Stardock Releases Start11 v1.1

Stardock today released Start11 v1.1 for Windows 10/11 with support for folders, app icon configuration, and other new features.

“Since Microsoft released Windows 11, we have continued to optimize Start11 for the new operating system,” Stardock’s Brad Sams said. “One of our priorities in v1.1 was bringing folder functionality to the Windows 11 style menu and enhancing integration with our most popular application, Fences”.

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Here’s what’s new in Start11 v1.1:

Folders. You can now create and modify folders in the Windows 10- and 11-style Start menus.

Icon editing. You can now more easily edit the icon for an app icon by right-clicking it.

Fences integration. You can now add fences directly into the Start menu, creating another layer of personalization for the desktop.

Import original Start menu. For those installing Start11 for the first time on Windows 10, you can now import your previous stock Start menu, including all existing folders.

Start menu lock. A new “lock” feature makes sure your icons stay right where you want them.

Start11 is $5.99 with upgrading pricing for Start8 and Start10 customers. You can learn more here.

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Conversation 33 comments

  • krusador

    Premium Member
    12 January, 2022 - 11:53 am

    <p>This app <em>should</em> be completely unnecessary. Thanks Microsoft!</p>

    • hrlngrv

      Premium Member
      12 January, 2022 - 3:56 pm

      <p>In fairness, at least MSFT (to date) makes it simpler for 3rd parties to augment/replace the Windows desktop UI than Apple does for its macOS desktop UI.</p><p><br></p><p>It’s the workplace PC which will be transforming from plain vanilla Windows 10 to plain anchovy Windows 11 with no IT policy provision for replacing a damn thing which will be soul-crushing.</p><p><br></p><p>I figure MSFT will eventually add folders/groups to the bundled Start menu just as soon as it bullet-proofs file associations against any 3rd party browser modifications. <em>User choice? How 2010s!</em></p>

  • Scsekaran

    12 January, 2022 - 12:01 pm

    <p>Thank god they are allowing 3rd party software customizations of start menu.</p><p><br></p><p>Does it support ARM64 processors?</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

    • Brad Sams

      Premium Member
      12 January, 2022 - 12:11 pm

      <p>Not yet but have considered it – we need market adoption first before going that route.</p>

      • Scsekaran

        12 January, 2022 - 1:54 pm

        <p>Thank you. That’s promising</p>

      • lwetzel

        Premium Member
        12 January, 2022 - 6:18 pm

        <p>Brad</p><p><br></p><p>I may be dense but I don’t see the integration to fences.</p>

        • lwetzel

          Premium Member
          12 January, 2022 - 6:24 pm

          <p>Never mind I found it. Bring up the Start Menu and right-click. Says plainly ‘Insert Fence'</p><p><br></p><p>Duh!</p>

  • winner

    12 January, 2022 - 2:02 pm

    <p>Is Stardock’s Brad Sams the same as Thurrott’s Brad Sams?</p><p>I never noticed that!</p>

    • Paul Thurrott

      Premium Member
      12 January, 2022 - 2:42 pm

      <p>lol yes</p>

    • musquodoboit

      14 January, 2022 - 9:51 am

      <p>I was wondering the same thing. I though maybe it was a typo 🙂 Anyway, I went to Stardock’s site and sure enough the same Brad Sams (check out the management team bios/pictures). I like Stardock’s products and Brad’s knowledge and Windows UI experience are a win win for both organizations. </p>

  • cnc123

    12 January, 2022 - 2:45 pm

    <p>Still not on Windows 11, and no plans to migrate soon, but this is great work by the Stardock folks. My job is talking about moving to Windows 11, so I just bought a multi-device copy of the software to support this kind of development work, and knowing that I’m eventually going to need it.</p>

  • hrlngrv

    Premium Member
    12 January, 2022 - 3:50 pm

    <p>Without sarcasm, boldly rushing in where MSFT is too indifferent to tread.</p><p><br></p><p>From my perspective, the Windows 11 desktop UI is an outstanding example of why MSFT should be proscribed from ever having access to anything except security telemetry data. Windows 8 -&gt; 10 -&gt; 11 doesn’t show a refinement of MSFT’s vision for the desktop UI, rather the codification of throwing anything &amp; everything at the wall to see what sticks. Granted, that’s a type of application of the scientific method.</p>

  • brettscoast

    Premium Member
    12 January, 2022 - 6:53 pm

    <p>Thanks for the heads up Paul. Great update to the excellent Start11 software from Stardock. Really useful new features to embrace here. This software really adds value to the Windows 11 experience, just saying!!!!</p>

  • dpokluda

    Premium Member
    12 January, 2022 - 7:08 pm

    <p>Taskbar `Never combine` is still not part of this release. I am really hoping that Start11 will solve this problem. It is impossible to work with multiple windows (Visual Studio, etc.) in Windows 11.</p>

    • sully74

      12 January, 2022 - 8:09 pm

      <p>Not having the option to not combine the task bar is the sole reason I haven’t upgraded to W11. Why would they take that functionality away?!</p>

    • brettscoast

      Premium Member
      12 January, 2022 - 9:16 pm

      <p>I would agree really miss never combine in Windows 11, god only knows why Microsoft removed this useful feature. It should be about improving users’ choice not removing or degrading them.</p>

    • rm

      13 January, 2022 - 11:42 am

      <p>I didn’t know this. This is going to be one of my requirements before I switch to Win11. Along with folders.</p>

    • boots

      13 January, 2022 - 4:47 pm

      <p>Leaving the "Never combine" option out of Window 11 is one of the main reasons why I am not interested in this version. Looking at the picture at the top of the article is a perfect example of how stupid this is, the Taskbar is three quarters empty. A huge waste of space.</p>

  • stephencwll

    13 January, 2022 - 6:32 am

    <p>I don’t like what Start is doing on this occasion. It looks messy. I really like the new start menu as it is. </p>

    • rm

      13 January, 2022 - 11:43 am

      <p> I agree. Something about how small the icons are. Maybe only show up to 4 icons and optionally have a frame of some kind around them.</p>

  • jimbosf

    Premium Member
    13 January, 2022 - 1:31 pm

    <p>Unfortunately, half of Start 11 features including Taskbar right click menu does not work in this version after upgrading to latest Dev build 22533. Being reported on the Stardock forums as well.</p>

    • Brad Sams

      Premium Member
      13 January, 2022 - 4:29 pm

      <p>Microsoft made a change to Windows 11 dev build that was not documented (surprise) that breaks some functionality of Start11 – we have an internal build that fixes it that should go out as a beta on 1/14.</p><p><br></p><p>Considering dev builds are fluid, if you are wanting the best app compatibility (for any app), you should be at least on beta so that devs have time to fix things…we dont even know if what broke our app was an intentional update yet.</p>

      • jimbosf

        Premium Member
        14 January, 2022 - 2:18 am

        <p>Fully aware of the problems with Dev channel builds. Sometimes I wish I could go back to beta channel without a reinstall. My point was just to let people know the timing of the two releases was unfortunately ill-timed.</p><p><br></p>

      • hrlngrv

        Premium Member
        15 January, 2022 - 5:12 pm

        <p><em>Windows ain’t done while Start11 still runs.</em></p><p><br></p><p>Or should that be <em>while Stardock still exists?</em></p>

  • dnationsr

    Premium Member
    13 January, 2022 - 3:15 pm

    <p>were have u been sleeping…this came out several months ago</p>

  • richardnau

    13 January, 2022 - 6:47 pm

    <p>These guys (Stardock) make some cool little products. I’ve bought some in the past. But the way the products are ‘sold’ is sneaky, bordering on dishonest. Your ‘purchase’ is actually a one-year subscription. When the year is up, the products stops working. Try finding ANYWHERE on the web site (believe me, I’ve looked, because (i) I was caught out by this in the past, and (ii) I was hoping that the new products might actually be perpetual purchases) any statement that the prices quoted are for a one year subscription. I can’t find it anywhere.</p><p><br></p><p>I’m not opposed to a software subscription sales model. I subscribe to a number of useful products. But their creators are up front in stating that it’s a subscription, not a ‘sale’. Stardock should be more transparent in this regard. Much more.</p>

    • whistlerpro

      14 January, 2022 - 4:34 pm

      <p>Is this FUD or what? The product descriptions on the Stardock website seem quite comprehensive and I’m sure if they truly were subscriptions, Stardock wouldn’t benefit from hiding the fact (considering everything seems to be a subscription these days anyway). </p>

  • George Coll

    Premium Member
    13 January, 2022 - 11:53 pm

    <p>Congrats Brad Sam’s and Stardocks team :)</p>

  • ruivo

    15 January, 2022 - 6:31 am

    <p>I hope Start11 somehow manages to enable dragging stuff to the taskbar icons, since Microsoft doesn’t seem to bother.</p><p>In any case, this thing has been a godsend, Windows 11 is too infuriating without it!</p>

  • kawaidon

    15 January, 2022 - 12:55 pm

    <p>I’m so glad I tried this after seeing it here, Paul. The only thing in Windows 11 that has been really irritating me is the start menu, and this pretty well completely eliminates the annoyance.</p><p>I am guessing your mention of ‘fences’ is not for the Windows 11 style menu – I can’t find anything that mentions this.</p><p>I just wish now I could find a spot to give this app a rating! It’s great.</p>

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