New Minimal Start Menu Style For Windows 11 Using Windhawk

Minimal Start Menu Style for Windows 11

The Minimal Start Menu Style for Windows 11 is a clean Windhawk customization designed for users who prefer a simple, modern, and less cluttered desktop appearance. Depending on the supplied configuration, the style can adjust supported Start Menu elements such as backgrounds, spacing, transparency, corner styling, and the overall visual layout.

This style is suitable for users who enjoy minimal desktop setups, productivity-focused themes, or modern Windows personalization. It focuses on creating a cleaner Start Menu appearance while continuing to use the existing Windows 11 Start Menu underneath.

Features of Minimal Start Menu Style

Clean and modern Start Menu appearance
Minimal design with reduced visual clutter
Transparency and blur-inspired visual effects
Balanced spacing and organized interface elements
Designed for Windows 11 personalization
Applied through the Windows 11 Start Menu Styler mod
Works well with minimal wallpapers and icon setups
Suitable for productivity, coding, gaming, and everyday desktop setups

Why Choose Minimal Start Menu Style?

Some users prefer a simpler Start Menu with fewer visual distractions than the standard Windows 11 presentation. The Minimal Start Menu Style provides an alternative visual direction by focusing on cleaner spacing, simple surfaces, and a more organized appearance.

It can be a good choice for gamers, creators, developers, students, and other users who enjoy customized desktop environments. You can also combine it with compatible wallpapers, icons, and taskbar styles to create a more consistent Windows 11 setup.

Windhawk Customization Support

This Start Menu style is intended to be used with Windhawk and the Windows 11 Start Menu Styler mod. The mod allows compatible themes and configurations to change supported visual properties of the Windows 11 Start Menu.

This customization does not replace Windows 11 or install a separate operating system. Compatibility can vary depending on your Windows build, Start Menu layout, Windhawk version, Start Menu Styler version, display settings, and other active customization mods.

Visual Experience

The Minimal Start Menu Style focuses primarily on visual organization and simplicity. Depending on the configuration, it may provide cleaner backgrounds, softer transparency, adjusted spacing, rounded interface elements, and a more compact Start Menu presentation.

For a more consistent desktop appearance, consider pairing the style with a minimal wallpaper, matching icon set, and compatible taskbar customization. Keep text and controls clearly visible when changing transparency or background colors.

Windhawk

Windows 11: Designed for compatible Start Menu layouts
Windhawk: Required
Windows 11 Start Menu Styler: Required
Compatibility can vary depending on your Windows build
Major Windows updates may require an updated style configuration

Download and install Windhawk.
Open Windhawk and install the Windows 11 Start Menu Styler mod.
Open the mod and go to the Settings tab.
Back up your existing Start Menu Styler configuration.
Select Advance mode if you are installing the configuration manually.
Copy the provided Minimal Start Menu style configuration.
Paste it into the configuration text box.
Click Save settings to apply the style.

{
  "theme": "Minimal Start Menu by Link Vegas",
  "resourceVariables[0].variableKey": "",
  "resourceVariables[0].value": "",
  "controlStyles[0].target": "StartMenu.StartInnerFrame",
  "controlStyles[0].styles[0]": "Margin=0,35,0,24",
  "controlStyles[1].target": "Grid#AllAppsPaneHeader",
  "controlStyles[1].styles[0]": "Visibility=Visible",
  "controlStyles[1].styles[1]": "Margin=100,0,0,10",
  "controlStyles[1].styles[2]": "Padding=0,10,0,0",
  "controlStyles[2].target": "Button#ZoomOutButton",
  "controlStyles[2].styles[0]": "Visibility=Visible",
  "controlStyles[2].styles[1]": "UseSystemFocusVisuals =1",
  "controlStyles[3].target": "SemanticZoom#ZoomControl",
  "controlStyles[3].styles[0]": "IsZoomOutButtonEnabled=true",
  "controlStyles[4].target": "Grid#UndockedRoot",
  "controlStyles[4].styles[0]": "MaxWidth=420",
  "controlStyles[4].styles[1]": "Margin=0",
  "controlStyles[5].target": "StartDocked.StartSizingFrame",
  "controlStyles[5].styles[0]": "MaxWidth=460",
  "controlStyles[5].styles[1]": "MinWidth=460",
  "controlStyles[6].target": "Grid#RootContent",
  "controlStyles[6].styles[0]": "MinWidth=460",
  "controlStyles[7].target": "Grid#InnerContent",
  "controlStyles[7].styles[0]": "Margin=0,0,0,0",
  "controlStyles[8].target": "Grid#AllAppsRoot",
  "controlStyles[8].styles[0]": "Width=460",
  "controlStyles[8].styles[1]": "Margin=0",
  "controlStyles[9].target": "Border#AcrylicBorder",
  "controlStyles[9].styles[0]": "Background:=<AcrylicBrush TintColor=\"{ThemeResource CardStrokeColorDefaultSolid}\" FallbackColor=\"{ThemeResource CardStrokeColorDefaultSolid}\" TintOpacity=\"0\" TintLuminosityOpacity=\".60\" Opacity=\"1\"/>",
  "controlStyles[9].styles[1]": "BorderBrush:=<AcrylicBrush TintColor=\"{ThemeResource SurfaceStrokeColorDefault}\" FallbackColor=\"{ThemeResource SurfaceStrokeColorDefault}\" TintOpacity=\"0\" TintLuminosityOpacity=\".25\" Opacity=\"1\"/>",
  "controlStyles[9].styles[2]": "BorderThickness=1",
  "controlStyles[10].target": "Border#AppBorder",
  "controlStyles[10].styles[0]": "Background:=<AcrylicBrush TintColor=\"{ThemeResource CardStrokeColorDefaultSolid}\" FallbackColor=\"{ThemeResource CardStrokeColorDefaultSolid}\" TintOpacity=\"0\" TintLuminosityOpacity=\".85\" Opacity=\"1\"/>",
  "controlStyles[10].styles[1]": "BorderBrush:=<AcrylicBrush TintColor=\"{ThemeResource SurfaceStrokeColorDefault}\" FallbackColor=\"{ThemeResource SurfaceStrokeColorDefault}\" TintOpacity=\"0\" TintLuminosityOpacity=\".25\" Opacity=\"1\"/>",
  "controlStyles[11].target": "Border#LayerBorder",
  "controlStyles[11].styles[0]": "Visibility=1",
  "controlStyles[12].target": "TextBlock#UserTileNameText",
  "controlStyles[12].styles[0]": "Visibility=Collapsed",
  "controlStyles[13].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Button#ZoomOutButton > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.ContentPresenter#ContentPresenter > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.TextBlock",
  "controlStyles[13].styles[0]": "Text=",
  "controlStyles[14].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Button#ZoomOutButton",
  "controlStyles[14].styles[0]": "Width=40",
  "controlStyles[14].styles[1]": "Height=40",
  "controlStyles[14].styles[2]": "Margin=0,0,10,10",
  "controlStyles[14].styles[3]": "FontSize=18",
  "controlStyles[14].styles[4]": "CornerRadius=20",
  "controlStyles[15].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.TextBlock#AllAppsHeading",
  "controlStyles[15].styles[0]": "Text=Windows Apps",
  "controlStyles[15].styles[1]": "Margin=-50,0,0,0",
  "controlStyles[16].target": "Border#Visible",
  "controlStyles[16].styles[0]": "Visibility=Collapsed",
  "controlStyles[17].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.ContentPresenter > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.StackPanel > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.TextBlock",
  "controlStyles[17].styles[0]": "Text=",
  "controlStyles[17].styles[1]": "Margin=0",
  "controlStyles[18].target": "StartDocked.NavigationPaneView",
  "controlStyles[19].target": "StartDocked.UserTileView#UserTile",
  "controlStyles[20].target": "StartDocked.AppListViewItem > Grid > ContentPresenter",
  "controlStyles[21].target": "StartDocked.PowerOptionsView",
  "controlStyles[21].styles[1]": "Margin=-10,0,0,0",
  "controlStyles[22].target": "StartDocked.SearchBoxToggleButton",
  "controlStyles[22].styles[0]": "Visibility=Collapsed",
  "controlStyles[23].target": "StartDocked.LauncherFrame > Grid#RootGrid > Grid#RootContent > Grid#MainContent > Grid#InnerContent > Rectangle",
  "controlStyles[23].styles[0]": "Visibility=Collapsed",
  "controlStyles[24].target": "StartMenu.PinnedList",
  "controlStyles[24].styles[0]": "Width=504",
  "controlStyles[24].styles[1]": "Height=370",
  "controlStyles[25].target": "Button#ShowAllAppsButton",
  "controlStyles[25].styles[0]": "Background:=<SolidColorBrush Color=\"{ThemeResource SystemAccentColorLight1}\" Opacity=\".0\"/>",
  "controlStyles[25].styles[1]": "Margin=30,0,0,0",
  "controlStyles[25].styles[2]": "Padding=5,3",
  "controlStyles[25].styles[3]": "CornerRadius=4",
  "controlStyles[26].target": "Button#ShowMoreSuggestionsButton",
  "controlStyles[26].styles[0]": "Background:=<SolidColorBrush Color=\"{ThemeResource SystemAccentColorLight1}\" Opacity=\".8\"/>",
  "controlStyles[26].styles[1]": "Visibility=Collapsed",
  "controlStyles[27].target": "Button#HideMoreSuggestionsButton",
  "controlStyles[27].styles[0]": "Background:=<SolidColorBrush Color=\"{ThemeResource SystemAccentColorLight1}\" Opacity=\".8\"/>",
  "controlStyles[27].styles[1]": "Visibility=Collapsed",
  "controlStyles[28].target": "Visibility=Collapsed",
  "controlStyles[28].styles[0]": "Background:=<SolidColorBrush Color=\"{ThemeResource SystemAccentColorLight1}\" Opacity=\".8\"/>",
  "controlStyles[28].styles[1]": "Margin=0,0,20,0",
  "controlStyles[28].styles[2]": "Padding=5,3",
  "controlStyles[28].styles[3]": "CornerRadius=4",
  "controlStyles[29].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.TextBlock#TopLevelSuggestionsListHeaderText",
  "controlStyles[29].styles[0]": "Visibility=Collapsed",
  "controlStyles[30].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.TextBlock#PinnedListHeaderText",
  "controlStyles[30].styles[0]": "Margin=-30,0,0,0",
  "controlStyles[31].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid#FrameRoot",
  "controlStyles[31].styles[0]": "Margin=0,-30,0,0",
  "controlStyles[32].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.TextBlock#MoreSuggestionsListHeaderText",
  "controlStyles[32].styles[0]": "Visibility=Collapsed",
  "controlStyles[33].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid#MoreSuggestionsContainer",
  "controlStyles[33].styles[0]": "Visibility=Collapsed",
  "controlStyles[34].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.StackPanel > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.FontIcon > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.TextBlock",
  "controlStyles[34].styles[0]": "FontSize=15",
  "controlStyles[34].styles[1]": "FontWeight=700",
  "controlStyles[34].styles[2]": "RequestedTheme=2",
  "controlStyles[35].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[35].styles[0]": "Visibility=Collapsed",
  "controlStyles[36].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.GridView#RecommendedList",
  "controlStyles[36].styles[0]": "Visibility=Collapsed",
  "controlStyles[37].target": "StartMenu.StartInnerFrame",
  "controlStyles[37].styles[0]": "Margin=0,35,0,0",
  "controlStyles[38].target": "StartDocked.UserTileView > StartDocked.NavigationPaneButton > Grid > Border",
  "controlStyles[38].styles[0]": "Margin=8,0,8,0",
  "controlStyles[39].target": "StartDocked.PowerOptionsView > StartDocked.NavigationPaneButton > Grid > Border",
  "controlStyles[39].styles[0]": "CornerRadius=10",
  "controlStyles[39].styles[1]": "Background:=<SolidColorBrush Color=\"{ThemeResource SystemAccentColorLight1}\" Opacity=\".0\"/>",
  "controlStyles[40].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.TextBlock[Text=]",
  "controlStyles[40].styles[0]": "RequestedTheme=2",
  "controlStyles[41].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid#InnerContent > Windows.UI.Xaml.Shapes.Rectangle",
  "controlStyles[41].styles[0]": "Margin=-200,50,0,0",
  "controlStyles[42].target": "StartDocked.LauncherFrame > Grid#RootPanel > Grid#RootGrid",
  "controlStyles[42].styles[0]": "MinWidth=460",
  "controlStyles[42].styles[1]": "MaxWidth=460",
  "controlStyles[43].target": "StartDocked.LauncherFrame > Grid#RootPanel > Grid#RootGrid > Grid#RootContent",
  "controlStyles[43].styles[0]": "MinWidth=460",
  "controlStyles[43].styles[1]": "MaxWidth=460",
  "disableNewStartMenuLayout": "legacyClassicLayout"
}

⚠️ Disclaimer: This Minimal Start Menu Style is an unofficial Windows 11 UI customization provided for personalization and educational purposes. It is not developed, endorsed, or supported by Microsoft. Compatibility may vary depending on your Windows build, Windhawk version, Start Menu Styler version, installed mods, display settings, and system configuration. Windows updates may also affect the appearance or compatibility of the style. Keep a backup of your existing settings before applying changes.

Final Words

The Minimal Start Menu Style for Windows 11 is a simple option for users who prefer a cleaner and more organized Start Menu appearance. Its minimal visual direction can help create a modern desktop setup without claiming to change or replace the underlying Windows 11 operating system.

For the best visual consistency, pair the style with matching wallpapers, icons, and compatible taskbar customization. Because Windows Start Menu layouts can change through updates, keep your current configuration backed up and check compatibility after major Windows updates.

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