Enable Resizable Start Menu in Windows 11 Insider

If you’re on a Windows 11 Insider build, you can turn on a resizable Start menu—a feature that lets you drag the Start panel wider or taller to see more pinned apps and recent files. This guide walks you through enabling it via the Windows Insider settings, using the ViveTool utility if the toggle is hidden, and fixing common issues. You’ll need a Windows 11 Insider build (Dev or Beta channel) and administrator access.

What You’ll Need

• A PC running a Windows 11 Insider build (Dev or Beta channel) with the latest updates installed.
• Administrator account privileges to run commands.
• ViveTool (a small third-party utility) if the feature toggle isn’t visible in Settings—download it from a trusted source like GitHub.
• An internet connection to download any required updates or tools.

Step-by-Step

1. Check your Insider build. Open Settings (Win + I), go to Windows Update > Windows Insider Program, and confirm you’re on the Dev or Beta channel. The resizable Start menu appears in builds from late 2023 onward, so ensure your build is recent—check for updates under Windows Update and install any pending ones.
2. Back up your system (optional but recommended). Create a restore point: search for “Create a restore point” in the Start menu, select your system drive, click Create, and follow the prompts. This helps if something goes wrong.
3. Look for the feature toggle in Settings. Open Settings > Personalization > Start. Scroll down and look for a toggle labeled “Resizable Start menu” or “Start menu size.” If you see it, turn it on and skip to step 7.
4. If the toggle is missing, download ViveTool. Go to the ViveTool releases page on GitHub, download the latest ViveTool-x.x.x.zip file, and extract it to a folder like C:\ViveTool. Make sure the folder contains vivetool.exe.
5. Open Command Prompt as administrator. Click the Start button, type “cmd,” right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator. Accept the UAC prompt if it appears.
6. Enable the feature ID. In the command prompt, navigate to the ViveTool folder by typing cd C:\ViveTool (or your extracted path). Then run the following command: vivetool /enable /id:41180151. Press Enter. You should see a message confirming the feature was enabled.
7. Restart your PC. After enabling the feature (via Settings or ViveTool), restart your computer to apply the change. Save any open work first.
8. Test the resizable Start menu. After restarting, click the Start button. Hover your mouse over the edge of the Start panel—you should see a double-headed arrow. Drag the edge to resize the menu horizontally or vertically. You can also grab the corner to resize both directions at once.
9. Adjust your pinned apps. With a larger Start menu, you can pin more apps by right-clicking an app and selecting Pin to Start. The menu will expand to show more columns and rows based on your resizing.

Common Mistakes

• Using the wrong feature ID. The ID 41180151 is specific to the resizable Start menu feature. Using other IDs may enable unrelated or unstable features. Double-check the ID before running the command.
• Not running as administrator. ViveTool requires elevated privileges. If you run it from a normal command prompt, you’ll get an “access denied” error.
• Skipping the restart. The feature won’t activate until you restart Windows. Even if the command succeeds, the Start menu won’t resize until after a reboot.
• Extracting ViveTool to a protected folder. If you extract to C:\Program Files or another protected location, you may face permission issues. Use a simple folder like C:\ViveTool.
• Assuming it works on stable builds. This feature is only available in Insider builds. If you’re on the stable release, the toggle and ViveTool method won’t work.

Tips

• Combine with other Start tweaks. Once resizing is enabled, you can also adjust the number of pinned app columns by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Settings—though this option may vary by build.
• Use the corner drag for quick resizing. Dragging the bottom-right corner lets you adjust both width and height in one motion, which is faster than resizing one edge at a time.
• Keep ViveTool handy. Future Insider builds may re-disable the feature or change its ID. Keep the tool and the ID noted so you can re-enable it after updates.
• Report feedback. If you encounter bugs, use the Feedback Hub app to report them. This helps Microsoft refine the feature before it reaches stable releases.
• Check for updated IDs. Microsoft occasionally changes feature IDs between builds. Search online for “ViveTool resizable Start menu ID” to see if a newer ID is recommended for your build.

Troubleshooting

• The toggle is missing and ViveTool says “Feature not found.” This means your build doesn’t include the feature. Update to the latest Insider build via Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. If you’re already on the latest, try switching to the Dev channel (if you’re on Beta) as Dev builds often get features earlier.
• After enabling, the Start menu doesn’t resize. First, restart again—sometimes the feature needs a second reboot. If that fails, disable and re-enable the feature: run vivetool /disable /id:41180151, restart, then re-enable and restart again.
• ViveTool gives an “access denied” error. Make sure you’re running Command Prompt as administrator. Right-click the Start button and select Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin) instead of opening a normal window.
• The Start menu is glitchy or crashes after resizing. This can happen on older Insider builds. Restart your PC to clear the glitch. If it persists, disable the feature with vivetool /disable /id:41180151, restart, and wait for a newer build that fixes the issue.
• Resizing works but the layout resets after reboot. This is a known limitation in early builds. Microsoft may fix it in future updates. For now, you’ll need to resize each time after booting.
• You can’t find the ViveTool download. Search for “ViveTool GitHub” in your browser. The official repository is by the developer “thebookisclosed.” Download the latest release ZIP, not the source code.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the resizable Start menu available on the stable version of Windows 11?
A: No, as of now it’s only in Insider builds. Microsoft hasn’t announced a stable release date.

Q: Will enabling this feature break anything else?
A: It’s generally safe, but because it’s an experimental feature, you might see minor visual glitches. Restarting usually fixes them.

Q: Can I resize the Start menu to full screen?
A: No, the resizable feature lets you enlarge it beyond the default, but it doesn’t support true full-screen mode. You can make it quite large, though.

Q: Do I need to use ViveTool if the toggle is in Settings?
A: No. If you see the toggle in Settings > Personalization > Start, just turn it on. ViveTool is only for builds where the toggle is hidden.

Q: How do I revert to the default Start menu size?
A: Simply drag the edge back to the original size, or disable the feature via the same toggle or the ViveTool command with /disable.

Q: Will this feature work on Windows 10?
A: No, it’s a Windows 11 feature. Windows 10’s Start menu has a different layout and doesn’t support this resizing.

Related

• Deactivate Android Device Manager: Step-by-Step
• Customize Finder Toolbar on Mac: Step-by-Step
• Windows Explorer Crashes on Right Click? Fix It