Mid Aero Start Menu Style for Windows 11

Many long-time PC users still consider the Windows 7 “Aero” era to be the peak of Microsoft’s design language. If you miss the deep transparency and frosted glass effects of the past, the Mid Aero Start Menu style for Windows 11 is the perfect way to bridge the gap between nostalgia and modern performance. This guide will walk you through the process of reviving that classic aesthetic on your latest OS.

What is the Mid Aero Design Philosophy?

The “Mid Aero” look refers to a balanced version of the Aero Glass effect. Unlike the original, which was sometimes heavy on system resources, the Mid Aero Start Menu style for Windows 11 uses modern hardware acceleration to provide crystal-clear transparency without lagging your PC. It focuses on the “Mica” and “Acrylic” materials while adding the high-gloss reflections that made the classic Start menu so iconic.

By implementing this style, you get a desktop that feels “premium.” The light refracts through the Start menu based on the colors of your wallpaper, creating a dynamic UI that changes its mood whenever you update your background image.

Key Features of the Mid Aero Start Menu Style for Windows 11

True Glass Transparency: Unlike the standard semi-opaque menu, Mid Aero offers a “see-through” experience.
Dynamic Reflections: Subtle light highlights that move as you hover over different menu items.
Legacy Icon Compatibility: This style looks incredible when paired with 2000s-era glass icons or modern Fluent icons.
Customized Blur Radius: You can choose exactly how much “frost” you want in your glass, from clear to heavy matte.

Why This Style is Better for Productivity

While some people think customization is just for looks, the Mid Aero Start Menu style for Windows 11 actually improves focus. The clear separation between the menu and the desktop, defined by glowing borders, helps your eyes track icons faster. Furthermore, by removing the “Recommended” section clutter often found in the default menu, you have more room for the apps that actually matter for your workflow.

Performance and Compatibility

One of the best things about the Mid Aero Start Menu style for Windows 11 is that it is fully compatible with the latest builds, including 23H2 and 24H2. Because it uses modern rendering APIs, it won’t drain your laptop battery or cause frame drops while gaming. It is a “lightweight” modification that offers a “heavyweight” visual upgrade.

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

{
  "controlStyles[0].target": "StartDocked.StartSizingFrame",
  "controlStyles[0].styles[0]": "MaxHeight=700",
  "controlStyles[1].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid#TopLevelSuggestionsListHeader",
  "controlStyles[1].styles[0]": "Visibility=Collapsed",
  "controlStyles[2].target": "StartMenu.PinnedList",
  "controlStyles[2].styles[0]": "Height=380",
  "controlStyles[2].styles[1]": "RenderTransform:=<TranslateTransform Y=\"100\" X=\"0\" />",
  "controlStyles[3].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid#ShowMoreSuggestions",
  "controlStyles[3].styles[0]": "RenderTransform:=<TranslateTransform Y=\"-448\"  />",
  "controlStyles[4].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid#NoTopLevelSuggestionsText",
  "controlStyles[4].styles[0]": "Visibility=Collapsed",
  "controlStyles[5].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid#ShowMoreSuggestions > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Button > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.ContentPresenter > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.StackPanel > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.TextBlock",
  "controlStyles[5].styles[0]": "Text=Recommended",
  "controlStyles[6].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Border#DropShadow",
  "controlStyles[6].styles[0]": "CornerRadius=15",
  "controlStyles[7].target": "StartDocked.LauncherFrame > Grid#RootGrid > Grid#RootContent > Grid#MainContent > Grid#InnerContent > Rectangle",
  "controlStyles[7].styles[0]": "Visibility=Collapsed",
  "controlStyles[8].target": "StartDocked.SearchBoxToggleButton",
  "controlStyles[9].target": "Border#AcrylicBorder",
  "controlStyles[9].styles[0]": "CornerRadius=15",
  "controlStyles[9].styles[1]": "Background:=<AcrylicBrush TintColor=\"{ThemeResource CardStrokeColorDefaultSolid}\" FallbackColor=\"{ThemeResource CardStrokeColorDefaultSolid}\" TintOpacity=\"0\" TintLuminosityOpacity=\".5\" Opacity=\"1\"/>",
  "controlStyles[10].target": "Border#AcrylicOverlay",
  "controlStyles[10].styles[0]": "CornerRadius=10",
  "controlStyles[10].styles[1]": "Margin=0,100,0,80",
  "controlStyles[10].styles[2]": "Background:=<AcrylicBrush TintColor=\"{ThemeResource CardStrokeColorDefaultSolid}\" FallbackColor=\"{ThemeResource CardStrokeColorDefaultSolid}\" TintOpacity=\"0\" TintLuminosityOpacity=\".55\" Opacity=\"1\"/>",
  "controlStyles[10].styles[3]": "RenderTransform:=<TranslateTransform Y=\"55\" X=\"0\" />",
  "controlStyles[11].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid#AllAppsRoot",
  "controlStyles[11].styles[0]": "Margin=0,20,0,40",
  "controlStyles[12].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid#UndockedRoot",
  "controlStyles[12].styles[0]": "Margin=0,20,0,40",
  "controlStyles[13].target": "StartDocked.NavigationPaneView#NavigationPane > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid#RootPanel",
  "controlStyles[13].styles[0]": "Margin=0,-10,0,10",
  "controlStyles[14].target": "StartDocked.AppListView#NavigationPanePlacesListView > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Border",
  "controlStyles[14].styles[0]": "Background:=<AcrylicBrush TintColor=\"{ThemeResource CardStrokeColorDefaultSolid}\" FallbackColor=\"{ThemeResource CardStrokeColorDefaultSolid}\" TintOpacity=\"0\" TintLuminosityOpacity=\".5\" Opacity=\"1\"/>",
  "controlStyles[14].styles[1]": "CornerRadius=18",
  "controlStyles[14].styles[2]": "Margin=0,0,15,0",
  "controlStyles[15].target": "StartDocked.NavigationPaneButton#PowerButton > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid@CommonStates > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Border#BackgroundBorder",
  "controlStyles[15].styles[0]": "Background:=<AcrylicBrush TintColor=\"{ThemeResource CardStrokeColorDefaultSolid}\" FallbackColor=\"{ThemeResource CardStrokeColorDefaultSolid}\" TintOpacity=\"0\" TintLuminosityOpacity=\"1\" Opacity=\"1\"/>",
  "controlStyles[15].styles[1]": "BorderBrush@Normal:=<AcrylicBrush TintColor=\"{ThemeResource SurfaceStrokeColorDefault}\" FallbackColor=\"{ThemeResource SurfaceStrokeColorDefault}\" TintOpacity=\"0\" TintLuminosityOpacity=\".1\" Opacity=\"1\"/>",
  "controlStyles[15].styles[2]": "CornerRadius=30",
  "controlStyles[15].styles[3]": "BorderThickness=5",
  "controlStyles[15].styles[4]": "Margin=-7",
  "controlStyles[15].styles[5]": "BorderBrush@PointerOver:=<AcrylicBrush TintColor=\"{ThemeResource SystemAccentColor}\" FallbackColor=\"{ThemeResource SystemAccentColor}\" TintOpacity=\".8\" TintLuminosityOpacity=\".5\" Opacity=\"1\"/>",
  "controlStyles[16].target": "StartDocked.NavigationPaneButton#UserTileButton > Grid > Border#BackgroundBorder",
  "controlStyles[16].styles[0]": "Background:=<AcrylicBrush TintColor=\"{ThemeResource CardStrokeColorDefaultSolid}\" FallbackColor=\"{ThemeResource CardStrokeColorDefaultSolid}\" TintOpacity=\"0\" TintLuminosityOpacity=\".5\" Opacity=\"1\"/>",
  "controlStyles[16].styles[1]": "CornerRadius=18",
  "controlStyles[17].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Button#ShowAllAppsButton > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.ContentPresenter#ContentPresenter@CommonStates",
  "controlStyles[17].styles[0]": "Background@Normal:=<SolidColorBrush Color=\"{ThemeResource SystemChromeAltHighColor}\" Opacity=\".8\"/>",
  "controlStyles[17].styles[1]": "Background@PointerOver:=<SolidColorBrush Color=\"{ThemeResource SystemBaseLowColor}\" Opacity=\"1\" />",
  "controlStyles[17].styles[2]": "Padding=10,7",
  "controlStyles[17].styles[3]": "Margin=0,0,-35,0",
  "controlStyles[17].styles[4]": "CornerRadius=0,15,15,0",
  "controlStyles[17].styles[5]": "BorderThickness=0",
  "controlStyles[18].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Button#ShowMoreSuggestionsButton > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.ContentPresenter#ContentPresenter@CommonStates",
  "controlStyles[18].styles[0]": "Background@Normal:=<SolidColorBrush Color=\"{ThemeResource SystemAltMediumLowColor}\" Opacity=\"0\" />",
  "controlStyles[18].styles[1]": "BorderBrush@Normal:=<SolidColorBrush Color=\"{ThemeResource SystemChromeAltHighColor}\" Opacity=\".8\"/>",
  "controlStyles[18].styles[2]": "Padding=10,5",
  "controlStyles[18].styles[3]": "Margin=0,0,19,0",
  "controlStyles[18].styles[4]": "CornerRadius=15,0,0,15",
  "controlStyles[18].styles[5]": "BorderThickness=2,2,0,2",
  "controlStyles[18].styles[6]": "Background@PointerOver:=<SolidColorBrush Color=\"{ThemeResource SystemBaseLowColor}\" Opacity=\".7\" />",
  "controlStyles[18].styles[7]": "BorderBrush@PointerOver:=<SolidColorBrush Color=\"{ThemeResource SystemBaseLowColor}\" Opacity=\"1\"/>",
  "controlStyles[19].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Button#HideMoreSuggestionsButton > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.ContentPresenter#ContentPresenter",
  "controlStyles[19].styles[0]": "Background:=<SolidColorBrush Color=\"{ThemeResource SystemChromeMediumLowColor}\" Opacity=\"1\"/>",
  "controlStyles[19].styles[1]": "Padding=10,6",
  "controlStyles[19].styles[2]": "Margin=0,0,-35,0",
  "controlStyles[19].styles[3]": "CornerRadius=15",
  "controlStyles[20].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Button#CloseAllAppsButton > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.ContentPresenter#ContentPresenter",
  "controlStyles[20].styles[0]": "Background:=<SolidColorBrush Color=\"{ThemeResource SystemChromeMediumLowColor}\" Opacity=\"1\"/>",
  "controlStyles[20].styles[1]": "Padding=10,6",
  "controlStyles[20].styles[2]": "Margin=0,0,-35,0",
  "controlStyles[20].styles[3]": "CornerRadius=15",
  "controlStyles[21].target": "StartDocked.StartSizingFrame",
  "controlStyles[21].styles[0]": "MaxWidth=550",
  "controlStyles[21].styles[1]": "MinWidth=550",
  "controlStyles[21].styles[2]": "MaxHeight=700",
  "controlStyles[22].target": "Grid#RootContent",
  "controlStyles[22].styles[0]": "MinWidth=550",
  "controlStyles[23].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.TextBlock#PinnedListHeaderText",
  "controlStyles[23].styles[0]": "RenderTransform:=<TranslateTransform Y=\"75\" X=\"-20\" />",
  "controlStyles[24].target": "Border#ContentBorder@CommonStates > Grid#DroppedFlickerWorkaroundWrapper > Border",
  "controlStyles[24].styles[0]": "FocusVisualPrimaryBrush:=<SolidColorBrush Color=\"#b3cefd\" Opacity=\".55\"/>",
  "controlStyles[24].styles[1]": "CornerRadius=5",
  "controlStyles[24].styles[2]": "Height=80",
  "controlStyles[24].styles[3]": "Width=92",
  "controlStyles[25].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid#TopLevelSuggestionsContainer",
  "controlStyles[26].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Border#ContentBorder > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid#DroppedFlickerWorkaroundWrapper > Border@CommonStates",
  "controlStyles[26].styles[0]": "Background:=<LinearGradientBrush StartPoint=\"0.5,0\" EndPoint=\"0,0.5\"> <GradientStop Color=\"#268ccf7e\" Offset=\"0\" /><GradientStop Color=\"#26e5c76b\" Offset=\"1\" /></LinearGradientBrush>",
  "controlStyles[26].styles[1]": "BorderBrush:=<LinearGradientBrush StartPoint=\"0.5,0\" EndPoint=\"0,0.5\"> <GradientStop Color=\"#828ccf7e\" Offset=\"0\" /><GradientStop Color=\"#82e5c76b\" Offset=\"1\" /></LinearGradientBrush>",
  "controlStyles[26].styles[2]": "CornerRadius=6",
  "controlStyles[27].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Border#ContentBorder > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid#DroppedFlickerWorkaroundWrapper > Border#BackgroundBorder",
  "controlStyles[27].styles[0]": "Background=transparent"
}

Conclusion

The Mid Aero Start Menu style for Windows 11 is a love letter to the era of beautiful software design. It proves that you don’t have to sacrifice modern features to enjoy the classic glass aesthetics we all loved. If you want a desktop that stands out from the flat, boring designs of today, installing the Mid Aero style is the best decision you can make for your PC setup.

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