Start11 2.56 Beta Feedback

from Stardock Forums

With the Start11 2.56 beta release today, we are creating this thread so that users can report any observed issues.  

Obtaining Object Desktop Insider Builds

Object Desktop Manager

Object Desktop members can get beta and Insider builds from within Object Desktop Manager with 'Enable Object Desktop Insider builds' enabled:

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Stardock Download Page

Or via their download page in the ‘Object Desktop Insider’ section

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Obtaining Beta Releases

Stardock.com

If a beta was released, Object Desktop Members would see it in the ‘Object Desktop’ section.

Individual purchases would see it on their registration of the product under their download page.

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Steam

  • Right-click the Product in Steam

  • Properties

  • Betas

  • Select the beta branch at the top right (there is no password)

Example

https://cdn.stardock.us/support/uploads/steamwebhelper_2024-02-19_17-44-35.png

Reporting an issue

Please include the following for anything found:

  • Exact Windows version \ build (winver.exe)

  • Detailed steps to recreate the issue seen

  • Screenshots and videos are very helpful.  Videos can be uploaded to a cloud drive service (GoogleDrive, DropBox, OneDrive, YouTube), with a shared link included in your post.  Images can be copied and pasted directly into a post.

  • If there are specific apps that the app does not work (well) with, please note what apps and their exact versions.  If any app is not common, a link to a trial version would be appreciated.

Thank you for your interest and any time you put into making Start11 v2 a better product.

start menu products
19,837 views 30 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Start11 2.56 Changelog (Released 10/28/2025)

Date

10/28/2025

Version

UI: 2.56
File Version: 2.5.6.3

Changes 

  • This addresses an issue on multiple monitor setups with 25H2 when using certain Start11 settings causing it to become confused about which screen was which.

  • Resolves an issue with the background image on a tab/group not always loading up correctly initially

  • Adds in support for small taskbar icons mode that 25H2 adds in so when in small taskbar mode it will make the OS search etc buttons small too (note you need to reset small mode from S11 settings for this)

  • Resolves an issue stopping pinned websites from being saved inside a folder in the start menu.

  • Resolves having center for taskbar buttons on (which impacts horizontal taskbars only) causing no buttons to paint on a secondary taskbar sometimes.

  • Resolved a crash with picking a custom background image, but then clicking onto other windows whilst the open dialog was still open

  • Resolved issue with some custom background images being the wrong way up depending on how the image has been saved (mostly Apple)

  • Resolves a crash issue with taskbar painting

  • Fixes an issue with centered mode on the taskbar on Win11 not instantly applying sometimes

  • Resolves vertical taskbar thumbnails being clipped sometimes.

  • Changes

  • Should address the issue with not being able to open the network window quickly in explorer with 2.55

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Known issues

While we appreciate all feedback, please remember that we offer no official support for beta \ preview \ developer channel versions of Windows. If you report issues while in any of those early release channels, you should not expect them to be addressed unless it still exists in a retail version of Windows.

  • tbd
Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

[Oct 23 Update] A new Start11 v2 Beta is available, this is has a number of fixes targeting 25h2, please download and update (and report if there are any issues) Download - Start11 v2 2.56.3 Beta

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

I have 3 monitors on my system, the 2 secondary monitors stopped centering the taskbar in last few days, it looks like everything is pushed to the right side

I am on the release preview channel for windows

main taskbar is working as expected

 

 

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Beguile, reply 4

I have 3 monitors on my system, the 2 secondary monitors stopped centering the taskbar in last few days, it looks like everything is pushed to the right side

I am on the release preview channel for windows

main taskbar is working as expected

 





 


Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. 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.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello! Please tell me where Start11 stores the avatar image file? My avatar disappeared again in Start11? In all other places it is...

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting selesn777, reply 7

Hello! Please tell me where Start11 stores the avatar image file? My avatar disappeared again in Start11? In all other places it is...

Windows stores it, not Start11

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-your-account-picture-in-windows-3645cdc7-acab-49d2-76a9-4ce7e5e10939

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

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Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello! I asked because the images are there and as I wrote earlier - the avatar is displayed everywhere in the Window settings, but only in Start11 it is not displayed... Thanks for the answer!

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting selesn777, reply 9

Hello! I asked because the images are there and as I wrote earlier - the avatar is displayed everywhere in the Window settings, but only in Start11 it is not displayed... Thanks for the answer!

So you are good now or no..?

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

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Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

I found a solution to this problem and restored the image on the avatar. Thanks for asking and all the best.

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Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Beguile, reply 4

I have 3 monitors on my system, the 2 secondary monitors stopped centering the taskbar in last few days, it looks like everything is pushed to the right side

I am on the release preview channel for windows

main taskbar is working as expected





Are you able to try and installing the new beta we pushed out to see if this issue shows up again for you?

Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting bdsams, reply 12


Quoting Beguile,
reply 4

I have 3 monitors on my system, the 2 secondary monitors stopped centering the taskbar in last few days, it looks like everything is pushed to the right side

I am on the release preview channel for windows

main taskbar is working as expected





Are you able to try and installing the new beta we pushed out to see if this issue shows up again for you?

The new beta is working correctly so far 

Thanks

Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top

 

After upgrading Windows 11 to 26200.6899 (KB5066835), Start11 got broken.

1. The taskbar on the secondary monitor only shows the Start button; everything else has disappeared
2. Taskbar became unresponsive. 
3. Explorer consistently uses 5-10% of the CPU

Same with both Start11 v2.55 and v2.56. 

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Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting blahstyle, reply 14

After upgrading Windows 11 to 26200.6899 (KB5066835), Start11 got broken.

Uninstall, reboot (important), install the latest beta from your account page:

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

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top

I did EXACTLY what you've said.
Uninstall, ignore feedback page :dur:  , reboot, install v2.56, set main taskbar position to Right align, EXACTLY SAME situation.

 

Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top

We have a beta that should address this issue:

Download: Start11 2.5.6.2

If you do download and install this, please report back if it resolves the issue.

This is an out-of-band beta release and comes with the usual warnings that it has not been fully tested across all scenarios but we believe it is stable enough to release here.

Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top

I've updated to this beta and still have this start icon cutoff issue that was also present in 2.55.

Reply #20 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting viexi, reply 18



I've updated to this beta and still have this start icon cutoff issue that was also present in 2.55.

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. If you use any of the custom start buttons, especially those large ones, that come along with Start11, do you see the cutoff issue? If not, perhaps, you can share your custom icons so we can see if we can reproduce your issue with this specific start button.

Thank you,
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top

The Start11 2.56 Beta has been updated.  For details, please see:

https://forums.stardock.com/539013/get;3980439

As always, thank you for your time, feedback, and support.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top

Hi, I didn't want to create a whole new thread for this, I can if you want just tell me which forum, but any idea why your download service is so slow?

We're talking about a 54MB file that should take seconds, yet it can sometimes take 15min to get it, often timing out so I have to keep resuming. Happens for both release and beta downloads. I'm in Luxembourg, we have some of the fastest interconnects in Europe, I'm on a 1Gb connection which has no issues with other sites and I test daily, yet yours always seems to be so slow.

Reply #23 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Taomyn, reply 22

Hi, I didn't want to create a whole new thread for this, I can if you want just tell me which forum, but any idea why your download service is so slow?



We're talking about a 54MB file that should take seconds, yet it can sometimes take 15min to get it, often timing out so I have to keep resuming. Happens for both release and beta downloads. I'm in Luxembourg, we have some of the fastest interconnects in Europe, I'm on a 1Gb connection which has no issues with other sites and I test daily, yet yours always seems to be so slow.

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. I believe this issue has been raise multiple time. Most recently that I can recall is this one: https://forums.stardock.com/539150. I believe Support known about it. Hopefully something can be done on it soon. 

Thank you,
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

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Reply #24 from Stardock Forums Top

After one of the 2.5.6.x updates, getting tray notifications freeze and crash explorer. Doesn't seem to start happening until after windows is running for some time. Everything is good on a fresh boot.

Reply #25 from Stardock Forums Top

I found time to install 2.5.6. So far so good, well done, team.