From the very first time I downloaded the Virtual Windows 11 ARM, there was this one thing that immediately made me shake my head woefully, - the Start Menu. As soon as I got all my software migrated, I would have to find a way to improve that. The Start Menu on Windows 10 was fine, but this .... this - Yikes! I have not found a way to put the same Windows 10 Start Menu on Windows 11,, but have found some stuff to improve or replace. PC Magazine, last month, published an article offering some suggestions. You can find this article which was authored on January 30, 2026 by searching for this "PC Magazine Windows 11 Start Menu." Or you can go to GitHub "Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu." This project's version of the Classic Windows 7 and later start menu can be downloaded and installed with little sweat and does help to improve the feel of the Start Menu while offering a link to call up the current extant menu as well.
Just an uptick on my experience with the Windows 11 Start Menu Alternatives. I decided to remove the alternative I chose and go back to using the default. That's after researching setup on the default more. NOTE: I found that after deleting the alternative that the default got abandoned without connection to Start Menu Icon. I had to switch to cohesive mode and back to let the VM find it. Anyway, the default will allow the creation of folders by right clicking any item in the start menu. Then additional items can be drag and dropped into the created folder. Clicking on the created folder pops it up large for better visibility. The other lists can be removed to clean things up. (See attached photos and forgive the low light shake on that third photo)
