How to add Settings, File Explorer and other folders to the Start menu on Windows 11
By Saadat Rafiq · 2 min read · 3 steps · Published 6 October 2026
Open Settings, Personalization, Start, Folders and switch on the ones you want: Settings, File Explorer, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, Videos, Network or Personal folder. Their icons then appear at the bottom of Start, next to the Power button.
- Device
- Windows
- Shown on
- Windows 11 Enterprise 25H2 (build 26200.9457), Microsoft Cloud PC
- App
- Settings
- Path
- Settings › Personalization › Start
- Real screenshots
- 3 of 3 steps
- Checked
- October 2026
- Sources
- 1 official, linked below
Step by step
Tap the picture to see it full size Open the Folders page
Open Settings, Personalization, Start and click Folders. All are Off at first.
Tap the picture to see it full size Switch on what you want
We switched on Settings, File Explorer and Downloads.
Tap the picture to see it full size Open Start
The icons sit next to the Power button. Point at one to see its name.
About this guide
The row at the bottom of Start can hold shortcuts to Settings and your main folders, one click away.
The screenshots are our own, taken on Windows 11 Enterprise 25H2 (build 26200.9457) running as a Microsoft Cloud PC, a Windows PC that runs in the cloud. The Settings app is the same on Home and Pro PCs; where the Cloud PC shows something different, the step says so.
Good to know
Switch an icon off on the same page to remove it. We switched ours back off.
Network and Personal folder are further down the list.
In short: Settings, Personalization, Start, Folders: switch on the icons. They appear next to Power on Start.
Links checked in October 2026. Rules and prices change. Check the official source before you act.
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