Changing Names on Start Menu tiles

Hi, MS's policy with '10 appears to be to reduce superficial user configurability from themes to their update policy and the use of the store. This is presumably aimed at achieving consistency, and that goes across devices too.

For apps from the store, which can be reinstalled fairly readily after, say, a fresh clean install or reset, that means you get consistency.

I'm just a consumer like you- that's the only sort of explanation for why there isn't the flexibility you'd like.

I use Classic Shell - in the folder containing the apps shortcuts, even there, right clicking those doesn't offer rename.

Consistency applies in the bigger picture. In Win 10 settings can be shared between devices, for example. Then think networks and people moving between computers and mobile devices. MS wants us to experience a much more consistent product, consistently up to date - both windows updates and driver updates, and has progressively reduced our ability to modify its appearance as a desktop.

The universal apps can be expected to fit that policy more rigidly.

That said, Win 10 has plenty of idiosyncracies and peculiarities if you start poking it.

For 3rd party desktop programs(not universal apps) you can change the tile names, by right clicking, selecting "More" then selecting "Open file location.
This brings you to C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
Then just rename the shortcut icon.

rafg431 said:

Unfortunately, this doesn't work with tiles for websites. Right click and "More" just gives the option of turning the tile off. Not all tiles are for apps or programmes - a lot are used for quick access to websites (like the favourites toolbar options). Thank you anyway - I appreciate your reply.

Do you mean, website Favorites/Bookmarks? How about if you rename the bookmark in the browser first?

rafg431 said:

I can't find a way to add a "Favourite" to the Start Menu (as a tile). Basically, I know how to add a web page address (as a tile). But how do I alter the name to something more sensible e.g the URL for tenforums is "www.tenforums.com. I would like to create a tile on the start menu and name it "10 FORUMS". If I make it a favourite, I cannot find a way to add a Favourite to the START MENU as a tile.

Which browser? Before I experiment around

Cliff S said:

Which browser? Before I experiment around

Might be easier to add a link to your favourites folder in the start menu (LHS) here:
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

However, given the limited behaviour of the Win 10 start menu that would only open in explorer.

If you added individual shortcuts to favourites in the same way, they'd just end up scattered throughout the start menu.

Now (coughs !) Classic Shell allows the addition of my Favourites folder, and in 2 clicks it's expanded on my screen.