How to Back up and Restore the Start Menu Layout

This practical guide walks through how to back up and restore the start menu layout, explains the main requirements, and highlights common issues that may appear along the way.

Use PowerShell to back up and restore Start menu layout

You need to be a Pro or Enterprise edition user to use this method. If you are a Home edition user, follow the second method.

PowerShell command to back up the Start menu layout

Step 1. Open the Start menu .

Step 2. Search for 'PowerShell' and open it.

Step 3. Execute the command below, remember to replace C: savelocationbackup.xml with the actual path where you want to save the backup file. In my case, the author is saving the file on my desktop.

Export-StartLayout -Path "C:savelocationbackup.xml"

Step 4. Immediately after you execute the command, PowerShell will back up the Start menu layout and save it to the location you chose earlier.

Restore the Start menu layout using Group Policy

To restore the Start menu backed up using the PowerShell command, you must use the Group Policy Editor. Here's how to do it.

Step 1. Open the Start menu .

Step 2. Search for gpedit.msc.

Step 3. Right click on it and select Run as administrator .

Step 4. Go to User Configuration> Administrative Templates> Start Menu and Taskbar folder .

Step 5. Double-click the Start Layout policy .

Step 6. Select the Enabled option .

Step 7. In the Options section , enter the backup file path.

Step 8. Click Apply> OK button .

Step 9. Restart Windows.

After the reboot, your Start menu layout will be restored.

Use BSML to back up the Start menu layout

Use a portable and free app called Backup Start Menu Layout , you can back up and restore the Start menu layout with just one click. In addition, the app even allows you to reset the Start menu layout to default state.

Step 1. Download the BSML application.

Step 2. Extract the contents of the zip file to the desktop.

Step 3. Open the unzipped folder and execute the application according to your system architecture.

Step 4. Click the Save icon to back up the Start menu layout.

Step 5. Backup file is saved to the same location as the application.

Step 6. To restore Start menu layout, select an in-app layout.

Step 7. Click the Restore icon .