Removes all pinned tiles and applies a clean Start Menu layout for all users on this computer. This action requires confirmation.

Type: Action button

How It Works

Windows 10 uses an XML-based layout system. Winhance creates a clean layout file and applies it through Windows policies:

• Current User: The layout is applied immediately by temporarily locking the Start Menu layout via registry policy, restarting the Start Menu process, then unlocking it so you can customize again.
• Other Existing Users: Scheduled tasks are created under Winhance\CleanStartMenu_{username} that run once when each user next logs in. The task applies the layout and then self-deletes.
• New Users: The layout file is saved to the Default user profile, so any new user accounts automatically get the clean layout.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LayoutModificationTemplate
    xmlns:defaultlayout="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/FullDefaultLayout"
    xmlns:start="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/StartLayout"
    Version="1"
    xmlns:taskbar="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/TaskbarLayout"
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/Start/2014/LayoutModification">
    <LayoutOptions StartTileGroupCellWidth="6" />
    <DefaultLayoutOverride>
        <StartLayoutCollection>
            <defaultlayout:StartLayout GroupCellWidth="6" />
        </StartLayoutCollection>
    </DefaultLayoutOverride>
</LayoutModificationTemplate>

Removes all pinned apps and applies a clean Start Menu layout for all users on this computer. This action requires confirmation.

Type: Action button

How It Works

Windows 11 uses a binary file system for Start Menu pins and a JSON-based policy for configuration. Winhance cleans the Start Menu through multiple approaches:

• Current User: Deletes the start.bin and start2.bin files from the current user's LocalState folder, then restarts the Start Menu process.
• Other Existing Users: Deletes the same binary files from all other user profiles on the system (requires admin privileges).
• New Users: A system-wide policy is applied via ConfigureStartPins that configures an empty pinned list, ensuring new users get a clean Start Menu.

Choose whether the Start Menu shows more pinned apps, more recommendations, or a balanced default layout.

Options: Default, More pins, More recommendations

Note: This setting was removed in Windows 11 24H2 build 26120.4250 and later.

Show or hide the lower section that displays recently opened files and suggested apps.

Options: Show, Hide

Automatically expand to show all pinned apps instead of requiring you to click 'All apps'.

Note: Only available on Windows 11 24H2 build 26120.4250 and later.

Display a list of recently installed applications at the top of the All Apps list.

Display your frequently launched applications at the top of the All Apps list for quick access.

Display your frequently launched applications at the top of the All Apps list for quick access.

Display app suggestions and promotional content from the Microsoft Store in the Start Menu.

Note: This setting depends on the "Promotional Content" master setting in Privacy & Security.

Display your recently opened documents and files in the Start Menu's Recommended section for quick access.

Note: Requires the Recommended section to be shown (not hidden).

Display personalized suggestions from Windows for tips, app shortcuts, and Microsoft Store apps in the Recommended section.

Display notifications about Microsoft account sign-in, sync status, and account-related suggestions.

Prevent web results from Bing from appearing when searching in the Start Menu, showing only local files and apps.