add applications like this :

{ 
  "pinnedList": [ 
    { "desktopAppId": "MSEdge" }, 
    { "desktopAppId": "Microsoft.Office.WINWORD.EXE.15" }, 
    { "packagedAppId": "Microsoft.WindowsStore_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App" }, 
    { "packagedAppId": "Microsoft.WindowsNotepad_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App" } 
  ] 
} 

How can i add group for apps, in the script ?

Thanks for your reply

Answer 1

You can try the following PowerShell script as Admin.This script requires administrative privileges to create a folder in the Start Menu.

Replace "MyNewFolder" with the desired name of your folder.

# Specify the folder name and path
$folderName = "MyNewFolder"
$folderPath = [System.Environment]::GetFolderPath("CommonStartMenu") + "\$folderName"

# Check if the folder already exists
if (-not (Test-Path -Path $folderPath)) {
    # Create the folder
    New-Item -Path $folderPath -ItemType Directory
    Write-Host "Folder '$folderName' created in the Start Menu."
} else {
    Write-Host "Folder '$folderName' already exists in the Start Menu."
}

Answer 2

Hello @Cédric_Dordo, Try this method,

1. Modify your start menu layout as per your requirement.
2. Export start2.bin from %LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState
3. Copy the start2.bin file to every users profiles / default profile

If this answer is helpful, please mark this comment as answer. Thank you.

References:

• https://www.everything365.online/2023/03/02/windows11-startmenu-layout/
• https://lazyadmin.nl/win-11/customize-windows-11-start-menu-layout/