Power User Tasks Menu (Win + X) - Edit in Windows 8

How to Edit Win+X "Power User Tasks Menu" in Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

This will show you how to add and remove shortcuts and groups to the Power User Tasks Menu using the easy to use Win + X Editor program for only your user account in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.

Thank you to our member hb860 (aka: Happy Bulldozer) for creating the free Win + X Menu Editor program.

   Note

With "Win+X Menu Editor" you are able:

• to add new items (shortcuts and groups).
• to remove any item in Win+X menu.
• to rename any shortcut in Win+X menu. (right click or F2)
• to reorder Win+X menu items.

   Note

In Windows 8.1, a Shut Down menu has been added to the Power User Tasks Menu that can include the Sleep, Hibernate, Shut down, and Restart options.

If you shut down from the WIN+X menu in Windows 8.1, it will perform a full shut down even if you have Fast Startup turned on.

EXAMPLE: Power User Tasks Menu

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Here's How:

1. Click on the Download button below, and download the WinXMenuEditorRelease.zip file for the free Win + X Menu Editor program, and save it to you desktop.
NOTE: When you click on the download button below to go to the winaero.com site, be sure to click on the gray download button at the bottom of the progams's description, but above the Comments section.

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2. Extract (drag and drop) either the x64 or x86 folder that is the same as your 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) Windows 8 to your desktop.
NOTE: Be sure to only extract the one that is the same for your Windows 8, or it will not work properly.

3. Open the extracted x64 or x86 folder, and run the WinXEditor.exe file.

   Note

This is a standalone exe file that only runs, and does not install on your computer.

If you like, you could move the x64 or x86 folder to where you like, create a shortcut of the WinXEditor.exe file, then with this shortcut Pin to Taskbar on desktop, Pin to Start screen, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.

4. You can now edit your Power User Tasks Menu to how you like with the free Win + X Menu Editor program.
NOTE: If you like, see the demo video below for more on how to use Win + X Editor.

5. When finished making the changes you want, click/tap on the Restart Explorer button to apply them.
NOTE: You can click/tap on the Restore Defaults button at the top left corner, click/tap and on Yes when prompted to restore the Power User Tasks Menu back to default.

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Related Tutorials

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• How to Open the Win+X "Power User Tasks Menu" in Windows 8 and 8.1
• Show Command Prompt or PowerShell in Win+X Power User Tasks Menu in Windows 8.1
• How to Add a "Power" Cascading Desktop Context Menu in Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[whs]

Nice, thanks Shawn. I made it my own 'manual' way. Copied the shortcuts I wanted from the Group1 and Group2 folders into my own folder, added a few (e.g. Resource Monitor) and added that folder to my toolbar folder and also made a tile in Start. Works too.

 

[Brink]

Nar, thanks goes to our member hb860 (aka: Happy Bulldozer) for creating the free Win + X Editor program.

 

[hb860]

Thanks for nice tutorial

 

[Brink]

You're welcome HB, and thank you for creating the program.

 

[SIW2]

I can't see a link to Happy's website to download the program.

Maybe my eyesight is off today.

 

[Brink]

Hello Simon,

The blue Download button under step 2 is the link to his site for the program.

 

[SIW2]

Thanks - wasn't clear to me - because I didn't read it properly

 

[Brink]

LOL, no problem mate.

 

[SIW2]

Thanks moinmoin- nice idea.

I don't know why people would want to use winX.

You can get all that and more from the startmenu7 - or Classic Shell programs.

 

[hb860]

Hello. Please update Win+X Menu Editor if you are user of this tool. The latest version is 1.0.0.1 and it has full support of Windows 8 Release Preview. Also i have included VC++ libraries so VC++ redistribution package is not nessesary requirement anymore.

 

[Brink]

Hello HB,

Thank you for the update. Tutorial updated.

 

[DuanZu]

Thank you for nice tut

 

[Brink]

You're welcome DuanZu, and welcome to Eight Forums.

 

[stranger87]

I can't download the lastest version (1.0.0.2) from winaero.com. Anybody can help me, please?

 

[hb860]

Can you tell me why you can't donwload?
Anyway I will upload it for you somewhere else.

 

[Brink]

I can't download the lastest version (1.0.0.2) from winaero.com. Anybody can help me, please?

Hello Stranger, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Did you click on the gray download button at the bottom of the progams's description and above the Comments section at the winaero.com site?

 

[lmod]

I'd like to add a shortcut to "Devices & Printers" but I haven't had any luck finding the file needed for the shortcut. I wonder if this function is hard-coded into the main Control Panel file? Appreciate a pointer to the file if it exists as a separate file. Running W8 Pro RTM.

 

[Brink]

Hello lmod,

You should be able to create a "Devices and Printers" shortcut using the tutorial below from Windows 7, then see if you may be able to select the shortcut to add to the Win+X menu.

Devices and Printers Shortcut - Create - Windows 7 Forums

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[lmod]

Thanks, Shawn. That worked, and still works after I deleted the shortcut from the desktop and rebooted