Windows is an operating system that has a large number of options and features that we don’t always take full advantage of. This is the case of the WinX menu from which we can access several system utilities in a simple way and without having to navigate through multiple options to get to these settings and tools. This menu is available in both Windows 10 and the recent Windows 11.
And it is that the WinX menu offers us quick access to some of the main functions of the Windows administrative tools. Today we are going to get to know in depth what this utility consists of, how to open it and how to configure it.
What is the WinX menu
The WinX menu or advanced options menu was first introduced by default in Windows 8, later continued in Windows 10, and is now available in Windows 11 as well.
It was designed so that advanced users can quickly access the applications used to manage the system. Therefore, we can define it as a pop-up menu with shortcuts to administration, settings and other Windows tools. This menu is divided into groups that are separated by a horizontal line. The list of applications it contains is as follows:
- Apps and features : We access the Windows 10 and Windows 11 application settings, from where it is possible to modify, delete and repair applications.
- Mobility Center – Allows you to edit settings for screen brightness, volume, battery status, an external display, and more.
- Power options : We can change the power plan that we have active from Settings by accessing the Power and battery section of Windows 11 and Start / shutdown and sleep in Windows 10.
- Event viewer : shows us this application that can be useful to us in case something goes wrong while we execute any action in the operating system.
- System : only available in Windows 10. It opens the About tab found in the Settings menu and allows us to access information and our device such as the processor, RAM or Windows edition.
- Device Manager – Shows us this useful tool, through which we can navigate and manage Windows drivers and hardware.
- Network connections : from here we access the Network and Internet section that we find in Settings and from which we can see and manage network connections.
- Disk Manager : allows us to manipulate disks and partitions using this tool.
- Computer Management : opens this tool from which we have access to many of the administrative and useful functions of Windows.
- Windows PowerShell – Open this tool in Windows 10.
- Windows PowerShell (Admin) – Open this tool with administrator permissions in Windows 10.
- Windows Terminal – Shortcut to this Windows 11 command-line tool.
- Windows Terminal (Admin) : Access up to tool with administrator rights in Windows 11.
- Task manager: direct access to this application that allows us to manage the applications and their execution processes.
- Settings : allows access to this menu from where it is possible to customize all the settings of the operating system.
- File Explorer : Direct access to this application that allows us to view, manage and access our files.
- Search: opens this application that allows us to search for things in the system.
- Run : direct access to this tool that allows us to execute Windows files and commands.
- Shut down or log off: from here it shows the Options menu from which it is possible to perform the actions of Log off, Suspend, Shut down and Restart.
- Desktop: minimizes all open windows and gives us access to the desktop.
These are all the advanced options that we find within the WinX menu and how we can verify that most of them are shared equally in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Open in Windows 10 and Windows 11
To be able to access this advanced options menu, we have several options. The most common is to use a keyboard shortcut. To do this we must press the key combination “Windows + X” on our keyboard. This will automatically bring up the menu from the bottom of the screen.
The other option available is to click directly with the right mouse button on the Start menu icon, causing the menu to be displayed again from the bottom.
This button is located by default in the lower right corner of the screen in Windows 10.
Instead, in Windows 11, the Start button is located by default in the bottom center of the screen.
From a touch interface, it is also possible to activate the WinX menu by means of a long touch on the start button or any action that may be equivalent to clicking the right button.
Access the folder from the advanced options menu
All the tools displayed within this menu are located in a dedicated folder where they are divided into three subfolders: Group1, Group2 and Group3.
In order to access them we must navigate to the following address:
C:/ Users / Usuario / AppData / Local / Microsoft / Windows / WinX
It is also possible to access it using the Run application that we can access from the WinX menu itself and typing the following command as shown in the image:
%LOCALAPPDATA%/Microsoft/Windows/WinX
Customize with Win+X Menu Editor
The biggest drawback of the WinX menu is that it is fixed, so it cannot be changed or modified from anywhere in the operating system. However, we can use a third-party tool called Menu Editor for Win+X , which, if it will allow us to make changes, can be installed for free in both Windows 10 and Windows 11, by clicking on this link to the WinAero website .
Once downloaded, we will have a WinXMenuEditorRelease.zip file that we must unzip. We will obtain the WinXEditor.exe file which we must execute to open the application. This will cause it to display a menu with a list of all the divided administration options, organized by groups. In the upper left part we will have the possibility to add a program, create a new group or delete. Likewise, on the right side we will have the button to restore to default values to return to the original WinX menu.
Add a new item
To do this, it is necessary to select the group where we want to add them and then click on the “Add a program” button. This will display a list of options from where we can install any program installed on our PC, add presets, add Control Panel items and add an administrative tools item.
Once added, any change to the WinX menu must be confirmed by clicking on the Restart Explorer button located at the bottom right of the program.
Add and remove a new group
If what we want is to add a new group that contains shortcuts, just click on the “Create a group” tab and a new group will be added automatically, such as Group4. This step can be repeated as many times as we want and new groups will be added (Group5, Group6, etc). Once created, we can add an element by clicking on the “Add a program” button.
It is possible to be able to eliminate the elements of the original input list, the new programs that we have added or even the groups, so that we can always have the WinX menu personalized. All you have to do is click on the element that you want to delete and click on “Remove” .
In case we delete an element by mistake, we can always use the “Restore defaults” button to return to the default values. Also, it should be noted that this program does not delete programs or features of the operating system, since it only changes the appearance of the WinX menu.
