Start11 free

The Windows 11 Start menu is often criticized for how rigid and unhelpful it can be, and because of that, a number of alternatives have arisen to make up for those shortcomings. One of my personal favorites is Start11 from Stardock, but that's a paid app, and most people aren't willing to spend money on that kind of software. Thankfully, if you're a bit more frugal, there are free alternatives out there, too. One of the most popular is OpenShell, an open-source project that aims to bring back classic Start menu designs and features to help improve usability. With that in mind, are you better off using OpenShell for free instead of paying for Start11? Let's take a closer look to find out. Start11 has a lot more style options OpenShell is a more focused solution Right off the bat, it's important to highlight just how much Start11 can do for you as a paid solution. Sure, paying any price can be a tough barrier ro overcome, but this is a case where you get what you pay for in terms of customization. Start11 offers seven styles of Start menu to choose from, ranging from Windows 7 to multiple variations of the Windows 11 design, and you can do a lot with this setup. The Windows 11 variations in particular are incredibly powerful, as you can create folders, groups, tabs, and pages to organize all your apps. You can even change the colors of app icons to make them match your chosen theme. Not only that, but Start11 can show your File Explorer folders directly in the menu itself, making it so you can browse your folders without having to open File Explorer. You can even set specific subfolders to open as context menus, so the entire browsing experience is

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V2 review: Making the Windows 11 Start menu actually useful With tons of configuration options for appearance and organization, Start11 makes the Start menu and taskbar so much richer There's a lot more to Start11 beyond the taskbar options, though. There are a ton of customization options for the Start menu itself, including the same transparency and color settings, the ability to create pages, tabs, groups, and folders, the option to pin file folders to the Start menu or the taskbar, and so on. It does cost some money, but Start11 v2 is an excellent tool for customization, and while it can give you a transparent taskbar, it can do so much more, and you're only paying $7 for a lifetime license. StartAllBack The best alternative to Start11 (and it's cheaper, too) Another excellent option for those willing to spend a bit of money is StartAllBack, a successor to the well-known StartAllBack, and a competitor to Start11. StartAllBack is a bit different from Start11, but it does similar things. For one thing, it can turn the taskbar completely transparent, complete with different blur options and transparency levels. You can also use a "dynamic transparency" option to make it so that the taskbar becomes opaque (or less transparent, at least) when an app is open in full screen or you're using the Start menu, for example. Related StartAllBack review: Bringing back classic Windows goodness Don't like the Windows 11 design changes? StartAllBack takes you back to better times, with some other

A Long-Awaited Feature​Stardock’s latest update comes as a relief to many users frustrated by the lack of flexibility in Windows 11's taskbar design. For years, Microsoft has staunchly upheld a decision to keep the taskbar immovably fixed to the bottom of the screen, dismissing the idea of repositioning it as "not important." This has left creatives, multitaskers, and those who simply prefer a vertical layout with limited options: either stick with Windows 10—until its eventual demise—or venture into third-party territory.Fortunately, as Windows 10's support inches closer to the sunset, Start11 emerges as a beacon of hope, providing a viable option for customization lovers seeking to maximize their productivity and ergonomic setup.Feature Breakdown: What’s New in Start11 v2.5?​Vertical Taskbars: The crown jewel of this update is, of course, the vertical taskbar feature. Stardock's Start11 v2.5 beta allows users to dock the taskbar on either the left or right side of their desktop screen. Not to mention, this setup comes with a revamped Start menu that fits seamlessly alongside your desktop's edge, doing away with the glitchy middle-bottom syndrome.How to Access This Beta FeatureEnroll in the Beta Program: For those eager to dive in now rather than wait for the stable release in January, you'll need to sign up for Stardock’s beta program.Download the Update: If you already own a Start11 license, you can snag this beta version for free. If not, a perpetual license is available for a very reasonable $9.99.The Waiting Game: For those hesitant about using pre-release software, the good news is that a stable version is on the horizon, with Stardock promising an official rollout early next month.Beyond Just an Aesthetic ChangeSwitching to a vertical orientation may seem like merely a cosmetic change, but it’s far from superficial. More than just a way to stand out in the visual stakes, a vertical taskbar can enhance workflow productivity, particularly for users with widescreen monitors. By giving individuals more space to organize their applications, it can significantly reduce distractions and streamline access to frequently used programs.Additional Customization Features​Beyond just taskbar repositioning, Start11 offers a plethora of customization options that breathe new life into the Windows 11 Start menu. Users can expect:Custom Start Menu Layouts: Tailor the appearance and functionality of the Start menu according to your preferences.Enhanced Icon Customization: Choose from an array of icons and layouts to personalize your desktop further.Improved Accessibility Options: Navigate your space with ease through

Karlheinz Graf Posts: 5 Joined: 01/19/2021 Posted: 07/23/2022 18:14:24 Actual Window Guard destroys Start11 Taskbar Functionality( -> you don't use an individual Start button in Start11, the Start menu doesn't open every 3rd to - 10th click and gets stuck. If you then click again, it suddenly closes, although it was not visible at all, or nothing happens.So the menu seams to be opened, but you don't see it.The problem does not exist if you open the menu with the Windows key or use an individual Start button. If I close or pause Actual Window Guard, then every click work!OS Name: Microsoft Windows 11 (x64)OS Version: 10.0.22621.436, station (x64)Actual Tools Program Name: Actual Window GuardActual Tools Program Version: 8.14.7Conflicting Program Name: Start11Conflicting Program Version: 1.25Actions Required to Reproduce the Problem: Install Start 11, activate Taskkbar extension and set settings as follows and then try to click start button a few times and you see the problem: Top Bogdan Polishchuk Administrator Posts: 4110 Joined: 04/04/2012 Posted: 07/29/2022 21:31:30 Hello, KarlheinzThank you for contacting us.QuoteIf you don't use an individual Start button in Start11, the Start menu doesn't open every 3rd to - 10th click and gets stuck. If you then click again, it suddenly closes, although it was not visible at all, or nothing happens.This problem has been confirmed. As I can see, Start11 itself has similar problems in Windows 11 if the "Let Start11 enhance the taskbar" option is disabled. But when it's enabled Start button works mostly smooth and running our software then causes the problem. We'll try to fix it and will post here when the problem is fixed.The problem happens if the "Use the Start11 Start menu" option is enabled (any Start11 menu style) and as you already mentioned the "Use a custom button image" option for start button is disabled.Unfortunately, there seems to be no other workaround for this problem than to use a custom start button image. If you want to have the original Windows 11 start button image, you can try this set of icons for example (the real download button is right below

A transparent taskbar. It's free, and it does the job it aims to do very well. Transparent Taskbar gives you options for what kind of transparency effect you want to use, whether that's the same default effect available in Windows 11, a Windows 10-style acrylic transparency, or a completely clear look. If you don't want total transparency, you can also choose an accent color to tint the taskbar. You can even choose to remove the taskbar border for a completely uninterrupted look, it's quite neat. On top of that, TranslucentTB lets you adjust the behavior of the taskbar so it changes if you have an app open, you're looking at the Start menu, or if battery saver is enabled, for example. It's simple and straightforward, but frankly, if you want a transparent taskbar and nothing more, this is the only app you need. Start11 v2 Change the taskbar and so much more If you're willing to spend a bit of money for a lot more functionality, though, Start11 is where it's at. As far as taskbar options go, you get a lot, including the ability to make the taskbar completely colorless and disabling the blur effect so the taskbar is totally transparent. That's fairly standard, but you have a few more options, too. You can move the taskbar to the top of the screen, too, or if you choose not to go completely transparent, you can give the taskbar rounded corners so it feels a bit more modern. Related Start11