Check out our latest blog articles:

Theme of the day:

Win+X Menu Editor for Windows 8

Software: Sergey @ Monday 2012 December 17 - 16:11:28

One of the new features of upcoming Windows 8 is Win+X "Start" menu. It is non-customizable part of Windows 8. Win+X Menu Editor is my latest work and it serves to provide you a simple and useful way to edit Win+X menu without system files modification. It keeps your system integrity untouched.

Latest version is 2.6.0.0, it supports Windows 8 RTM and Windows 8 Release preview.
Read the rest to learn more and see change log and the demo video

Change log

2.6.0.0
New feature - "Add an Administrative Tools item" allows you to add any Administrative Tools item quickly and easy.

2.5.0.2
Workaround with Program Files(x86) folder. Now shortcuts to that folder will be displayed properly in Win+X menu.
2.5.0.1
Bug fixed: if you try to add a shortcut which is already in Win+X menu folder, then application will show you .NET framework error.
2.5.0.0

New feature - "Add a Control Panel item" allows you to add any control panel applet including hidden like "Network Connections" or "All Tasks(God Mode)".
Improved icons resolving for Win+X menu items
"Add a program" now not a button but drop-down menu.
Some very minor non-critical bugs are fixed

2.0.0.1
Fixed a bug with built-in items renaming
2.0

hashlnk is not required anymore, all its functions are ported into the Win+X Menu Editor source code
Numerous bugs are fixed, such as sorting bug or crash on empty Win+X menu
Improved "add a program" feature
New clean and useful UI with hotkeys, new icons
The ability to move shortcuts between groups
New feature - "Presets", which allows you to add various commands in Win+X menu, such as shutdown options, calculator and so on.

1.0.0.3
Fixed a bug with Windows 8 RTM.
1.0.0.2
Improved *.lnk file handling. You need no rename Win+X menu items anymore, it uses file display name instead of lnk target.
1.0.0.1
Added support to Windows 8 Release Preview
1.0
Initial release

Here is the demo video of Win+X Menu Editor

With Win+X Menu Editor you are able:

to add new items.
to remove any item of Win+X menu.
to change display name of any item of Win+X menu.
to reorder Win+X menu items.

An addition information

Win+X Menu Editor is based on the hashlink source code by Rafael Rivera. Please respect and love him.

Main icon is daKirby309's "Desktop" icon + mspaint.exe

The Win+X Menu Editor is available in two editions - x86 and x64. Don't use x86 version on Windows x64.

Download: Win+X Menu Editor for Windows 8

Sergey Tkachenko

Donate options for satisfied users:

Comments

phrozen\|13 Jun
Guest	I love this its faster and easier to use... no need for old start Menu. Thanks guys!!! Keep it up a good work.

stranger87\|19 Jun
Guest	i can't download Latest version 1.0.0.2. How can i do?

CatFrog\|15 Jul
Guest	Is there a version for Win7? (when I click Win+X in a laptop I get the Windows Mobility Center... I wish I can add items to that menu). Thanks a lot! Your works are wonderful xme.

Sergey \|16 Jul
Comments: 367	Thank you for your appreciation of Win+X Menu Editor. Unfortunately, I can't offer something like this for Windows 7

USer\|11 Aug
Guest	It appears as though actions on the menu within recent versions of Windows 8 will kill the menu altogether (and it doesn't return bringing back the defaults). Perhaps creating a new user profile will get it back. This may be a bug.

Sergey \|12 Aug
Comments: 367	Thank you very much for report! I have fixed the issue.

Awesoft\|22 Aug
Guest	Is there any way to make a drop down item for "All programs" and "Log off"?

Sergey \|22 Aug
Comments: 367	it is not possible

lol\|26 Aug
Guest	Nice Tweak !!!!!!!! But everytime I press apply all icons on the desktop are mixed together!

lol\|27 Aug
Guest	everytime I click apply: all icons on the desctop are on a different place my "fingerprint" programm (virtual airprint server from collobos) gives up, disappears from the taskbar, the fingerprint-service is also corrupted. I have to restart the service and kill the fingerprint task and start again. Pretty much work......!sad!unsure

lol\|27 Aug
Guest	everytime I click apply: all icons on the desctop are on a different place my "fingerprint" programm (virtual airprint server from collobos) gives up, disappears from the taskbar, the fingerprint-service is also corrupted. I have to restart the service and kill the fingerprint task and start again. Pretty much work......!

Goody two shoes|07 Oct

Guest

Have been using a few weeks now. Thank you.
Excellent program. Mine has the bare essentials:

Shutdown Link to shutdown VBScript File

Control Panel Link to Control Panel

File explorer Link to Computer Explorer
--------------------
User folders Link to my pictures, videos, documents, etc.

Program Apps Link to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\
Start Menu\Programs (was hidden)
Desktop Link to Desktop

ZZZ\|02 Nov
Guest	I created a shortcut for the Windows Update but it doesn't add to the menu. It's strange because it worked for everything else I tried...

Sergey \|02 Nov
Comments: 367	Can you share your shortcut?

ZZZ\|06 Nov
Guest	I right clicked the control panel icon in the "system and security" to create a shortcut. The shortcut has target "Control Panel\System and Security\Windows Update".

Sergey \|06 Nov
Comments: 367	i will try to fix this issue in upcoming version 2.0

hellq\|08 Nov
Guest	i just can't add any of my applications to the menu, except those presets. im using the latest version of your program in the environment of win8 rtm

Sergey \|08 Nov
Comments: 367	hmm How I can reproduce the issue? Your Windows 8 is x86 or x64?

DF\|08 Nov
Guest	Hi. Great program. I have the same issue as ZZZ, in that I created a shortcut to Network Connections and then added it to the editor. It shows in the editor but doesn't appear in the Win + X Menu. Shortcuts created to ordinary programs works fine, so it must be Control Panel shortcuts it has a problem with. Is this fixable, or is there a workaround/different method we can use?

Sergey |08 Nov

Comments: 367

this is NOT fixable, but we can use a different method
We can use shell commands for that purposes. I will publish all of them so you can easily create the required shortcut.
Also I will add such option to next version. I think I will do it today or tomorrow.
Right now you can create shortcut using


explorer.exe shell:ConnectionsFolder

as shortcut target

ZZZ, for "Control Panel\System and Security\Windows Update" you can use

explorer.exe shell:::{36eef7db-88ad-4e81-ad49-0e313f0c35f8}

DF\|08 Nov
Guest	Perfect - thanks very much.

ZZZ\|08 Nov
Guest	The Network and Sharing Center shortcut worked for me, the only that didn't work was the Windows Update. I'll try the shell command. Thx.

MSiqueira\|09 Nov
Guest	Same as @hellq. Only presets working. Unable to add to menu any .exe that I've tried. They appear on Win+X Menu Editor interface, but never shows on Win+X menu. Win 8 Pro 64-bit retail here (build 9200). Kudos for the app, anyways, B'dozer.

Sergey \|09 Nov
Comments: 367	Guys, please, if you have issues with this software, tell me more details Which app you tried to add? Please specify the full path to exe file. I have no ideas how I can reproduce the bug without that information. I will try to fix a bug once I repeat it.

MSiqueira|11 Nov

Guest

I tried to add Firefox, and MS Office's Outlook.

As I said, I'm running Win 8 Pro 64-bit retail (build 9200).
So I ran Win+X Menu Editor (64-bit version), clicked on 'Add Program' button, navigated to 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox', and choose firefox.exe.
When asked "Please enter new name", I simply put Firefox (with a capital F), and OK.
Firefox showed up at the top of Group 3, then I clicked "Restart Explorer".

(continue)

MSiqueira|11 Nov

Guest

Firefox didn't appear in Win+X menu. I closed the app, ran it again (as Administrator), repeated the same steps, same result. Again with Outlook (C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14\Outlook.exe), with same result.

Interesting, I tried then to add Group 4 and move Firefox to it. When I restarted explorer, The Win+x menu showed up with a division line ABOVE 'Programs and Features' (which is the top App for Group 3), but with nothing above that line.
I added presets then, to Group 4 (Notepad and Paint). Restarted explorer and both presets showed up ok on Win+X menu.

That's the stuff I remember, since it's saturday and all that happened @work PC.
By monday I'll be able to conduct other tests and give you some further feedback, if I must.

Sorry for the english. Regards..

Sergey \|11 Nov
Comments: 367	Thanks you very much for this report. Fixed. Please re-download. I will do more workarounds for x86 resources in Windows x64 in near future.

throkr\|24 Nov
Guest	Thanks a lot for this very nice piece of software ! The latest version 2.5.0.2 works absolutely perfectly on my Win 8 Pro x64 ... Keep up with the excellent work !

SiN\|04 Dec
Guest	add feature to add item+icon at the win-x menu.

Sergey \|04 Dec
Comments: 367	impossible to add

clemme\|11 Dec
Guest	Great tweak!!, could you please add an option for Administrative tools shortcuts similar to the control panel shortcuts.

Sergey \|12 Dec
Comments: 367	Sure I can. I will add it today

Sergey \|12 Dec
Comments: 367	clemme, but it is already there. Looks like you use x86 version in Windows 8 x86. Please use x64 version of this software. Ah, I get it. You meant that you want to add 'administrative tools' items in way like Control panel items. This is very good suggestion, i will implement it.

bcwinch|13 Dec

Guest

Neat, but can I ask for two extras. As I use the Win X a lot it grows a bit large with addins. Is it possible to group items together and have a subset rather like items in a folder. So all the power options are under one collective, rather as is the desktop cascade menu. So selecting say Power opens a further cascade menu.
On the User\LocalApps\Microsoft\Windows\WinX the items show icons but these do not show on the actual Win X menu can they be shown as its then easy to find an item. Thanks

SiN\|13 Dec
Guest	Can't rename group. Next release can u add support of parameter to app?

Sergey \|14 Dec
Comments: 367	1. Win+X menu shows groups as separator. So name of group means nothing 2. I will add parameter to app. This is very good suggestion. So I plan to start work on new version today, at evening. I will try to add command line parameters and Administrative tools.

Sizemann\|18 Dec
Guest	Hi I think your program is the best .I love programs that are productive and wish I was smart enough to do what you do .Every thing works great but was wondering what the advanced boot options is supposed to do?When I click on it, it does nothing. Any advice would be appreciated .And THANK YOU AGAIN

poporo\|06 Jan
Guest	very good!!

damageboy\|10 Jan
Guest	Is there a way to add a keyboard shortcut for my new Win+X shortcuts (just like Command Prompt Admin can be triggered by Win+X,A)

Sergey \|10 Jan
Comments: 367	Use "&" in shortcut title For example - &Your app => Win+X,Y

stanko\|11 Jan
Guest	Hi, thanks for that useful tool. i still didn't figure out how to create an icon that opens that win+x menu and to add it to the taskbar. what do you think about a feature that would create an icon on desktop or even in taskbar?

Sergey \|11 Jan
Comments: 367	stanko, it can be done via simple AutoHotkey or AutoIT script.

stanko\|11 Jan
Guest	Thanks for your answer! I am not really save in using tools like that ones you've suggested. I hope you will at least consider to add some small and convenient options like "add link to destop" or "add link to taskbar"

Sergey \|11 Jan
Comments: 367	i will not add that feature in app, but i will share a script in blog

@stanko\|11 Jan
Guest	If you right click bottom left most corner of the screen on the taskbar, you get the Win+X menu already.

stanko\|11 Jan
Guest	@sergey Thanks. i am eager to see how that would work. Does such a script require autohotkey/autoit to work in background? or dies the script work alone? @guest hey, that's a good advice. didn't know that would work. thanks!

Sergey \|12 Jan
Comments: 367	@stanko Maybe the script is not required since you can accept the right click?

stanko\|15 Jan
Guest	yep. right click is totally enough for me.

pacman.39\|17 Jan
Guest	How can I use Restart with no delay, as you have established for Shutdown option? Thanks!

Sergey \|17 Jan
Comments: 367	you can run the following command `shutdown /r /t 0`

stanko\|19 Jan
Guest	Hi! I tried to add a command in its own group at the end of the win+x menu. But each new group is added to top of menu and furthermore the position of groups is not movable. Could you add movable groups for the sake of convenience?

stanko\|20 Jan
Guest	i must agree with pacman.39s post. Using restart without delay seems reasonable. sergey, maybe you could give opportunity to define shutdon/testart/... behaviour somehow?

Nico\|22 Jan
Guest	Thanks for your very nice and useful tool. Please can you add the following control panel item in the list: Color Management, and the command is : control /name Microsoft.ColorManagement

Kevin|03 Feb

Guest

Thanks for this nice program! , very useful!
Regarding what Stanko has been posting about , the right/click to open that has been mentioned is only available with a mouse! .. it's not available on a tablet/touch device!!
One of the great oddities with Windows 8 ... a touch friendly OS where the much vaunted Win+X menu has no way to get to it on a tablet ...
You mention Sergey that there is a script to do this , can you share please?
Thanks again!

Anonymous\|22 Feb
Guest	Hello can you tell me how to restore the default windows shortcut for the charms menu to win+X? Thanks!

Sergey \|23 Feb
Comments: 367	you can use "restore defaults" option of menu in the right upper corner.

Anonymous\|02 Apr
Guest	no submenues? and 'all programs' / 'all apps'

Sergey \|02 Apr
Comments: 367	It is NOT POSSIBLE. I have implemented all that was possible.

Jcee\|07 Apr
Guest	is it possible to change the look of the sepeartor, currently it is invisible, but i would prefer a dotted line: -------------------------- like this

Sergey \|07 Apr
Comments: 367	AFAIK, it depends on current theme/Visual Style. So, it is possible with custom VS.

Anonymous\|07 Apr
Guest	the line is there already (its just to light for my primary monitor to display ) and yea i figured it was part of the theme file.. also ive been meaning to ask you about theming, more specifically how to get white text in the title bar (as my current theme has just about everything how i like except that)

Anonymous\|15 Apr
Guest	Very nice little applet. Would it be possible to add an option to export/save the settings for importing/using on another system so that we wouldn't have to manually do it all over again?

Michael\|09 May
Guest	Love the tool. Would like to have the option "disconnect" when using a terminal session.

andrewscott48209\|13 May
Guest	How do I configure a program to run in the context of an administrator with this program?

Goody two shoes|16 May

Guest

Hi I'm still using it as replacement desktop start menu.
I have shortcut links to both start menu programs folders,
C:\Users\my name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

Just wondering, is there a way to have one link that puts all program links, and folders into one,
instead of the giant start screen, which has both apps and programs?
MS is hiding it somewhere!