Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Perhaps Start11v2 was not downloaded or installed properly. Usually we'll suggest to try, uninstall Start11, reboot immediately (important), re-download latest version available in your account product download page: https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products. Install it, reboot immediately again. Retest it and report back.

Thank you,
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Thanks, Basj, I'll try it later

Like the posts just above yours, are you using a custom Start button?

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Start11 2.56 beta has been released. For details, please see:

https://forums.stardock.com/539013/start11-256-beta-feedback

Ulysses Ulysses and Retrial8647, if you could install this and let us know if that resolves your Windows Explorer issue, we would greatly appreciate it. 

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Yes. I missed the post above mine, sorry. I shat change to default and report back.
I will also try the beta, thanks.

Hello,

I have issues with this version of Start 11: with the taskbar aligned to the right, previews have a strange ratio and are cropped on the bottom. I encounter this issue nearly all softs (native ones like File Explorer or installed ones).

Same issue with the taskbar on the left, but not when aligned to the bottom.

I didn't have this issue with the previous Start 11 version.

My OS version: 24H2 (build 26100.6584)

I tried to uninstall, reboot immediately and reinstall, I still have the issue.

Enhanced Start 11 taskbar is enabled.

So far, what I have noticed using Start11 build 2.5.5, is that on a clean install of Windows 11 25H2, installing Start11 v2.5.5 causes explorer.exe to crash and restart, mostly when using the settings configuration for Start11

I reloaded a system image pre installing Start11 2.5.5 and loaded 2.5.3 instead - No issues.
I then installed 2.5.5 via the update offered in Start11 2.5.3 and there have been no issues so far with explorer.exe.
So it  would seem that 2.5.3 stable release somehow sets a path for 2.5.5.

I should add that I changed the Start button icon back to default and disabled "Use a custom Start button image" then tried a custom image after upgrading from 2.5.3 to 2.5.5 and again, no explorer.exe restarts so far.

But every custom Start button overlaps the first icon on the taskbar, so I resorted to the default.

I would like to assist with the BETA as I normally would, but as I am in the middle of quite a large project, I just haven't any time. I apologize.

Windows Version: 25H2 (26200.6584)

Hardware: 9800X3D and RTX 5080

I have two screens, the primary is plugged into my discreet graphics card in the hmdi slot and my secondary screen is plugged into the hdmi slot on my motherboard (it's running off the igpu). On a fresh install of Windows with Windows updated and all drivers updated I installed Start 11 2.55. I have autohide turned off in the Windows taskbar settings. In Start 11, I enable taskbar enhancements and turn on "Enable Start11 autohide mode." When I download things to the desktop or install a program that creates a shortcut on the desktop, it puts the shortcuts and files onto the secondary monitor. If I disable "Enable Start11 autohide mode" the files/shortcuts will now go to the primary screen.

I also tried reproducing the issue in a VM but couldn't, so Start11 must be conflicting with something on my system. Here's a video of it happening: https://i.imgur.com/r8UneGB.gif

The issue still persists even after uninstalling, rebooting, and reinstalling.

However, I do notice that the taskbar button width in my system does not look like its 22px. Do you see these on your system too?

Yes, they look the same for me. I think the button width is supposed to affect the padding around the icons only. Since the issue appears to be specific to my system, I'll just stick to 28 px for now which makes no notable difference anyway.

Thanks for your help, Basj!

After reading Inelastic's comment, I realized the issue is related to me having two displays and the setting Show taskbar buttons on set to All taskbars. I ran a few tests and here's what I found:

1. One display disabled/unplugged: Couldn't reproduce the issue.
2. Both displays enabled and Show taskbar buttons on set to All taskbars: Taskbar crashes almost anytime I open something from Start Menu.
3. Both displays enabled and Show taskbar buttons on set to Taskbar where window is open: Couldn't reproduce the issue with no window open on the second display. With one window open on the second display (and multiple on the first), I could get explorer to crash but less frequently.

I have 6 monitors and haven't had that same experience.

• Default Stat button
• Installing version 2.5.3 before upgrading to 2.5.5 seems to have fixed my explorer crashes.

Please install the latest v2.56 beta, reboot your system as soon as the installation is done. Report back if you still see the same issue.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Installed 2.56 beta. The issue still persists.

Please re-post your issue in v2.56 beta thread, I will than forward it to support. https://forums.stardock.com/539013/ 

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

I saw that there was a new beta 2.5.6.  In the changelog it said "Should address the issue with not being able to open the network window quickly in explorer with 2.55".  This isn't the problem I was having, but since it was talking about a slowdown, I thought I would install 2.5.6 and see if it helped with my problem.

It does.  With 2.5.6 installed and "Let Start11 enhance the taskbar" turned on, there is no delay in opening an Excel spreadsheet.  Spreadsheets open right way.

Awesome, really glad to hear that.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

We have reproduced something like this and have made a change to hopefully address it in the next update.  Thanks for letting us know.

I installed 2.56 and it did not fix the issue.

I’m not sure whether this is a Start11 v2 issue or a Windows update conflict. When my primary monitor’s taskbar is aligned left, and my secondary monitor’s taskbar is aligned at the bottom, the secondary monitor shows no icons. I also cannot click anything on either taskbar. It was working fine yesterday, 10/11/202,5, and then I updated and shut down the system overnight, and it stopped working.

Environment: Windows 11 Pro, 25H2, OS build 26200.6725.

After a little bit of troubleshooting, it turns out, at least for me, having a combo of left and right aligned or up and down aligned seems to work, whereas having a combo of left or right + up and down doesn't work. If anyone knows a way to have left alligned + down alligned that would be awesome. If needed, I can share a screenshot of what happens when I use the broken combo of taskbar alignments.

Start11 v2 2.55
Windows 10 22H2 (OS Build 19045.6332)

Having an issue with rendering the Start Menu tiles (attached images).  It didn't seem to happen with the previous version (but I don't have the installer for that... kind of wish Stardock would give easy access to those).  It happens after waiting a while and then using the start button.  If you open the tiles menu again soon after, it renders correctly.  The first image is it not rendering correctly.  The second is what it should look like:

Quoting overbarg, reply 71

Start11 v2 2.55
Windows 10 22H2 (OS Build 19045.6332)

Having an issue with rendering the Start Menu tiles (attached images).  It didn't seem to happen with the previous version (but I don't have the installer for that... kind of wish Stardock would give easy access to those).  It happens after waiting a while and then using the start button.  If you open the tiles menu again soon after, it renders correctly.  The first image is it not rendering correctly.  The second is what it should look like:



 

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues.First, please try, uninstall Start11, reboot immediately (important), download latest version available in your account product download page: https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products. Install it, reboot immediately again. Retest it and report back.

If it still an issue, I believe this issue is unique to your system. It is best to start your own thread. We will help you from there. Also include few more details. 

1. Start menu with custom Background or not?
2. Is the issue still reappear if you close and open the Start menu or its always at the same area?
3. Usually it happen randomly or after some specific task. Such as after playing full screen games or video. Or after opening specific application etc.

Thank you,
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

This is still happening occasionally in 2.55. Note the search box is at the bottom of this picture. It still works.

Hi all, Start11 2.55 on Win11 25H2 appears to break Large Start Menu Icons. Regular size icons are unaffected.

To all who have any issues with 2.55.  Please install the 2.56 beta from your account page.

https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products

Issues that remain should be logged in the 2.56 beta thread

https://forums.stardock.com/539013/start11-256-beta-feedback

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager