Reset Start Layout in Windows 10  

Yes
C:\Users\nguyenc\AppData\Local\TileDataLayer <-- This is user, I want to fix
C:\Users\NO02\AppData\Local\TileDataLayer <-- This is Local Administrator user
C:\Users\NO01\AppData\Local <- - This is Temporary Local Administrator User, I created with Intention to copy TileDataLayer\Database to C:\Users\nguyenc\AppData\Local\TileDataLayer. There is NO Folder named TileDataLayer, though NO01's Start Menu Tiles appear and work normally.

I could run as NO01
Export-StartLayout -Path Layout.xml but I dont have GPO Edit to import it to nguyenc, because I am using Windows 10 Home Edition.

Thank you

I've done as you suggested but there is no TileDataLayer folder.

It's really weird. How MS made Windows a messy trash bin, where their developers can put anywhere pieces of info they'd want to. I am tired of using find + grep to find those files. I've been digging in their technet and other IT Pro forums (now moderated by zero-knowledge guys/gals from anonymous forests in India) but still could not find any useful tips. Needles to say I am 20++ years experienced user of many OSes.

This is ridiculous. Why does it have to be so hard to return the start layout of existing users to the default layout or update a custom layout? I have attempted the process describe above. But it didn't work.

In summary, I have created a new user which gets the default layout. Then, using the Administrator account, copied the c:\Users\NewUser\AppData\Local\TileDataLayer\Database folder to the Olduser's TileDataLayer folder. There was no change to the Olduser's start layout.

I am trying to get a handle on how this start layout works and the idiosyncrasies of it. I'm working on deploying Win 10 to a number of systems in a business environment and I want to deploy a customized start layout. But I came across the issue where it is difficult to change the layout of existing users (without deleting the entire user profile).

More detail of what I've done: I created a user called RefUser, and modified the Start Layout. Then used the Export-StartLayout, then the Import-StartLayout cmdlets to set a new default layout. I deleted the profile of Refuser and re-logged on and the RefUser got the new start layout as expected. So that works.

Then I returned the system to the default layout by renaming the file: C:\Users\Default\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\LayoutModification.xml

I created a user 'NewUser' and this user was created with the default layout. Refuser still had the modified layout. I used the procedure above and the layout did not change. As a guess, From the Admin acct, I renamed the Database folder and didn't replace it. When I log on, the list of all programs on the left has only system tools, the start tiles only has some of the custom layout display. The active tiles are missing.

So I haven't gotten to the bottom of how the the start layout is maintained in the user's profiles. And I don't know how to return the existing users to the default or a new layout.

Any added thoughts would be welcome.

Brink - just actually getting around to this, but I realize I don't understand an earlier detail.

Above, I asked and you replied as follows:

Originally Posted by glnz

Brink - ... will I lose, for example, Start menu links to my recently installed Office 365 Home?
Finally, do these steps change only Start or also other things, like toolbars or what shows at the bottom?
Thanks again.

Hello glnz, :)
This will only affect items on the Start screen. This would include items pinned to Start and tiles. It won't affect any links in the Start menu on the left side.

OK - here's my missing detail and question - What is the difference between "items on the Start screen ... includ[ing] items pinned to Start" and "any links in the Start menu on the left side"?
Can you show me the kind of thing I will lose ("items on the Start screen ... includ[ing] items pinned to Start") using the technique here?
Just want to know in advance what I might have to re-do later.

Thanks again.