Force Start to be either full screen size or menu size
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 30, 2026
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016 or Windows 10
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Start Menu and Taskbar User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Start Menu and Taskbar Description
If you enable this policy and set it to Start menu or full screen Start, Start will be that size and users will be unable to change the size of Start in Settings. If you disable or don’t configure this policy setting, Windows will automatically select the size based on hardware form factor and users will be able to change the size of Start in Settings.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer HKCU
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer MDM / Intune (CSP)
Device
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/ForceStartSize User
./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/ForceStartSize Microsoft Learn documentation Mapping data: Microsoft Learn (CC BY 4.0)
CSP values
-
0 (Default)- Don't force size of Start. -
1- Force non-fullscreen size of Start. -
2- Force a fullscreen size of Start.
Export Builder
BETAConfigure the state, scope and options, then generate .reg, PowerShell, Intune and SCCM outputs — or add the setting to a multi-setting collection.
These exports write the registry — this is not a managed GPO. ⓘ
Applying both scopes creates an ambiguous configuration (computer takes precedence over user). Only do this intentionally.
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Force Start to be either full screen size or menu size
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016 or Windows 10
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"ForceStartSize"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Force Start to be either full screen size or menu size
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016 or Windows 10
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ForceStartSize' -Value 1 -Type DWordIntune XML
OMA-URI: ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/ForceStartSize
Data type: String
Value:
<enabled/>
<data id="ForceStartSizeDropdown" value="1"/>Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Force Start to be either full screen size or menu size
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016 or Windows 10
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'ForceStartSize' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Force Start to be either full screen size or menu size
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016 or Windows 10
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ForceStartSize' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Force Start to be either full screen size or menu size
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016 or Windows 10
# SCCM Configuration Item guidance:
# Create a Configuration Item of type "Setting: Script".
# Discovery script: use the Detection script below.
# Remediation script: use the Remediation script below.
# Compliance rule: the Discovery script output equals 'Compliant'.
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Force Start to be either full screen size or menu size
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016 or Windows 10
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'ForceStartSize' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Force Start to be either full screen size or menu size
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016 or Windows 10
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ForceStartSize' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.