Force Start to be either full screen size or menu size: registry value ForceStartSizeUserHKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer

Policy ID: ForceStartSize
Scope: Computer Configuration, User Configuration
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016 or Windows 10
Source: Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category: Start Menu and Taskbar

Registry

ForceStartSize

REG_DWORDUserComputer

…\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\ExplorerHKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer Current key
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: Choose one of the following sizes

Options
Item	Stored value
Start menu	1
Full screen Start	2

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

UserPer-account setting

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]

; Options (use only one)
; Start menu
"ForceStartSize"=dword:00000001
; Full screen Start
"ForceStartSize"=dword:00000002

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Start menu
reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "ForceStartSize" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
:: Full screen Start
reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "ForceStartSize" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f

PowerShell

# Common: create the key
New-Item -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Force | Out-Null

# Options (use only one)
# Start menu
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'ForceStartSize' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null
# Full screen Start
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'ForceStartSize' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null

ComputerMachine-wide setting

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]

; Options (use only one)
; Start menu
"ForceStartSize"=dword:00000001
; Full screen Start
"ForceStartSize"=dword:00000002

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Start menu
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "ForceStartSize" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
:: Full screen Start
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "ForceStartSize" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f

PowerShell

# Common: create the key
New-Item -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Force | Out-Null

# Options (use only one)
# Start menu
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'ForceStartSize' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null
# Full screen Start
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'ForceStartSize' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null