Replace the Start Menu with Raycast

Raycast is the fastest interface to get work done on your computer: a launcher where you can find apps, files, folders, windows, links, commands, AI, snippets, and more from one place.

If you already use the Win Key to launch apps or search for files from the Start Menu, you can keep that same muscle memory and do this with Raycast instead.

What Can Raycast Do That the Start Menu Does?

Start Menu features available directly in Raycast include:

• Launch apps, including games from your installed game launchers.
• Search files and folders from the main search bar, or use File Search for more advanced options.
• Open Control Panel items and Windows Settings.
• Trigger System Commands directly, like locking your screen, sleeping, restarting, shutting down, emptying the Recycle Bin, or toggling Wi-Fi.
• Keep frequent apps close with favorites, aliases, or hotkeys.
• Uninstall apps or run them as administrator where supported.
• Find apps by name or executable, including .exe names where indexed.
• Navigate, search, and act from the keyboard.

Give It a Go!

To try it, set Win Key as your Raycast hotkey during onboarding or go to Settings -> General -> Raycast Hotkey and select Replace Start Menu. You can always change this shortcut later.

Changing the Win Key does not remove the Start Menu. It only changes what happens when you press the Win Key on your keyboard. You can still open the Start Menu from the Windows icon in the taskbar at any time.

If you use the Win Key to glance at the taskbar, you can keep that too. In Settings -> General, enable Show taskbar when Raycast opens so the taskbar appears with Raycast for a quick glance at the time, system tray, battery status, notifications, widgets, and other Windows controls.

Raycast can do much more than replace the Start Menu, and a big part of the fun of Raycast is discovering everything it can do, one small time-saver at a time. Our Manual and Quickstart guide are designed to help you on this journey.