Windows Setting

Question

Management of my new computer. Although the computer is not managed by the organization, I cannot personalize my start screen. I have searched the forums and tried making changes in the registry editor. All without success.

Answer 1

1

What error is indicated in the Settings app when you try to personalize your start screen, are the settings greyed out or is there a notification that the settings are managed by an Organization?

2

Or did you receive the new larger Start Menu with the Category group on the bottom in Windows 11 and the previous options to customize the start menu are missing.

Answer 2

If you are unable to personalize your Start screen on a Windows 11 computer that is not managed by an organization, it may be due to certain settings or policies that are still applied. Here are a few things you can check:

1. Registry Settings: Ensure that there are no restrictions set in the registry that prevent customization. You can check the following registry key:
   • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer for a value named NoChangeStartMenu. If this value exists and is set to 1, it will prevent changes to the Start menu.
2. Group Policy Settings: If you have access to the Group Policy Editor (not available in Home editions), check under User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Start Menu and Taskbar for any settings that might restrict Start menu customization.
3. Windows Updates: Ensure that your Windows is up to date, as updates can sometimes resolve issues related to settings and functionality.
4. User Account Control: Sometimes, issues arise due to User Account Control settings. Make sure your account has the necessary permissions to make changes.
5. System Restore: If the issue started recently, consider performing a system restore to revert to a point where the Start screen was customizable.

If none of these solutions work, it may be beneficial to create a new user account to see if the issue persists there, as it could be related to your current user profile.