Show More Pinned Tiles in Windows 11 Start Menu

Yes, you can show more pinned tiles in the Windows 11 Start menu, but the exact number depends on your screen resolution and scaling. By default, the Start menu shows a 3-column grid of pinned apps, but you can increase it to 4 or even 5 columns by adjusting a hidden setting in the Start menu’s layout, which this article explains step by step.

Formula

The Start menu’s pinned-tile grid is controlled by a layout template that Windows uses to position icons. The formula isn’t a math equation but a layout rule: Number of visible tiles = (Start menu height in pixels) ÷ (tile height in pixels) × (number of columns). The tile height is fixed by the system (about 48 pixels plus spacing), and the number of columns is what you can change. The Start menu height is determined by your display resolution and the “Show more pinsâ€� setting, which toggles between a compact view (3 columns) and an expanded view (4 columns). On very large displays or with custom scaling, you can push it to 5 columns by editing a system file, but that’s not officially supported.

Worked Example

Suppose your screen is 1920×1080 at 100% scaling. The Start menu’s expanded view uses a 4-column grid. With a typical tile size of 48 pixels plus 12 pixels of spacing, each column is 60 pixels wide, and the menu is about 600 pixels wide, so you get 10 columns? No, that’s not right. Let’s calculate correctly: The Start menu’s width is fixed by the system, not by the number of columns. In the expanded view, the menu is about 600 pixels wide, and each tile is 48 pixels with 12 pixels spacing, so 600 / 60 = 10 columns? That would be 10, but Windows only shows 4 columns because the menu width is actually around 240 pixels for the pin area. Let’s be precise: The default pin area is 3 columns × 4 rows = 12 tiles. With “Show more pinsâ€� enabled, it becomes 4 columns × 4 rows = 16 tiles. The height increases from about 400 to 500 pixels. So the formula is: Total pins = columns × rows. For the default 3×4 grid, that’s 12. For the expanded 4×4, that’s 16. If you edit the layout file to 5 columns, you get 5×4 = 20 tiles. The rows are fixed at 4, but you can scroll to see more. So the real answer is: you can show 16 tiles by default, and up to 20 with a registry tweak, but the visible number without scrolling is always 4 rows.

Why the Start Menu Limits Pins

Windows 11’s Start menu was redesigned in 2021 to be simpler and more centered compared to Windows 10’s full-screen tile grid. Microsoft chose a compact layout that shows only a few pinned apps by default, with a “Recommendedâ€� section below. This design prioritizes recent files and apps over a large pin grid. The limit is not a technical constraint but a design choice. However, many users prefer more pins for quick access, so Microsoft added a setting to expand the grid. The setting is called “Show more pinsâ€� and it’s available in the Start menu’s Settings page. It increases the number of columns from 3 to 4, and the number of rows from 3 to 4? Actually, the default is 3 rows? Let’s check: The default grid is 3 columns × 4 rows = 12 pins. With “Show more pinsâ€�, it becomes 4 columns × 4 rows = 16 pins. The rows stay the same, but the columns increase. The height of the menu also increases to accommodate the extra column? No, the width increases. The menu becomes wider. So the visible area expands horizontally, not vertically. That’s why you see more tiles per row, but the same number of rows. You can still scroll down to see more rows if you have more than 16 pins.

How to Enable “Show More Pins�

Here’s how to turn on the official setting:

1. Open the Start menu by clicking the Windows icon on the taskbar or pressing the Windows key.
2. Click the “All appsâ€� button in the top-right corner of the Start menu? Actually, that’s not needed. Instead, click the “Settingsâ€� gear icon in the Start menu’s bottom-left corner? No, that opens Windows Settings. The correct path is: Right-click on the Start menu button and select “Settingsâ€� to open Windows Settings, then go to “Personalizationâ€� > “Startâ€�. But there’s a simpler way: Click on the Start menu, then click on the “All appsâ€� button, then right-click on any app and select “Pin to Startâ€�. That doesn’t help. Let’s be precise: To enable “Show more pinsâ€�, you need to go to Windows Settings > Personalization > Start, and toggle on the switch labeled “Show more pinsâ€�. Alternatively, you can right-click on the Start menu button and select “Settingsâ€� to go directly to Personalization > Start. Once you toggle it on, the Start menu immediately expands to show 4 columns of pinned apps.

That’s the official method. It works on Windows 11 version 22H2 and later. If you don’t see the toggle, make sure your Windows is updated.

How to Get Even More Pins (Unofficial)

If 16 pins aren’t enough, you can edit a system file to increase the number of columns to 5 or even 6. This is an unofficial tweak that requires modifying the StartLayout.xml file in the Windows folder. Here’s a general outline, but be aware that this is not supported by Microsoft and may be reset by updates:

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState.
2. Look for a file named start2.bin or StartLayout.bin. You’ll need to replace it with a custom layout. This is complex and requires creating an XML file with the desired number of columns.
3. Alternatively, you can use a third-party tool like “Start11â€� or “StartAllBackâ€� to customize the Start menu, but that’s beyond the scope of this article.

Most users will find the official “Show more pins� toggle sufficient. If you need more, consider using folders in the Start menu to group apps, or use the taskbar for frequent apps.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

One common mistake is confusing “pinned tilesâ€� with “live tilesâ€�. Windows 11 removed live tiles entirely; all pinned items are static icons. Another misconception is that you can resize the Start menu manually by dragging its edges. You can’t; the size is fixed. Also, some users think that “Show more pinsâ€� increases the number of rows, but it only increases columns. The number of rows is always 4, and you scroll to see more. Finally, if you have a low-resolution screen (e.g., 1366×768), the “Show more pinsâ€� toggle may not appear because the screen can’t fit the wider menu. In that case, you can try lowering the display scaling to 100% or use a higher resolution.

How to Organize Pins Effectively

Once you have more pins, you can organize them into folders. Drag one icon onto another to create a folder. You can name the folder and add more apps. This way, you can have dozens of apps accessible without scrolling. Also, you can reorder pins by dragging them. The Start menu remembers the order. For quick access, pin your most-used apps first. You can also pin websites via Edge or Chrome, but that’s a separate feature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why don’t I see the “Show more pinsâ€� toggle?

The toggle is available in Windows 11 version 22H2 and later. If you don’t see it, check for Windows updates. Also, if your screen resolution is below 1080p or your display scaling is above 150%, the toggle might be hidden because the menu can’t expand. Try lowering scaling to 100% temporarily.

Can I make the Start menu full-screen like Windows 10?

No, Windows 11 does not offer a full-screen Start menu. The Start menu is always a centered panel. You can make it larger by enabling “Show more pinsâ€�, but it won’t cover the entire screen. Third-party tools can replicate a full-screen layout, but that’s not built-in.

How many pins can I have in total?

There’s no hard limit. You can pin as many apps as you want; the Start menu becomes scrollable. The visible number without scrolling is 12 (default) or 16 (with “Show more pinsâ€�). With the unofficial tweak, you can see 20 or more, but the menu width may exceed your screen.

Does enabling “Show more pins� affect performance?

No, it only changes the layout. The Start menu uses the same resources regardless of the number of pins. However, having hundreds of pins might slow down the initial rendering, but that’s negligible.

Can I change the number of rows?

Not directly. The number of rows is fixed at 4, but you can scroll down to see more. Some third-party tools allow you to change the grid size, but not the built-in settings.

Will the “Show more pins� setting reset after a Windows update?

No, the setting persists across updates. However, if you use the unofficial XML tweak, it may be overwritten by a feature update. You’d need to reapply it.

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