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Windows has two features that people may mean by “Start folders”: folders that group app pins in the Start menu, and shortcuts to places such as Documents or Downloads beside the Power button. Use pinned folders to organize apps; use folder shortcuts for quick access to locations. Neither shortcut setting moves or reorganizes your files.
Choose the Start folder feature you need
| Feature | What it does | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|
| Pinned-item folder | Groups app shortcuts you have pinned to Start | In the Pins area |
| Folder shortcut | Adds a quick link to a location such as Documents or Downloads | Beside the Power button |
The settings for folder shortcuts vary by Windows version. Pinned-item folders are created directly in Start by dragging pins together.
Create or change a folder of pinned apps
- Open Start and find the pinned apps you want to group.
- Drag one pinned item onto another. Windows creates a folder; you can rename it.
- Drag additional pinned items into the folder to add them.
- To remove an item, open the folder and drag the pin out. Microsoft says the folder disappears when only one pin remains.
These folders organize pinned app shortcuts; they do not create folders for documents or change where apps are installed. See Microsoft’s Windows Start menu customization guide for the documented behavior.
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Show folder shortcuts beside Power
Windows 11
- Open Settings > Personalization > Start.
- Select Folders.
- Turn on the shortcuts you want beside the Power button.
Windows 10
- Open Settings > Personalization > Start.
- Select Choose which folders appear on Start.
- Turn on the folders you want to display beside the Power button.
Microsoft lists Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, Videos, Network, and Personal folder as examples. The available choices can depend on the Windows version and configuration. These are links for access, not controls for moving or rearranging the underlying files.
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Keep other Start settings separate
Windows 11 Start also has Pins, All, Recommendations, Account, and mobile-companion areas. The All apps view can use Grid, Category, or List layouts. Those controls change how Start content is presented; they are separate from folder shortcuts beside Power.
Windows also has an app-launch tracking setting that can personalize Start based on apps you launch. It is not needed to create pinned-item folders or show folder shortcuts. Microsoft documents it under Settings > Privacy & security > General in Windows 11 and Settings > Privacy > General in Windows 10. Details are in Microsoft’s General privacy settings in Windows.
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Windows 10 support status
Microsoft ended free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, and security fixes for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Windows 10 PCs continue to work, but Microsoft recommends moving to Windows 11. This support change does not alter the Start-folder steps above.
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