start_menu_clear_tiles.ps1

start_menu_clear_tiles.ps1

Clear Windows 10 Start Menu Tiles.

Overview

Removes all default pinned app tiles from the Windows 10 Start menu by modifying the registry. Restarts Explorer to apply changes immediately. Creates a clean Start menu without pre-configured tiles.

Purpose

This script provides a clean slate for the Windows 10 Start menu by removing all default pinned tiles. It's useful for standardizing new deployments or cleaning up the Start menu on existing systems. Note that this is designed specifically for Windows 10 and does not apply to Windows 11's redesigned Start menu.

Prerequisites

• Windows 10 (does not apply to Windows 11)
• Must run in user context (not SYSTEM) to affect user's Start menu
• Registry access to HKCU

Configuration

Required Inputs

None - operates on current user's Start menu configuration

Behavior

1. Modifies Start menu tile collection registry data
2. Stops Explorer process to release lock on settings
3. Waits briefly for system to stabilize
4. Restarts Explorer automatically
5. Opens Start menu to initialize new layout

Security Notes

• No secrets in logs
• Only modifies current user's Start menu
• Registry modification is reversible

Exit Codes

• 0 = Success
• 1 = Failure

Example Output

[ INPUT VALIDATION ]
--------------------------------------------------------------
Target User : DOMAIN\username
Registry Path : HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CloudStore\...

[ MODIFYING START MENU ]
--------------------------------------------------------------
Reading current tile configuration...
Applying clean tile layout...
Registry updated successfully

[ RESTARTING EXPLORER ]
--------------------------------------------------------------
Stopping Explorer process...
Waiting for system to stabilize...
Explorer restarted successfully
Initializing Start menu...

[ FINAL STATUS ]
--------------------------------------------------------------
Result : SUCCESS
Start menu tiles have been cleared

[ SCRIPT COMPLETED ]
--------------------------------------------------------------

Version History

• v1.0.0 (2024-12-01) - Initial release - migrated from SuperOps

Links

• View Script Source
• Scripts - Back to script index