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Start Menu Modifier is a lightweight tool that allows you to change the way the Start Screen looks in Windows 8.

The application enables you to make the Start Screen appear as a smaller window which doesn’t take up your entire screen. When you activate Start Menu Modifier, all the icons are displayed in one or more rows which you can scroll through to find the one you need.

Start Menu Modifier is easy to use and configure. When it runs, it resides in the system tray area which makes it also a cinch to access in case you need to change something. As far as changes go, there’s not all that much you can do.

You are able to choose the position of the menu, to either the top or bottom of the screen and even set a custom height for it. That’s a good option to have since there’s no point in a large menu window with only ten icons in it.

However, if you make the screen too short, you only get to see the username in the upper right corner or half of the icons because the application keeps the upper part of the Start Screen as a reference. Going for a smaller height value than the default one won’t do you any good. On the other hand, making the menu window higher allows you to view the icons sorted into multiple rows which does look good.

Apart from the top and bottom positions, Start Menu Modifier gives you the possibility to fill the screen as usual but leaves the Taskbar visible. Moreover, you get multiple ways in which you can toggle the start window using different combinations of keys.

In closing, if you’re a bit bored with the default Windows 8 Start Screen, then Start Menu Modifier is an app that can certainly change that.