Fluent Start Menu Style Windows 11

Stunning Fluent Start Menu Style for Windows 11

The Stunning Fluent Start Menu Style for Windows 11 is a compact Windhawk preset that gives the Windows 11 Start Menu a more structured desktop-style layout. Instead of using the standard wide arrangement, it brings the main app area and a narrow shortcut column together inside a smaller menu.

The menu uses a deep purple translucent surface with softly rounded edges and clearly separated sections. Pinned applications remain grouped in the larger left panel, while the slimmer panel on the right holds the user profile area and a vertical set of shortcuts. The result feels more organized without turning the Start Menu into a completely different application.

How the Layout Is Designed

Most of the available space is reserved for pinned apps, arranged in a compact grid with generous spacing between icons. A separate column sits beside it, giving profile and shortcut items their own area instead of mixing everything into one panel.

The lower portion of the menu also uses small rounded controls that follow the same visual language as the rest of the preset. Dark violet surfaces and subtle transparency keep the menu distinct while still allowing some of the desktop color to influence its appearance.

The purple wallpaper and matching taskbar used with this setup are separate desktop customizations. They are not features of the Start Menu preset itself, so the menu can also be used with a different wallpaper, taskbar style, or icon setup.

Start Menu Details

Compact two-section Start Menu layout
Larger area for pinned applications
Narrow right-side panel for profile and shortcut items
Deep purple translucent menu surface
Softly rounded menu and control elements
Clearly separated application and shortcut areas
Designed to work through Windhawk Start Menu styling
Does not replace Windows 11 with a separate Start Menu application

Download Windhawk To Use The Style

Windhawk

Compatibility

Windows 11 21H2: May work, but not recommended for the best experience
22H2 YES
23H2 YES
24H2 YES
Windows 11 25H2:NO

Installation steps:

Download & Install windhawk.
install & Open the Windows 11 Start Menu Styler mod in Windhawk.
Go to the “Advanced” tab.
Copy the content below to the text box under “Mod settings” and click “Save”.

{
  "controlStyles[0].target": "StartDocked.StartSizingFrame",
  "controlStyles[0].styles[0]": "MaxHeight=520",
  "controlStyles[0].styles[1]": "MinWidth=855",
  "controlStyles[0].styles[2]": "MaxWidth=855",
  "controlStyles[0].styles[3]": "Width=855",
  "controlStyles[1].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid#UndockedRoot",
  "controlStyles[1].styles[0]": "Margin=0,0,0,-90",
  "controlStyles[1].styles[1]": "Width=640",
  "controlStyles[1].styles[2]": "HorizontalAlignment=Left",
  "controlStyles[2].target": "Border#AcrylicOverlay ",
  "controlStyles[2].styles[0]": "Width=225",
  "controlStyles[2].styles[1]": "HorizontalAlignment=Right",
  "controlStyles[2].styles[2]": "Margin=0,0,0,-65",
  "controlStyles[3].target": "StartDocked.SearchBoxToggleButton ",
  "controlStyles[3].styles[0]": "Visibility=Collapsed",
  "controlStyles[4].target": "StartDocked.LauncherFrame > Grid#RootGrid > Grid#RootContent > Grid#MainContent > Grid#InnerContent > Rectangle",
  "controlStyles[4].styles[0]": "Visibility=Collapsed",
  "controlStyles[5].target": "Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.PipsPager",
  "controlStyles[5].styles[0]": "Visibility=Collapsed",
  "controlStyles[6].target": "Grid#DroppedFlickerWorkaroundWrapper > Border",
  "controlStyles[6].styles[0]": "Visibility=Collapsed",
  "controlStyles[7].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.GridView#PinnedList > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Border > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.ScrollViewer > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Border > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.ScrollContentPresenter > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.ItemsPresenter > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.ItemsWrapGrid > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.GridViewItem > Border#ContentBorder > Grid#DroppedFlickerWorkaroundWrapper > ContentPresenter#ContentPresenter > Grid",
  "controlStyles[7].styles[0]": "Height=100",
  "controlStyles[8].target": "StartMenu.PinnedListTile > Grid#Root@CommonStates > Grid#LogoContainer",
  "controlStyles[8].styles[0]": "Background@PointerOver:=#88000000",
  "controlStyles[8].styles[1]": "Height=70",
  "controlStyles[8].styles[2]": "Width=70",
  "controlStyles[8].styles[3]": "CornerRadius=5",
  "controlStyles[9].target": "StartMenu.PinnedListCollapsedFolder > Grid#Root@CommonStates > Grid#LogosContainer > Border#FolderPlate",
  "controlStyles[9].styles[0]": "Background:=#46000000",
  "controlStyles[9].styles[1]": "Background@PointerOver:=#88000000",
  "controlStyles[9].styles[2]": "Height=60",
  "controlStyles[9].styles[3]": "Width=60",
  "controlStyles[9].styles[4]": "CornerRadius=30",
  "controlStyles[10].target": "StartMenu.PinnedListTile > Grid#Root",
  "controlStyles[10].styles[0]": "Padding=0",
  "controlStyles[11].target": "StartMenu.PinnedListCollapsedFolder > Grid#Root",
  "controlStyles[11].styles[0]": "Padding=0",
  "controlStyles[12].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.GridView#RecommendedList > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Border > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.ScrollViewer#ScrollViewer > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Border#Root > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.ScrollContentPresenter#ScrollContentPresenter > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.ItemsPresenter > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.ItemsWrapGrid > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.GridViewItem > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Border#ContentBorder@CommonStates > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid#DroppedFlickerWorkaroundWrapper > Border#BackgroundBorder",
  "controlStyles[12].styles[0]": "Visibility=Visible",
  "controlStyles[12].styles[1]": "Background:=#46000000",
  "controlStyles[12].styles[2]": "Background@PointerOver:=#88000000",
  "controlStyles[12].styles[3]": "CornerRadius=30",
  "controlStyles[13].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.GridView#RecommendedList > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Border > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.ScrollViewer#ScrollViewer > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Border#Root > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.ScrollContentPresenter#ScrollContentPresenter > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.ItemsPresenter > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.ItemsWrapGrid > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.GridViewItem",
  "controlStyles[13].styles[0]": "MaxWidth=165",
  "controlStyles[13].styles[1]": "MinWidth=165",
  "controlStyles[13].styles[2]": "Margin=0,0,20,50",
  "controlStyles[14].target": "StartMenu.PinnedList",
  "controlStyles[14].styles[0]": "Height=293",
  "controlStyles[15].target": "StartDocked.NavigationPaneView",
  "controlStyles[15].styles[0]": "Transform3D:=<CompositeTransform3D TranslateX=\"830\" RotationZ=\"270\" />",
  "controlStyles[15].styles[1]": "Height=180",
  "controlStyles[15].styles[2]": "VerticalAlignment=1",
  "controlStyles[15].styles[3]": "Margin=0,-500,0,0",
  "controlStyles[16].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.ItemsStackPanel > StartDocked.AppListViewItem",
  "controlStyles[16].styles[0]": "Height=180",
  "controlStyles[16].styles[1]": "FlowDirection=0",
  "controlStyles[17].target": "StartDocked.AppListViewItem > Grid#ContentBorder > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.ContentPresenter#ContentPresenter ",
  "controlStyles[17].styles[0]": "Width=105",
  "controlStyles[17].styles[1]": "VerticalAlignment=2",
  "controlStyles[18].target": "StartDocked.AppListViewItem > Grid#ContentBorder > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.ContentPresenter#ContentPresenter > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.FontIcon",
  "controlStyles[18].styles[0]": "Transform3D:=<CompositeTransform3D TranslateX=\"-13\" RotationZ=\"90\" />",
  "controlStyles[18].styles[1]": "Width=125",
  "controlStyles[18].styles[2]": "Margin=20,0,-45,0",
  "controlStyles[19].target": "StartDocked.AppListViewItem > Grid#ContentBorder > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.ContentPresenter#ContentPresenter > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.FontIcon > Grid > TextBlock",
  "controlStyles[19].styles[0]": "FontFamily=Segoe UI, Segoe Fluent Icons",
  "controlStyles[19].styles[1]": "HorizontalAlignment=Left",
  "controlStyles[19].styles[2]": "FontSize=13",
  "controlStyles[20].target": "StartDocked.NavigationPaneView > Grid#RootPanel",
  "controlStyles[20].styles[0]": "FlowDirection=1",
  "controlStyles[21].target": "StartDocked.NavigationPaneButton#PowerButton",
  "controlStyles[21].styles[0]": "Width=100",
  "controlStyles[22].target": "StartDocked.PowerOptionsView",
  "controlStyles[22].styles[0]": "Margin=-800,0,0,-600",
  "controlStyles[22].styles[1]": "Transform3D:=<CompositeTransform3D TranslateX=\"480\" TranslateY=\"-335\" RotationZ=\"-90\" />",
  "controlStyles[23].target": "StartDocked.AppListView",
  "controlStyles[23].styles[0]": "Width=320",
  "controlStyles[23].styles[1]": "FlowDirection=0",
  "controlStyles[24].target": "StartDocked.UserTileView",
  "controlStyles[24].styles[0]": "Margin=-200,-150,200,0",
  "controlStyles[24].styles[1]": "FlowDirection=0",
  "controlStyles[24].styles[2]": "Transform3D:=<CompositeTransform3D TranslateX=\"-670\" TranslateY=\"80\"/>",
  "controlStyles[24].styles[3]": "Height=200",
  "controlStyles[25].target": "Grid#UserTileIcon",
  "controlStyles[25].styles[0]": "Width=80",
  "controlStyles[25].styles[1]": "Height=80",
  "controlStyles[25].styles[2]": "Transform3D:=<CompositeTransform3D TranslateX=\"0\" TranslateY=\"80\" RotationZ=\"90\" />",
  "controlStyles[25].styles[3]": "CornerRadius=40",
  "controlStyles[26].target": "TextBlock#UserTileNameText",
  "controlStyles[26].styles[0]": "Transform3D:=<CompositeTransform3D TranslateX=\"0\" TranslateY=\"25\" RotationZ=\"90\" />",
  "controlStyles[26].styles[1]": "FontSize=16",
  "controlStyles[26].styles[2]": "FontWeight=600",
  "controlStyles[27].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.TextBlock[Text=]",
  "controlStyles[27].styles[0]": "Text= Power",
  "controlStyles[27].styles[1]": "FontFamily=Segoe UI, Segoe Fluent Icons",
  "controlStyles[28].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.TextBlock[Text=]",
  "controlStyles[28].styles[0]": "Text= Documents",
  "controlStyles[29].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.TextBlock[Text=]",
  "controlStyles[29].styles[0]": "Text= Download",
  "controlStyles[30].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.TextBlock[Text=]",
  "controlStyles[30].styles[0]": "Text= Music",
  "controlStyles[31].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.TextBlock[Text=]",
  "controlStyles[31].styles[0]": "Text= Picture",
  "controlStyles[32].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.TextBlock[Text=]",
  "controlStyles[32].styles[0]": "Text= Video",
  "controlStyles[33].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.TextBlock[Text=]",
  "controlStyles[33].styles[0]": "Text= Network",
  "controlStyles[34].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.TextBlock[Text=]",
  "controlStyles[34].styles[0]": "Text= User Folder",
  "controlStyles[35].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.TextBlock[Text=]",
  "controlStyles[35].styles[0]": "Text= File Explorer",
  "controlStyles[36].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid#AllAppsRoot",
  "controlStyles[36].styles[0]": "Width=630",
  "controlStyles[36].styles[1]": "HorizontalAlignment=0",
  "controlStyles[37].target": "StartDocked.NavigationPaneButton#PowerButton > Grid > Border#BackgroundBorder",
  "controlStyles[37].styles[0]": "Background:=#46c9d8ed",
  "controlStyles[38].target": "Border#AcrylicBorder",
  "controlStyles[38].styles[0]": "Background:=<AcrylicBrush TintColor=\"{ThemeResource CardStrokeColorDefaultSolid}\" FallbackColor=\"{ThemeResource CardStrokeColorDefaultSolid}\" TintOpacity=\"0\" TintLuminosityOpacity=\".45\" Opacity=\"1\"/>",
  "controlStyles[38].styles[1]": "BorderBrush:=<AcrylicBrush TintColor=\"{ThemeResource SurfaceStrokeColorDefault}\" FallbackColor=\"{ThemeResource SurfaceStrokeColorDefault}\" TintOpacity=\"0\" TintLuminosityOpacity=\".0\" Opacity=\"1\"/>",
  "controlStyles[38].styles[2]": "BorderThickness=1",
  "controlStyles[38].styles[3]": "CornerRadius=10",
  "controlStyles[38].styles[4]": "Margin=0",
  "controlStyles[39].target": "Border#AcrylicOverlay",
  "controlStyles[39].styles[0]": "Background:= <AcrylicBrush BackgroundSource=\"Backdrop\" TintColor=\"{ThemeResource SystemChromeAltHighColor}\" TintOpacity=\".2\" TintLuminosityOpacity=\".55\" />",
  "controlStyles[39].styles[1]": "Width=230",
  "controlStyles[39].styles[2]": "Margin=-255,0,0,-65",
  "controlStyles[39].styles[3]": "CornerRadius=10",
  "controlStyles[39].styles[4]": "RenderTransform:=<TranslateTransform Y=\"0\" X=\"0\" />",
  "controlStyles[40].target": "StartDocked.LauncherFrame > Grid#RootPanel > Grid#RootGrid",
  "controlStyles[40].styles[0]": "MinWidth=855",
  "controlStyles[40].styles[1]": "MaxWidth=855",
  "controlStyles[41].target": "StartDocked.LauncherFrame > Grid#RootPanel > Grid#RootGrid > Grid#RootContent",
  "controlStyles[41].styles[0]": "MinWidth=855",
  "controlStyles[41].styles[1]": "MaxWidth=855",
  "disableNewStartMenuLayout": "legacyClassicLayout"
}

⚠️ Disclaimer: This Windhawk Start Menu Style is provided for Windows UI personalization and educational purposes only. It is an unofficial customization and is not developed, endorsed, or supported by Microsoft. Compatibility may vary depending on your Windows version, Windhawk version, Start Menu Styler version, installed mods, and system configuration. Windows updates may also affect how the style works. Keep a backup of your existing settings before applying changes.

Final Words

The Stunning Fluent Start Menu Style for Windows 11 offers a colorful and organized alternative for users who enjoy customizing their desktop. Its compact layout, rounded panels, Fluent-inspired appearance, and glass-style presentation can give the Windows 11 Start Menu a more distinctive visual identity while retaining the familiar Windows environment.

Pair it with a matching purple or gradient wallpaper, compatible taskbar style, and custom icons for a more complete desktop setup. Since Windows interface elements can change through updates, keep your customization tools updated and save your original configuration before testing new styles.