How to Use and Tweak the Start Screen in Windows 10

Whether you own a Windows 10 desktop, laptop, tablet, or hybrid, you have a choice between using the Start menu or the Start screen. For any device you control with a mouse and keyboard, the Start menu is typically the better option. However, you may find the Start screen easier to work with on touch-screen devices like a tablet or hybrid.

Either way, you can use the Start screen as efficiently as you can the Start menu. The trick lies in knowing how to control and tweak it. 

Enable Start Screen

Let’s assume your current Windows 10 machine is set to use the Start menu by default. If you want to switch to the Start screen, click the Start button and go to Settings > Personalization > Start. Turn on the switch for Use Start full screen.

Click the Start button and you'll now see that the Start menu has been replaced by the Start screen. The Windows 10 Start screen is friendlier and more functional than the old version from Windows 8 and 8.1.

The tiled portion of the Start screen in Windows 10 looks about the same as it did in previous versions, but by default is less cluttered and cramped because the tiles are sized better.

Customize Start Screen

Okay, but what are all the icons on the left sidebar of the screen? That's where the smoother functionality comes into play, because it functions as a merger between the Start menu and the Start screen.

Hover your mouse over the button at the bottom left of the screen, just above the Start button. You’ll notice that the pane expands to include the name of each icon so you know what they all do. This menu can be customized, but it will give you easy access to control power, change settings, and access files. 

Click the Power button to put Windows to sleep, restart your computer, or shut down the whole thing. Select your name to change your account settings, lock the screen, or sign out of Windows. At the top of the sidebar, you can view the apps and tiles you have pinned or all installed apps.

Change Tiles

You can modify the Start screen by adding or removing tiles. Right-click a tile and select Unpin from Start to remove it. 

To add a tile, switch from the Pinned apps view to All Apps. Right-click on the tile you want to add and select Pin to Start.

However, adding a tile this way can be imprecise because it is just randomly placed on the Start screen. A better way of doing it is by manually dragging tiles to the appropriate spot or group. Go back to Settings > Personalization > Start and turn off the switch for Use Start full screen to return to Start menu mode. 

Now you can just drag a tile from the menu to the Start screen and into the right area. When you’re done, go back into Settings and turn on the Start screen again. 

Start Screen Settings

If you’re looking to do more to customize the Start menu or Start screen, head over to the settings and play with a variety of other options. Turn on Show more tiles on Start to reduce the size of all existing tiles so you can squeeze more onto the screen. 

Turn on the option for Show recently opened items in Jump Lists on Start or the Taskbar and in File Explorer Quick Access to display recent items on the Taskbar icons and in the Quick Access section in File Explorer. This will work whether you’re using the Start menu or Start screen.

Click the Choose which folders appear on Start link at the bottom of the page to add or remove certain Windows folders and locations on the sidebar. You can display and access icons for File Explorer, Settings, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, Videos, Network, and Personal Folder. Keep what you want and discard what you don’t want to see.