How to deploy a custom start menu layout using PowerShell and XML. Custom start menu layouts are important for IT teams that want consistency and faster onboarding. Let's walk through how to deploy a custom start menu layout using PowerShell and XML, and what to consider for Windows 11 environments that use modern start menu customization methods. Before we begin, be sure to subscribe to NinjaOne's IT Video Hub and our YouTube channel for more tech content like this. Why custom start menu layouts can be handy. A standardized start menu helps reduce clutter and keeps essential tools easy to find. For MSPs and internal IT teams, this creates a predictable user experience across devices. New hires see only approved applications, while help desk teams spend less time answering basic navigation questions. At the same time, admins can reinforce company standards and branding without manual configuration on every machine. How to create and export a start menu layout. First, build the layout on a clean reference device. Arrange pinned apps, groups, and shortcuts exactly as you want users to see them. After that, export the layout using PowerShell. The Export-StartLayout command captures the configuration in an XML file that can be reused across supported Windows deployments, particularly Windows 10 environments. Next, review the XML to confirm all required applications are present and correctly defined. How to deploy the layout with PowerShell. Once the layout file is ready, administrators can deploy it using Import-StartLayout in supported Windows 10 environments. For Windows 11, Microsoft recommends using LayoutModification.json and modern management methods instead of relying on Import-StartLayout. For system-wide defaults, apply the layout with the MountPath parameter so it affects new user profiles on supported Windows 10 editions. For single-user deployments, import the layout without MountPath where supported by the operating system version. Enforcing and tracking layout deployment. After deployment, enforcement and validation become critical. Group Policy can fully or partially lock layouts on Enterprise and Education editions, while Windows 10/11 Pro generally applies the layout once and then allows user customization. On the other hand, registry tagging allows teams to track whether the layout was applied successfully. By writing simple registry keys, IT teams gain visibility for audits, compliance checks, and automated reapplication if the layout is removed. Automating at scale. Finally, automation ties everything together. PowerShell scripts can validate layout file paths, apply layouts, and log results automatically. These scripts can run at login, startup, or through an RMM platform. In mixed Windows 10 and Windows 11 environments, administrators should maintain separate deployment configurations to account for differences between XML-based and JSON-based start menu customization. For more information, check out our official blog post on how to deploy a custom start menu layout using PowerShell and XML, linked in the description below.