Windows 10: Call up the small Start menu - this is how it works

The Start menu is no longer as important to many users as it was in previous Windows generations. Nevertheless, it exists and the small version is especially handy. Read how to find it.

Reduced: The small Start menu does away with visual effects.

Long ago, the Start menu was the central hub for most programs and applications. Windows navigation has evolved, but the Start menu has remained.

How to open the small Start menu in Windows 10

The easiest way to open the small Start menu is to use a key combination:

1. Press "Win" + "X".

A Start menu then appears in the usual place, but greatly reduced. It is deliberately kept narrow so that it covers the screen as little as possible. There are no graphic elements, instead the small menu concentrates on the essentials. Access to the most important areas is still possible; the small start menu thus makes sense for certain purposes and is then very practical.