Start Menu

Bonnie S 0 Reputation points
2026-10-16T21:01:34.2666667+00:00

I would like to organize the start menu "within" the category list (not the quick access area at the top)

Example;

My games are all listed in alphabetical order. In previous Win OS versions I could create folders and have them listed in alpha. order within the new folder. The games are listed individually by title, some with a folder and some not.

I would like to create a Game Folder and put all games in that folder within the start list. This makes it much easier especially if I don't remember the technical name for the game.

Is this feature still available in Windows 11 64 bit?

Again; create folders in the start list menu, move apps etc ( create shortcut, copy and paste into the start list) and still maintain the alphabetical order for easy finding...

I hope I expressed what I want to do well enough for you to understand。

Regards，

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Desktop, Start, and personalization | Start Menu

2 answers

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  1. Vikki-T 12,080 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-10-17T13:11:09.22+00:00

    Hi Bonnie S,

    I understand your frustration. The ability to create folders directly within the alphabetical app list was useful, and the current Windows 11 options do not fully reproduce that experience.

    At present, custom folders can be created for pinned items, while the All apps section uses the built-in Category, Grid, or List views. As an alternative, you can pin your games to Start and group them into a folder named “Games,” although this will not change their organization within the All apps list.

    Your feedback as a Windows user is important, especially when a design change affects how you organize and access your applications. I recommend pressing Windows key + F to open Feedback Hub, searching for a similar suggestion, and upvoting it or submitting your own feedback. This helps the Windows team understand which features users would like to see reconsidered.

    Please note that this is a user-to-user support forum. Moderators and contributors, including external Microsoft employees, cannot directly intervene in Microsoft product features or access back-end systems. My role is limited to providing technical guidance regarding reported issues, requests, or ideas.

    I know this is not the news you were hoping for, but I wanted to make sure you received the most accurate information about your situation. Thank you so much for your understanding.     

    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-10-16T21:01:47.7766667+00:00

    No. Windows 11 does not provide a built-in way to create custom folders inside the All apps/category list and manually move apps into those folders while keeping that list alphabetized.

    What Windows 11 does support:

    1. Pinned area folders only
      • Folders can be created in the Pinned section of Start by dragging one pinned item over another.
      • More pinned apps can be dragged into that folder.
      • This applies to the pinned area at the top of Start, not the All apps list.
    2. All apps views
      • The All section can be viewed in Category, Grid, or List view.
      • Grid and List views are ordered alphabetically.
      • The Start menu remembers the last selected view.
    3. No classic Start menu mode
      • There is no built-in option in Windows 11 to switch to a classic Windows 7-style Start menu or fully customize Start to work that way.

    So for the specific scenario described—creating a Games folder inside the alphabetical Start app list and moving game shortcuts into it—this feature is not available as a built-in Windows 11 feature.

    References:

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