How to Lock Start Menu Layout in Windows 10/11

The ‘Start Menu’ is a very important tool in Windows 10/11. You can use this menu for many purposes. It has a very good operational mechanism. There are various facilities available for users. So, you can easily customize them according to your need. You can easily customize the ‘Start Menu’ also. But, for security purposes, you can lock it easily. Many users don’t know ‘How to Lock Start Menu Layout in Windows 10/11?’. Do not worry at all about it. We are ready with the detailed information. So, you can apply this data to get the desired results. You can easily customize & lock your layout with this process. No one can make changes in your layout then. Thus, taking this point into account, let’s move toward ‘How to Lock Start Menu Layout in Windows 10/11?’. You can also check more How to Tutorials for better solutions.

How to Lock Start Menu Layout in Windows 10/11?

Windows 10 is rich in various applications. Thus, locking the ‘Start Menu’ layout is also possible. So, you can protect your changes from other users. Your system will remain in the same state. We are delivering here a tutorial on ‘How to Lock Start Menu Layout in Windows 10/11?’. You can easily modify & redesign the layout as you want. So, any other user can not make changes that easily. There are options available to unpin the default titles, pin the required titles, and resize their positions also. Thus, it provides a great opportunity for you. Get ready to grab this opportunity with this elaborative data. Join us on this journey now.

Also Read: How to Hide Most Used Apps in the Start Menu on Windows 10.

Reasons to Lock Start Menu Layout

Various reasons are there that are responsible for this operation. So, all of them may have an impact. But, we are focusing on some of them for your convenience here. Do go through them properly.

• Avoiding Unwanted Access: You can easily deny access to your system to others. So, if anyone uses your system, you can resist them from making changes to your system. Widows provide this facility through this locking feature. Sometimes users access it & make some unnecessary changes on their own. This may disturb your workflow easily. So, to avoid such instances, you need to protect it properly. You can avoid external users with this method.
• Self-made Customization Purpose: It may happen that you would not like the look that your system has. So, you will wish to modify it according to your needs. Thus, this facility works out there. It becomes very easy to modify these functions based on your requirements. In addition to that, you can make the title unresponsive to make it more protective from other users.

Thus, for these reasons, you can adhere to the following information to lock the ‘Start Menu layout.

Methods Available to Fulfill This Operation

There are different methods available to make this operation happen. Thus, we are stressing here some of them for you. You will get detailed information about the overall process from here. So, go through it properly.

Method – 1 ) Making Use of the ‘Group Policy Editor’ Option

The ‘Group Policy Editor’ option plays a vital role in this operation. So, simply go through the steps given below to execute the operation successfully. Do follow these steps to reach the final destination. Just go for it.

1 ) Open the ‘Run Window’

The very first thing you need to do is open the ‘Run Window’. So, press the ‘Windows key + R’ together to reach this window. It will display as shown below. Do this necessary operation here.

2 ) Adding the Command

Further, copy the following command. Then, paste it into the specified box on the window. This is a very useful command in the overall operation.

gpedit.msc

When you are done with it, click on the ‘Ok button or simply press the Enter key to proceed further.

3 ) Click the ‘User Configuration’ Option

Moving ahead, click on the ‘User Configuration option. It is available on the left-hand side of the window. So, select it for further application purposes.

4 ) Enabling Phase Window

Expand the above option here. Then, choose the ‘Start Menu and Taskbar’ option from there. Moving on the right side, double-click on the ‘Start Layout’ option. So. a pop-up window will appear on the screen. Scroll til the ‘Enabled’ option there. Mark the circle before that option. Further, upload the XML file. When you are done, click on the ‘OK’ button available on the downward side of the window.

Thus, with this information, you can easily carry out the operation successfully.

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Method – 2 ) Making Use of the ‘Registry Editor’ Option

The ‘Registry Editor’ option is also a useful tool for executing the operation in a good manner. Thus, just go through the steps here to reach the final destination. Do follow them to get the operation done.

1 ) Open ‘Run Window’

Press the ‘Windows key + R’ keys together. So, it will lead to opening the ‘Run Window’ on the screen. You can observe it as shown below.

2 ) Command Adding Phase

Then, simply copy the command given below. This is a very useful command in this overall operational process.

regedit

Now, paste it into the box specified on the screen. Do this necessary action in the box in front of the ‘Open’ title. Then, click on the ‘Ok button or simply press the Enter key to proceed further.

3 ) Navigate the Path

Now, navigate through the path given below to choose the ‘Windows’ key. This is for all user accounts available on the device.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

On the other hand, current user account only, use the following one.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

4 ) Create the ‘Explorer’ Key

Right-click on the ‘Windows’ key & follow the ‘New -> Key’ path to create a new key. Name this newly created key as ‘Explorer’.

5 ) Double-click the ‘LockedStartLayout’ Option

Right-click on empty space & follow the ‘New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value’ path. Name this DWORD as ‘LockedStartLayout’. So, double-click on this option to move toward the next step.

6 ) Data Value Changing Phase

Now, a pop-up window will appear on the screen. So, move to the ‘Value data’ segment & change the value to ‘1’. Then, simply click on the ‘OK’ button below that.

This activity will lock the layout.

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Conclusion

In this way, this is all about locking ‘Start Menu Layout’ in Windows 10/11. Hope that this information will help you in many ways.