[Tip] Backup and Restore (Import/Export) Start Menu Layout in Windows 10

This tutorial will help you in taking backup of your current customized Start Menu layout in Windows 10 and restore or deploy the same layout later in same machine for current user or all user accounts as well as other Windows 10 devices.

When you clean install Windows 10 or upgrade to a new version of Windows 10, you customize and modify Start Menu according to your requirements. For example, you remove bundled or default pinned tiles, you add or pin new programs tiles for easy and quick access, you resize tiles, group tiles, reorder tiles, etc.

We all modify Start Menu layout as per our requirements and when we reinstall Windows, we need to follow the same process of customization again.

Similarly, if we have multiple computers, we have to customize Start Menu layout in all computers one by one which takes lots of time and efforts.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could take a backup of our customized Start Menu layout and save the backup at some safe place so that we could restore the same Start Menu layout in same device after reinstalling Windows or deploy it in other Windows 10 computer systems?

Actually it’s possible. Windows 10 allows users to export and import Start Menu layout so that users can take a backup of their custom Start Menu layout and restore the same layout in multiple Windows 10 devices to save time.

Exporting and importing Start Menu layout will help you if you want to:

• Take a backup of your customized Start Menu layout so that you can restore it in future after reinstalling Windows 10 in your computer system.
• Apply or deploy same Start Menu layout for all other user accounts in Windows 10.
• Restore same Start Menu layout in other Windows 10 computers to save time.

Exporting or taking backup of Start Menu layout utilizes PowerShell command. On the other hand, importing or restoring the Start Menu layout requires Group policy or Registry tweak.

If you also want to take a backup of your customized Start Menu layout or want to restore the backup in other devices or for other user accounts, following steps will help you:

A. Export or Backup Current Start Menu Layout in Windows 10:

Following steps will help you in taking a backup of your customized Start Menu layout which you can restore in same device or other devices:

1. First of all open Powershell as Administrator. You can access it using WIN+X menu. Press WIN+X keys together and select “Windows PowerShell (Admin)” option.

Alternatively, open Start Menu and type powershell. It’ll automatically start searching for the program and will show PowerShell in search results. Now press Ctrl+Shift+Enter keys together to launch PowerShell as Administrator. Or you can right-click on PowerShell entry and select “Run as Administrator” option.

2. Now you’ll need to run “Export-StartLayout” command in PowerShell to create a XML file which will contain backup of your customized Start Menu layout.

Following is the default format or syntax of Export-StartLayout command:

You’ll need to replace <full_path_of_xml_file> with the XML file path.

For example, if you are going to save the backup file of current Start Menu layout in E: drive with any desired name such as Start_Layout.xml, then run following command in PowerShell window:

The command will take very few seconds in executing and will create the XML file in the location mentioned by you in the command syntax.

TIP: You can add -WhatIf at the end of the command to test the command without actually making any changes.

You can open the folder in My Computer or This PC and you’ll notice the newly created XML file there.

You’ll see some code in the XML file which will look similar to following:

Keep the file for future use to restore the same Start Menu layout in same or different device.

B. Restore or Import Custom Start Menu Layout in Windows 10:

Now let’s talk about how will you restore your customized Start Menu layout in future?

You can restore or apply the Start Menu layout which you exported in first step using any of following 2 methods:

• METHOD 1: Using Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc)
• METHOD 2: Using Registry Editor (regedit)

Let’s discuss both methods one by one:

METHOD 1: Restore Start Menu Layout Using Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc)

1. Press WIN+R keys together to launch RUN dialog box. Now type gpedit.msc and press Enter. It’ll open Group Policy Editor.

2. Now go to following key:

If you want to restore Start Menu layout for current user only:

If you want to restore Start Menu layout for all user accounts:

3. In right-side pane, look for following option:

4. Double-click on Start Layout option and select Enabled. Now enter the full path of the XML file which contains backup of Start Menu layout (created in Step A).

In our case, the full path is E:\Start_Layout.xml as mentioned above.

Click on Apply and OK buttons.

Restart or log off to apply effects.

Now you’ll get the same Start Menu layout which was stored in the backup file.

PS: If you decide to restore default settings in future, set the above mentioned policy to Not Configured.

METHOD 2: Restore Start Menu Layout Using Registry Editor (regedit)

If you are using Home edition of Windows 10, you’ll not be able to run gpedit.msc command because this edition doesn’t come with Group Policy Editor.

If you can’t use or don’t want to use Group Policy Editor, you can take help of Registry Editor for the same task. Just follow these simple steps:

1. Press WIN+R keys together to launch RUN dialog box. Now type regedit and press Enter. It’ll open Registry Editor.

2. Now go to following key:

If you want to restore Start Menu layout for current user only:

If you want to restore Start Menu layout for all user accounts:

3. Under Windows key, look for Explorer key. If the key is not present, right-click on Windows key and select “New -> Key” option. Set the new key name as Explorer.

4. Select Explorer key and in right-side pane, right-click on empty area and select “New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value” option.

Set new DWORD name as LockedStartLayout and double-click on the DWORD and change its value to 1 to lock Start Menu layout.

Again right-click on empty area and select “New -> Expandable String Value” option.

Set String name as StartLayoutFile and double-click on it and change its value to the full path of the XML file which contains backup of Start Menu layout (created in Step A).

In our case, the full path is E:\Start_Layout.xml as mentioned above.

Click on OK button to apply changes.

Restart or log off to apply effects.

Now you’ll get the same Start Menu layout which was stored in the backup file.

PS: If you decide to restore default settings in future, delete the above mentioned DWORD and String values from Registry.

BONUS TIP: Unlocking Start Menu

After importing or restoring Start Menu layout, you’ll notice that it’s locked. You’ll not be able to modify it. That’s a part of export feature.

To unlock the Start Menu so that you can make changes to it, you’ll need to remove LockedStartLayout DWORD from Registry.

Check following tutorial for details:

[Tip] Lock Start Menu Layout in Windows 10 so that No One can Change it

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

There is also a separate command to import or restore Start Menu layout. You need to run the command in PowerShell in following format or syntax:

Import command will restore custom Start Menu layout for new user accounts only which will sign in for first time.

Also Check:

[Tip] Add, Remove and Group Program Shortcuts in Windows 10 Start Menu

[Tip] Do This When Start Menu Not Working in Windows 10

[Tip] Speedup Start Menu Opening / Launching in Windows 10