Adding a folder to the Windows 10 Start Menu

CJW · 04 Feb 2019

I did this before, but can't seem to duplicate it now.
I did a Clean Reinstall of Windows 10 not long ago & I am trying to add a folder to the Windows 10 Start Menu. I know I can go to: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs & add shortcuts in this folder to have them show up on the Start Menu; but if I create a new folder, that does NOT show up on the Start Menu. Anyone know how (or where) to add a new folder to the Start Menu?

Yes, I know I can install Classic Shell, but there is a way w/o using a 3rd-party app; I just can't remember how I did it before.

dalchina · 04 Feb 2019

It seems the folder only shows in Win 10's start menu if it contains a shortcut.

Don't expect Win 10's start menu to behave as rationally as Classic Shell.

ddelo · 04 Feb 2019

dalchina said:

It seems the folder only shows in Win 10's start menu if it contains a shortcut.

That is absolutely correct.

Instead of creating a folder in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs add a shortcut to the folder.

dalchina · 04 Feb 2019

While it's correct that you can add a shortcut to the folder, I said:

It seems the folder only shows in Win 10's start menu if it contains a shortcut.

I.e. you CAN create a folder in that location, but it must contain a shortcut to something (else) before it is visible in Win 10's start menu.

lx07 · 04 Feb 2019

Another thing to bear in mind is you can't nest folders.

This will show in start :
"$env:APPDATA\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\A folder" with some .lnk in it.

This will not :
"$env:APPDATA\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\A folder\Another folder" with some .lnk in it.

dalchina · 04 Feb 2019

What happens if you do have nested folders - for example I have Multimedia, Utilities, Internet with subfolders in each and shortcuts in the lowest per program- is that the shortcuts in the folders and subfolders are listed in alphabetical order, making something of a nonsense of this.

(Think 'Help Help Help Help'.. in a vertical list, each for a different program).

Naturally certain 3rd party start menus have no problem with this. No Win 10 style menu can cope with a large nested start menu sensibly.

Edwin · 04 Feb 2019

lx07 said:

Another thing to bear in mind is you can't nest folders.

This will show in start :
"$env:APPDATA\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\A folder" with some .lnk in it.

This will not :
"$env:APPDATA\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\A folder\Another folder" with some .lnk in it.

You can nest folders but, all the items will show in a big long list, provided they are shortcuts, but the child folders will not show and certainly won't be flyout expandable.
Shortcuts to folders will also show...

Adding a folder to the Windows 10 Start Menu-000113.png

mngerhold · 05 Feb 2019

CJW said:

Yes, I know I can install Classic Shell, but there is a way w/o using a 3rd-party app; I just can't remember how I did it before.

I have given up trying to use the start menu, and also don't want to use a 3rd part app - but you can create a toolbar menu (rt-click toolbar>menu>new) which points to a folder of your choice, in which you can place shortcuts and nested folders, and these will 'fly out' when selected. I keep it on the RHS of my toolbar out of the way:

Adding a folder to the Windows 10 Start Menu-toolbar-menu.png

I now no longer miss the old (XP-style) start menu, and almost never look at the W10 one.

FunkMaster · 05 Feb 2019

I must be missing something because I just right clicked Pin to Start, done, it works!

dalchina · 05 Feb 2019

I guess you mean to the tiled area. The discussion above refers to the left column of the start menu.