Mini Aero Start Menu Style For Windows 11

If you enjoy the classic Aero appearance but prefer a smaller and cleaner Start Menu, the Mini Aero Start Menu Style For Windows 11 can give your desktop a fresh and compact look. This customization combines a lightweight Start Menu layout with transparent, glass-inspired visual styling that fits nicely with a modern Windows 11 desktop.

The design is especially useful for users who feel that the default Windows 11 Start Menu takes up too much space. Instead of completely changing how Windows works, this style mainly focuses on appearance, spacing, transparency, and layout.

What Is the Mini Aero Start Menu Style?

The Mini Aero Start Menu Style is a customized Windows 11 Start Menu appearance designed for use with Windhawk and compatible Start Menu styling options. It aims to create a smaller interface while bringing back some of the transparent and glass-like characteristics commonly associated with the Aero design language.

The result is a Start Menu that feels more compact without making the desktop look outdated. It can work particularly well with clean wallpapers, transparent taskbars, and other subtle Windows customization setups.

A Compact Start Menu for Windows 11

One of the main ideas behind this style is reducing unnecessary visual space. The default Start Menu can feel relatively large, especially on laptops or displays where you want to keep more of the desktop visible.

A compact Start Menu can make frequently used applications easier to reach while keeping the interface visually organized. The smaller layout can also help create a more balanced appearance when paired with a customized taskbar.

Aero-Inspired Glass Appearance

The Mini Aero design uses transparency and soft glass-inspired elements to create a lighter visual experience. Depending on your Windhawk configuration, the background may use blur, translucent colors, subtle borders, or Acrylic-style effects.

The goal is not to copy an older Windows interface exactly. Instead, the design combines familiar Aero-inspired details with the modern structure of Windows 11.

Why Use This Start Menu Style?

Windows customization is mostly about making your desktop more comfortable and enjoyable to use. Some users prefer the default Windows 11 appearance, while others enjoy experimenting with compact layouts and different visual styles.

The Mini Aero Start Menu Style may be a good choice if you prefer a smaller Start Menu, transparent interface elements, cleaner spacing, and a desktop that feels more personalized without becoming overly complicated.

Main Visual Features

This Start Menu style focuses primarily on visual customization rather than changing core Windows functionality.

Compact Start Menu layout
Aero-inspired transparent appearance
Soft blur or glass-style background effects
Cleaner spacing around interface elements
Rounded Windows 11-style design
Minimal and lightweight visual presentation
Suitable for modern desktop customization setups

Windhawk

Windows 11 21H2: Yes
Windows 11 22H2: Yes
Windows 11 23H2: Yes
Windows 11 24H2: Yes
Windows 11 25H2: Yes, but test carefully after Windows updates.

Download and install Windhawk
Open Windhawk and install the Windows 11 Start Menu Styler mod
Go to the Advanced tab
Paste the provided configuration code into the “Mod settings” box
Click Save to apply the style
For more details, visit this GitHub guide

{
  "theme": "",
  "controlStyles[0].target": "Grid#MainMenu",
  "controlStyles[0].styles[0]": "Width=500",
  "controlStyles[0].styles[1]": "MinWidth=500",
  "controlStyles[0].styles[2]": "MaxWidth=500",
  "controlStyles[1].target": "Grid#FrameRoot",
  "controlStyles[1].styles[0]": "Height=650",
  "controlStyles[1].styles[1]": "MaxHeight=650",
  "controlStyles[2].target": "Grid#TopLevelSuggestionsListHeader",
  "controlStyles[2].styles[0]": "Visibility=Collapsed",
  "controlStyles[2].styles[1]": "Height=0",
  "controlStyles[3].target": "Grid#TopLevelSuggestionsRoot",
  "controlStyles[3].styles[0]": "Visibility=Collapsed",
  "controlStyles[3].styles[1]": "Height=0",
  "controlStyles[3].styles[2]": "MaxHeight=0",
  "controlStyles[4].target": "Grid#ShowMoreSuggestions",
  "controlStyles[4].styles[0]": "Visibility=Collapsed",
  "controlStyles[4].styles[1]": "Height=0",
  "controlStyles[5].target": "Grid#MoreSuggestionsRoot",
  "controlStyles[5].styles[0]": "Visibility=Collapsed",
  "controlStyles[5].styles[1]": "Height=0",
  "controlStyles[6].target": "StartMenu.PinnedList#StartMenuPinnedList",
  "controlStyles[6].styles[0]": "Height=445",
  "controlStyles[6].styles[1]": "MaxHeight=445",
  "controlStyles[6].styles[2]": "MaxWidth=440",
  "controlStyles[6].styles[3]": "Margin=20,42,20,0",
  "controlStyles[7].target": "TextBlock#PinnedListHeaderText",
  "controlStyles[7].styles[0]": "Margin=18,20,0,-35",
  "controlStyles[8].target": "Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.PipsPager#PinnedListPipsPager",
  "controlStyles[8].styles[0]": "Visibility=Collapsed",
  "controlStyles[9].target": "Border#AcrylicOverlay",
  "controlStyles[9].styles[0]": "Visibility=Collapsed",
  "controlStyles[10].target": "Border#AcrylicBorder",
  "controlStyles[10].styles[0]": "Background:=<AcrylicBrush BackgroundSource=\"Backdrop\" TintColor=\"{ThemeResource SystemChromeAltHighColor}\" TintOpacity=\"0.05\" TintLuminosityOpacity=\".40\" />",
  "controlStyles[10].styles[1]": "BorderBrush:=<SolidColorBrush Color=\"#8000e5ff\"/>",
  "controlStyles[10].styles[2]": "BorderThickness=1",
  "controlStyles[10].styles[3]": "CornerRadius=5",
  "controlStyles[10].styles[4]": "Margin=0",
  "controlStyles[11].target": "Border#DropShadow",
  "controlStyles[11].styles[0]": "CornerRadius=5",
  "controlStyles[11].styles[1]": "Margin=0",
  "controlStyles[12].target": "Border#StartDropShadow",
  "controlStyles[12].styles[0]": "CornerRadius=5",
  "controlStyles[13].target": "StartMenu.SearchBoxToggleButton#SearchBoxToggleButton",
  "controlStyles[13].styles[0]": "Height=38",
  "controlStyles[13].styles[1]": "Width=380",
  "controlStyles[13].styles[2]": "HorizontalAlignment=Center",
  "controlStyles[13].styles[3]": "Margin=0,0,0,14",
  "controlStyles[13].styles[4]": "Canvas.ZIndex=10",
  "controlStyles[14].target": "StartMenu.SearchBoxToggleButton#SearchBoxToggleButton > Grid@CommonStates > Border#BorderElement",
  "controlStyles[14].styles[0]": "Background:=<AcrylicBrush BackgroundSource=\"Backdrop\" TintColor=\"{ThemeResource CardStrokeColorDefaultSolid}\" TintOpacity=\"0\" TintLuminosityOpacity=\".20\"/>",
  "controlStyles[14].styles[1]": "BorderBrush:=<SolidColorBrush Color=\"#5000e5ff\"/>",
  "controlStyles[14].styles[2]": "BorderBrush@PointerOver:=<SolidColorBrush Color=\"#9000e5ff\"/>",
  "controlStyles[14].styles[3]": "BorderThickness=1",
  "controlStyles[14].styles[4]": "CornerRadius=20",
  "controlStyles[15].target": "StartMenu.SearchBoxToggleButton > Grid > ContentPresenter > TextBlock#PlaceholderText",
  "controlStyles[15].styles[0]": "Opacity=.75",
  "controlStyles[16].target": "GridView#AllAppsGrid",
  "controlStyles[16].styles[0]": "Margin=15,10,15,72",
  "controlStyles[17].target": "Grid#AllListHeading",
  "controlStyles[17].styles[0]": "Margin=18,0,18,0",
  "controlStyles[18].target": "Grid#AllListHeading > TextBlock#AllListHeadingText",
  "controlStyles[18].styles[0]": "Margin=8,6,0,7",
  "controlStyles[19].target": "Grid#AllListHeading > Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.DropDownButton#ViewSelectionButton",
  "controlStyles[19].styles[0]": "Margin=0,0,8,0",
  "controlStyles[20].target": "StartMenu.PinnedList#StartMenuPinnedList Border#ContentBorder@CommonStates > Grid#DroppedFlickerWorkaroundWrapper > Border",
  "controlStyles[20].styles[0]": "CornerRadius=5",
  "controlStyles[20].styles[1]": "Height=70",
  "controlStyles[20].styles[2]": "Width=160",
  "controlStyles[20].styles[3]": "FocusVisualPrimaryBrush:=<SolidColorBrush Color=\"#00e5ff\" Opacity=\".15\"/>",
  "controlStyles[21].target": "StartMenu.PinnedList#StartMenuPinnedList Border#ContentBorder@CommonStates > Grid#DroppedFlickerWorkaroundWrapper > Border#BackgroundBorder",
  "controlStyles[21].styles[0]": "Background@Normal:=<SolidColorBrush Color=\"#201f4b58\"/>",
  "controlStyles[21].styles[1]": "Background@PointerOver:=<AcrylicBrush TintColor=\"#00e5ff\" TintOpacity=\".08\" FallbackColor=\"#201f4b58\"/>",
  "controlStyles[21].styles[2]": "BorderBrush:=<SolidColorBrush Color=\"#4000e5ff\"/>",
  "controlStyles[21].styles[3]": "BorderBrush@PointerOver:=<SolidColorBrush Color=\"#8000e5ff\"/>",
  "controlStyles[21].styles[4]": "BorderThickness=1",
  "controlStyles[21].styles[5]": "CornerRadius=5",
  "controlStyles[22].target": "StartDocked.UserTileView",
  "controlStyles[22].styles[0]": "RenderTransform:=<TranslateTransform X=\"42\" Y=\"0\"/>",
  "controlStyles[23].target": "Grid#UserTileIcon",
  "controlStyles[23].styles[0]": "Width=40",
  "controlStyles[23].styles[1]": "Height=40",
  "controlStyles[24].target": "Grid#NavPanePlaceholder",
  "controlStyles[24].styles[0]": "Margin=18,0,18,0",
  "controlStyles[25].target": "StartDocked.NavigationPaneView#UserControl > Grid#RootPanel",
  "controlStyles[25].styles[0]": "FlowDirection=1",
  "controlStyles[26].target": "StartDocked.PowerOptionsView#PowerButton",
  "controlStyles[26].styles[0]": "FlowDirection=0",
  "controlStyles[27].target": "ItemsStackPanel > ListViewItem",
  "controlStyles[27].styles[0]": "FlowDirection=0",
  "controlStyles[28].target": "StartDocked.AppListView#NavigationPanePlacesListView > Border",
  "controlStyles[28].styles[0]": "Background:=<AcrylicBrush TintColor=\"{ThemeResource CardStrokeColorDefaultSolid}\" FallbackColor=\"{ThemeResource CardStrokeColorDefaultSolid}\" TintOpacity=\"0\" TintLuminosityOpacity=\".15\" Opacity=\"1\"/>",
  "controlStyles[28].styles[1]": "BorderBrush:=<SolidColorBrush Color=\"#4000e5ff\"/>",
  "controlStyles[28].styles[2]": "BorderThickness=1",
  "controlStyles[28].styles[3]": "CornerRadius=5",
  "controlStyles[29].target": "StartDocked.NavigationPaneButton#PowerButton > Grid@CommonStates > Border#BackgroundBorder",
  "controlStyles[29].styles[0]": "Background@Normal:=<AcrylicBrush TintColor=\"{ThemeResource CardStrokeColorDefaultSolid}\" TintOpacity=\"0\" TintLuminosityOpacity=\".15\"/>",
  "controlStyles[29].styles[1]": "Background@PointerOver:=<AcrylicBrush TintColor=\"#00e5ff\" TintOpacity=\".12\"/>",
  "controlStyles[29].styles[2]": "BorderBrush@Normal:=<SolidColorBrush Color=\"#4000e5ff\"/>",
  "controlStyles[29].styles[3]": "BorderBrush@PointerOver:=<SolidColorBrush Color=\"#9000e5ff\"/>",
  "controlStyles[29].styles[4]": "BorderThickness=1",
  "controlStyles[29].styles[5]": "CornerRadius=20",
  "controlStyles[30].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Primitives.ToggleButton#ShowHideCompanion",
  "controlStyles[30].styles[0]": "Visibility=Collapsed",
  "controlStyles[31].target": "Grid#CompanionRoot",
  "controlStyles[31].styles[0]": "Visibility=Collapsed",
  "disableNewStartMenuLayout": "forceNewLayout"
}