Stardock announces Start11 v3 with Start menu widgets, taskbar grouping and layout sharing

Stardock has released a preview of Start11 v3, its Windows 11 Start menu and taskbar customization tool, introducing interactive widgets directly into customized Start menus. The update includes more than 20 widgets for calendars, system monitoring, notes, clocks, and other utilities, providing quick access without opening separate applications.

The release also introduces Taskbar Islands, which give the taskbar a rounded, dock-like appearance with support for centered and left-aligned layouts. Users can now group applications by holding Alt and dragging them together, then pin those groups as workspaces to launch multiple apps with one click. A new taskbar button provides access to recently closed applications, overflow items, and additional tools, while toolbars and visual separators offer more ways to organize the taskbar.

Start11 v3 also adds built-in sharing for customized Start menu pages, allowing users to explore layouts created by the community and browse thousands of Start button designs. The release preview is available for $8, discounted from the regular $10 price, and is also included in Stardock's Object Desktop suite.