I recently upgraded someone's computer from Windows 10 to Windows 11.
After it had finished installing Windows 11, I did a few tweaks and had to manually update a driver.
I persisted with the center Start button for awhile, but noticed that it was a moving target depending on how many apps I had open.
I guess I'm a creature of habit and automatically go to where I know buttons are located, so the moving center aligned Start button just doesn't work for me.
So, I've been wondering what most Windows 11 users prefer.
Do you prefer the Start button on the left or in the center?
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Operating System
Windows 10 Pro
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Laptop
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ASUS ROG Zephyrus M GM501GS
CPU
Core i7-8750H
Motherboard
Zephyrus M GM501GS
Memory
SK Hynix 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) HMA82GS6CJR8N-VK 16 GB DDR4-2666 DDR4 SDRAM
I always use the left out of habit and I think most of us will do, however, I do wonder how many new users will use the default centre position? I understand why Microsoft has decided to make this the default as you typically look down the centre of the screen. Many websites are actually designed in this way as well.
I've used Windows 11 since it was introduced and I prefer to have Start in the center. For my work I need all the screen real-estate I can get, so I also make good use of the hidden task bar option and, of course, the Windows key. Everything centered feels clean and natural now.
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The first time I installed Windows 11 and saw the Start button in the center I wondered why, after all these years of being conditioned to go to the left corner (like a Pavlov's dog kinda thing), are we now being forced to the center? I didn't want to change anything right away, so I gave myself two weeks to see if I could uncondition myself from the left corner. It didn't take me that long and now I prefer the center. I find the look more balanced and it's a wee bit easier on my achy hand. I moved the Linux Mint start button to the center also shortly after that.
I prefer the centre. I like to have my frequently used apps pinned to the taskbar. I can now rearrange them so that my most frequently used one (Firefox) now appears dead centre on the taskbar - much easier to find now
TBH I rarely actually clicked on Start anyway, I usually just press the Windows key.
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fully 'Windows 11 ready' laptop. Windows 10 C: partition migrated from my old unsupported 'main machine' then upgraded to 11. A test migration ran Insider builds for 2 months. When 11 was released on 5th October 2021 it was re-imaged back to 10 and was offered the upgrade in Windows Update on 20th October. Windows Update offered the 22H2 Feature Update on 20th September 2022. It got the 23H2 Feature Update on 4th November 2023 through Windows Update, and 24H2 on 3rd October 2024 through Windows Update by setting the Target Release Version for 24H2.
My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro.
My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 8GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Dev, Beta, and RP 24H2 as native boot vhdx.
My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 8GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds (and a few others) as a native boot .vhdx.
My SYSTEM SIX is a Dell Latitude 5550, Core Ultra 7 165H, 64GB RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD, supported device, Windows 11 Pro 24H2, Hyper-V host machine.
Operating System
Windows 11 Pro
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Laptop
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Dell Latitude E4310
CPU
Intel® Core™ i5-520M
Motherboard
0T6M8G
Memory
8GB
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(integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
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1366x768
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500GB Crucial MX500 SSD
Browser
Firefox, Edge
Antivirus
Defender
Other Info
unsupported machine: Legacy bios, MBR, TPM 1.2, upgraded from W10 to W11 using W10/W11 hybrid install media workaround. In-place upgrade to 22H2 using ISO and a workaround. Feature Update to 23H2 by manually installing the Enablement Package. In-place upgrade to 24H2 using hybrid 23H2/24H2 install media. Also running Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds as a native boot .vhdx.
My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro.
My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 8GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Dev, Beta, and RP 24H2 as native boot vhdx.
My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 8GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds (and a few others) as a native boot .vhdx.
My SYSTEM SIX is a Dell Latitude 5550, Core Ultra 7 165H, 64GB RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD, supported device, Windows 11 Pro 24H2, Hyper-V host machine.
I slam my cursor into the bottom left corner to open the Start Menu..., no need to be precise!
It's been in the bottom left corner for decades, leave it alone!
I've set up my entire desktop the same way, since windows 98.
When I first installed Win-11 and saw that mess in the middle of my taskbar, my silent scream was "OH HELL NO!"
It then took me less than five minutes to straighten out that mess!!! And delete a bunch of MS crap off of the taskbar at the same time.
