How to Backup and Restore Folders on Start List in Windows 10


The Start menu in Windows 10 has a Start list that you can choose which folders appear on Start in the list. You can add or remove the File Explorer, Settings, your Documents, your Downloads, your Music, your Pictures, your Videos, Network, and Personal folder to your Start list to open from your Start menu.

This tutorial will show you how to back up and restore the folders on Start list of any user account on your Windows 10 PC.

This will only backup and restore which folders will appear on the Start list, and not the content of these folders.

Contents

• Option One: To Backup Folders on Start List of Current Account
• Option Two: To Restore Folders on Start List to Current Account

EXAMPLE: Folders on Start List in Windows 10

OPTION ONE

To Backup Folders on Start List of Current Account

1 Sign in to the user account you want to backup its folders on Start list.

2 Press the Win + R keys to open Run, type regedit into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Registry Editor.

3 Navigate to the key below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below)

Code:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CloudStore\Store\Cache\DefaultAccount\$de${GUID}$$windows.data.unifiedtile.startglobalproperties\Current

Substitute {GUID} for this account's unique registry key (ex: "{7aa6b0cd-95d6-40c5-97d3-200c1e6b8ee8}") in the path above.

For example:

Code:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CloudStore\Store\Cache\DefaultAccount\$de${7aa6b0cd-95d6-40c5-97d3-200c1e6b8ee8}$$windows.data.unifiedtile.startglobalproperties\Current

4 Right click on the Current key in the left pane of Registry Editor, and click/tap on Export. (see screenshot above)

5 Navigate to where you want to export this Current key to as a .reg file, type a file name (ex: "My_folders_on_Start") you want for this .reg file, and click/tap on Save. (see screenshot below)

This .reg file is the backup of the current account's folders on Start list.

6 You can now close Registry Editor if you like.

OPTION TWO

To Restore Folders on Start List of Current Account

1 Sign in to the user account you want to restore a backup of folders on Start list.

2 Right click on the .reg file (ex: "My_folders_on_Start.reg") created using Option One, and click/tap on Edit.

3 Correct the GUID (ex: "{7aa6b0cd-95d6-40c5-97d3-200c1e6b8ee8}") in the .reg file to match the GUID for this account at the same registry key as step 3 in Option One above. Click/tap on File on the menu bar, and click/tap on Save to save your changes. (see screenshot below)

4 Double click/tap on the .reg file (ex: "My_folders_on_Start.reg") created using Option One.

5 When prompted, click/tap on Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve merging the .reg file.

6 Restart the explorer process or sign out and sign in to apply.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Add or Remove Folders on Start List in Windows 10
• How to Backup and Restore Start Menu Layout in Windows 10

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