How to Set Default Start Layout for Users in Windows 10
The layout of your Start menu includes full screen or not Start, pinned items, how the tiles of pinned items are sized, arranged into groups, group names, and used in Live Folders.
If you like, you can specify a default Start layout in Windows 10 for users and prevent them from changing it.
This policy doesn't affect users from being able to resize the Start menu.
This tutorial will show you how to set a default Start screen layout for specific or all users in Windows 10.
You must be signed in as an administrator to set a default Start layout.
CONTENTS:
- In Preparation: To Export a Start Layout
- Option One: Set Default Start Layout for All Users in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Two: Set Default Start Layout for Specific Users in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Three: Set Default Start Layout for All Users in Registry Editor
EXAMPLE: Start layout in Windows 10
In Preparation
To Export a Start Layout
1. Set the Start layout to
resize the Start menu or
full screen Start,
pinned items, how the tiles of pinned items are
sized, arranged into
groups,
group names, and used in
Live Folders for how you want it to be applied to users.
2. When finished, open
PowerShell.
3. Copy and paste the command below into PowerShell, and press Enter to export the Start layout as a
StartLayout.xml file on your desktop. (see screenshot below)
Export-StartLayout -Path "$env:UserProfile\Desktop\StartLayout.xml" 
4. You can close the PowerShell window if you like.
5. Move this
StartLayout.xml file from your desktop to where you want to keep it saved at (ex: "C:\Start Layout"). (see screenshot below)
6. Make note of the full path of this
StartLayout.xml file (ex: "C:\Start Layout\StartLayout.xml"). You will need to know this in
Option One,
Option Two, or
Option Three below.
OPTION ONE
Set Default Start Layout for All Users in Local Group Policy Editor
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option Three below. 1. Open the
Local Group Policy Editor.
2. In the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor, click/tap on to expand
Computer Configuration,
Administrative Templates, and
Start Menu and Taskbar. (see screenshot below)
3. In the right pane of
Start Menu and Taskbar, double click/tap on the
Start Layout policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4. Do
step 5 (set) or
step 6 (unset) below for what you would like to do.
5. To Set Default Start Layout for All Users
A) Select (dot)
Enabled. (see screenshot below)
B) Enter the full path of the
StartLayout.xml file (ex: "C:\Start Layout\StartLayout.xml") from
In Preparation above into the
Start Layout File field in Options.
C) Click/tap on
OK, and go to
step 7 below.
6. To Unset Default Start Layout for All Users
A) Select (dot)
Not Configured or
Disabled, click/tap on
OK, and go to
step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
Not Configured is the default setting.
Close the Local Group Policy Editor.
8. Restart the computer to apply.
OPTION TWO
Set Default Start Layout for Specific Users in Local Group Policy Editor
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option Three below. 1. Open the
all users,
specific users or groups, or
all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.
2. In the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor, click/tap on to expand
User Configuration,
Administrative Templates, and
Start Menu and Taskbar. (see screenshot below)
3. In the right pane of
Start Menu and Taskbar, double click/tap on the
Start Layout policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4. Do
step 5 (set) or
step 6 (unset) below for what you would like to do.
5. To Set Default Start Layout
A) Select (dot)
Enabled. (see screenshot below)
B) Enter the full path of the
StartLayout.xml file (ex: "C:\Start Layout\StartLayout.xml") from
In Preparation above into the
Start Layout File field in Options.
C) Click/tap on
OK, and go to
step 7 below.
6. To Unset Default Start Layout
A) Select (dot)
Not Configured or
Disabled, click/tap on
OK, and go to
step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
Not Configured is the default setting.
Close the Local Group Policy Editor.
8. Restart the computer to apply.
OPTION THREE
Set Default Start Layout for All Users in Registry Editor
1. Press the
Win+R keys to open Run, type
regedit into Run, and click/tap on
OK to open Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to the key below in the left pane of Registry Editor.
step 5 (undo) below. (see screenshot below)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer If you do not have an Explorer key, then right click on the Windows key, click/tap on New, click/tap on Key, type Explorer for the name, and press Enter. 
3. Do
step 4 (set) or
step 5 (unset) below for what you would like to do.
4. To Set Default Start Layout for All Users
A) In the right pane of the
Explorer key, double click/tap on the
LockedStartLayout DWORD value to modify it. (see screenshot below
step 2)
If you do not have a LockedStartLayout DWORD, then right click on an empty area in the right pane of the Explorer key, click/tap on New, click/tap on DWORD (32-bit) Value, type LockedStartLayout for the name, and press Enter. B) Type
1, and click/tap on
OK. (see screenshot below)
This prevents users from being able to change the Start layout. Setting this to 0 instead, will allow them to. C) In the right pane of the
Explorer key, double click/tap on the
StartLayoutFile REG_EXPAND_SZ value to modify it. (see screenshot below
step 2)
If you do not have a StartLayoutFile REG_EXPAND_SZ, then right click on an empty area in the right pane of the Explorer key, click/tap on New, click/tap on Expandable String Value, type StartLayoutFile for the name, and press Enter. D) Enter the full path of the
StartLayout.xml file (ex: "C:\Start Layout\StartLayout.xml") from
In Preparation above, click/tap on
OK, and go to
step 6 below. (see screenshot below)
5. To Unset Default Start Layout for All Users
A) In the right pane of the
Explorer key, select and right click on the
LockedStartLayout DWORD
StartLayoutFile REG_EXPAND_SZ values, and click/tap on
Delete. (see screenshot below
step 2)
B) Click/tap on
Yes to confirm, and go to
step 6 below. (see screenshot below)
Close Registry Editor.
7. Restart the computer to apply.
That's it,
Shawn
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