How to move the Start menu on Windows 11 (preview)

Windows 11 Start menu
Windows 11 Start menu (Image credit: Windows Central)

On Windows 11, you will find many new interface changes and features, including a new taskbar that aligns all the items, including the Start button and Start menu to the center of the screen. While this is a new approach from Microsoft to put you closer to the apps and files you use every day, it's not a change that everyone wants.

If you have installed Windows 11 on your computer, and you'd like the legacy alignment, the Taskbar settings page includes an option to change the behavior of the taskbar to the left like on Windows 10 or center.

In this Windows 11 guide, we will walk you through the steps to reposition the Start menu and apps to the left or center.

How to move the Start menu on Windows 11

To move the Start menu and app buttons to left or center, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Click on Personalization.
  3. Click the Taskbar behaviors settings.
  4. Use the Taskbar alignment drop-down menu and select:
    • Left to align the Start menu and buttons to the left like on Windows 10.
    • Center to align the taskbar items to the center of the screen.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

Once you complete the steps, the Start menu will be relocated to the position you selected in the settings.

Are you going to use the Start menu on the left or right? Let us know in the comments.

More Windows resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak is technical writer for WindowsCentral.com. His primary focus is to write comprehensive how-tos to help users get the most out of Windows 10 and its many related technologies. He has an IT background with professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, and CompTIA, and he's a recognized member of the Microsoft MVP community.