Microsoft’s announcement that it is preparing the Windows 10 operating system for desktop computers, laptops, phones, tablets and even Xbox One came at a very interesting time for the company. One foot is a thing of the past with Windows 10. Windows works on millions of devices, and many of them do not have touch capabilities. This new Windows 10 operating system should make these users feel at home in a way that Windows 8 did not. Microsoft, on the other hand, must ensure that it is giving its hardware teams the operating system and ecosystem pushes their devices need to succeed. That’s why the new Start Menu and Start Screen options in Windows 10 are so important. However, Microsoft offers its users the option to make the most suitable user interface for them and offers different interfaces based on the tools that users have at their disposal.
Here’s how to get the Start Menu back in Windows 10.
Before you get started, you’ll need the basics. Microsoft has not yet made the Windows 10 operating system available to end users. Instead, the company is publicly testing Windows 10’s features only with users downloading it through the Windows Insider Program.
To close the Start Menu in this way, you must have downloaded the Windows Technical Preview from Microsoft’s website and installed it on your device. You will also need a flash drive if you plan to do a fresh install and back up all your data in case you lose it. Second, and this is absolutely crucial: You should never download a Technical Preview on any mission-critical operating system or device. Must Be Mobile explained how to get Windows 10 Technical Preview in a recent article. Again, approach with caution. Features within the operating system may break and things may change without notice.
When you log into your laptop, desktop or tablet running Windows 10 for the first time, you may notice that the first thing you see is the Windows Start Screen in Windows 8. Don’t worry. Windows 10 is smart enough to give you a different interface depending on the input options you can use. Unfortunately, the Windows 10 Technical Preview doesn’t change your interface much if you’ve only chosen to upgrade and keep all your settings.
Go to the Desktop by pressing the Windows key on your keyboard or the Windows button at the bottom of your screen.
Welcome back to the desktop. Look for the Taskbar at the bottom of your screen. If you have a mouse, in the Taskbar. If you are tapping, put your finger on the Taskbar and hold it there until a circle appears. The Taskbar is the long transparent strip, usually at the bottom of your screen, that shows what apps you have open and what time it is. You can right click anywhere.
click
Welcome to the Taskbar features. Here, we’re going to change the way the Start Screen looks and behaves so it works more like the Start Menu of Windows operating systems from the past. You could make the Start Screen behave like the Start Menu in Windows 8.1, but it required a lot of configuration. Click the option at the top of the properties area.
At the top of the screen, click or tap this item, and then press .
Once Windows 10 becomes widely available, you may not need to reboot your machine to switch between these two options. But today you will have to reboot your machine after enabling the Start Menu to replace the Start Screen. Be sure to save your work immediately. If you have a Word document open, save it, if you’re in Internet Explorer, make sure to bookmark the websites you visit.
Click or tap on it and you’ll be taken back to your login screen. It shouldn’t take long for your machine to reboot.
Now log in with the username and password your laptop, desktop or tablet assigned to it.
This much. You have successfully opened the Start Menu in Windows 10. Definitely don’t upgrade to Windows 10 just to get the Start Menu back. Windows 10 is not ready for normal use by anyone without a spare PC. If you’re running Windows 8.1, the latest publicly available Windows operating system, here are some other ways to rebuild the Start Menu. Windows 10 will be available to everyone in its final form next year. In addition to the new Start Menu, options to open Windows Store apps on the Desktop will also be included.
