Open the menu settings from the installed settings shortcut or the Open-Shell Start-button context menu. Enable Show all settings when you need advanced categories. If you are seeing only Windows taskbar settings, first confirm which Start button or context menu you opened.
What to do
- Look for Settings for Open-Shell Menu in the installed program shortcuts. This is distinct from Settings for Classic Explorer and from the Windows Settings app.
- Right-click the Open-Shell Start button and choose its settings entry when available. On a system with several shell tools, check which program owns the menu that appears.
- Enable Show all settings to reveal the complete tab set, then use the setting search field to locate a relevant term instead of changing unrelated options.
- Apply a small harmless change, reopen the dialog, and verify persistence. Export XML before making a larger group of adjustments.
Check the result
The settings title should identify the menu component. Finding the expected tabs is a better check than assuming any shell-related dialog controls the Start menu.
Limits & precautions
If the settings shortcut itself fails, investigate the installation and version before editing registry values. Advanced visibility does not require every option to be changed.
Questions & answers
Where are Explorer toolbar settings?
They are in the Classic Explorer component settings, not the menu settings dialog.
Why are some tabs missing?
Check Show all settings, the selected component, and the installed version.
Sources & scope
Documentation checked October 30, 2026. These instructions are documentation-led, not a claim of hands-on testing on your Windows build.