If you’re like most people, you use the Start menu to quickly access your most-used programs and files. But if you’ve got a lot of programs installed, it can be hard to find them all. One way to make your life easier is to add folder shortcuts to the Start menu. This tutorial will show you how.

  1. Open the Start menu by clicking on the Windows logo in the bottom left corner of your screen, or by pressing the Windows key on your keyboard.
  2. Click on “Settings” in the Start menu.
  3. Under “Personalization,” click on “Start.”
  4. Under “Start Menu,” click on “Add an app.” (If you don’t see this option, make sure that your PC has at least one app installed from the Microsoft Store.) Add a program from the Microsoft Store: If you don’t see this option, make sure that your PC has at least one app installed from the Microsoft Store., type “Folder Options” into the search bar at the top of the window and press Enter., select “View” from the list of options that appears., under “Advanced settings,” click on “Show hidden files and folders.”., under “Folder Options,” select “Add a folder shortcut.” (If you don’t see this option, make sure that your PC has at least one folder shortcut set up.) Type or paste in a path to where you want to create a new shortcut., click on OK . You’ll now see a new shortcut for your newly added folder appear in your Start menu.: If you don’t want any new shortcuts added to your Start menu right now, uncheck this box.: To remove a shortcut from your Start menu, right-click on it and select “Remove from startmenu.” ..

In Windows 11, you can enable special folder shortcuts (for Music, Pictures, Downloads, and more) that appear on your Start menu for quick access. Here’s how to turn them on.

It’s no secret that the Windows 11 Start menu ships with a different layout than its predecessor. Familiar locations have changed. For example, in Windows 10, you can enable special folder shortcuts that live in the left sidebar of Start. In Windows 11, similar shortcuts can also appear in Start, but you’ll find them as a row of simple glyph-like icons with no labels at the very bottom of the Start menu.

To see these special shortcuts, you’ll have to turn them on first. To get started, open Windows Settings. You can search for “Settings” in Start and click its icon, press Windows+i on your keyboard, or perhaps find “Settings” pinned to your Start menu.

When Settings opens, navigate to Personalization > Start.

In Start settings, click “Folders.”

You’ll see a list of special folder names with switches beside them. The shortcut options include “Settings,” “File Explorer,” “Documents,” “Downloads,” “Music,” “Pictures,” “Videos,” “Network,” and “Personal Folder” (your account’s home folder).

Using the list, locate the folder shortcut or shortcuts that you’d like to see in Start, and click the switch beside each one to turn it to “On.” You can choose any combination of them that you’d like.

After that, close Settings. When you click the Start button, you’ll see the folder shortcuts listed in the lower-right corner of the Start menu just beside the power button.

If you change your mind and would like to remove a special folder shortcut from Start, just revisit Settings > Personalization > Start > Folders and set the switch beside it to “Off.” Good luck!

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