ReStart v1.8.2

Fixed

• Fixed Download update and Restart and update being disabled when an older ReStart installation opens a layout saved by a newer version or with a newer layout format.
• Protected layouts remain unchanged while the portable application updates. Ordinary layout save errors still stop the restart so unsaved changes are not silently discarded.
• Updates settings now explain when the saved layout is read-only, instead of incorrectly suggesting that the portable package is incomplete.

Download

Choose ReStart-win-x64.zip for most Windows PCs, or ReStart-win-arm64.zip for Windows on ARM. Extract the complete ZIP and run ReStart.exe. SHA-256 checksum files are included.

Existing complete portable installations can use Settings → Updates → Check for updates → Download update → Restart and update. If an older version has already disabled its update button because of a protected layout, exit ReStart through the tray menu and replace the complete extracted portable installation once. Your layout and settings are stored separately and do not need to be reset.

ReStart v1.8.1

ReStart 1.8.1 makes arranging a full-screen Start layout smoother and brings the default group and folder gestures closer to Windows 10.

Highlights

• Smoother movement: pointer previews and edge scrolling follow display frames. Tiles and groups ease toward new positions and continue from their visible position when you change direction.
• Stable occupied-slot moves: internal rearrangement reuses the space you release when displaced tiles fit. Half-cell previews no longer briefly widen a group and push unrelated groups away. Normal dragging, selected tiles and open folders share the same planning operations.
• Native-style defaults: dropping into empty space creates an unnamed group. Hold one tile over another until the folder preview is ready to create a folder or add to one.
• More control while dragging: hold Shift to rearrange without creating or entering folders. Hold Alt to place independently in empty space. Enable Use free tile placement in settings to keep independent placement as your default; optional overlap grouping remains available in that mode.
• Shortcut guidance: tile drags show an optional Alt/Shift toast that fades out after five seconds. Press F1, or use Settings → Start behavior → Keyboard shortcuts, for the localized reference.
• Reliable update confirmation: an update acknowledged immediately before the replacement process exits no longer risks an unnecessary rollback.
• Live tile boundaries: explicit external-protocol blocking supplements the existing WebView2 restrictions, with new tests for dynamic compilation, Node/CLR access, local files and networking without permission.
• Theme-matched media: website screenshots, full-size image links, posters and paired one-minute videos follow light/dark selection. Video theme changes preserve playback position.
• Refreshed guidance: updated documentation, all eight READMEs, screenshots and the 60-second English demo cover the controls. GitHub Discussions now hosts usage questions, ideas and community showcases.

Existing layouts

Your saved tiles, independent entries, folder contents, sizes and positions are retained. No layout reset is required. New empty-space drops and new pins follow the selected placement mode. Layout undo/redo remains available during the running session.

Download

Choose ReStart-win-x64.zip for Intel/AMD PCs or ReStart-win-arm64.zip for Windows on ARM. Extract the entire ZIP and keep its supporting folders beside ReStart.exe. Both packages include the .NET runtime. SHA-256 files accompany the ZIPs.

Existing portable installations can use Settings → Updates → Download update, followed by Restart and update after preparation and verification. See the update guide for requirements and manual replacement.

Demo

Dark theme MP4 · Light theme MP4. Both show the same one-minute demonstration in English.

ReStart v1.7.1

This patch keeps update decisions inside ReStart and fixes the startup splash position.

• Startup notices now offer Review update, opening Settings → Updates with the available version, release notes and Download update. Windows notifications open the same screen.
• Opening the update screen reuses an existing Settings window and keeps unsaved changes. Downloading and restarting still require explicit choices.
• The startup splash is centered using its actual displayed size and stays centered when its content height changes.
• Updated the notification text in all eight supported languages and made the download action easier to find.

Download the complete x64 or ARM64 ZIP below and extract all files. Existing complete portable installations can update through Settings → Updates. Saved layouts, tile packages and local settings are retained.

ReStart v1.7.0

Try your settings before committing to them, and keep downloaded updates within reach.

Settings preview

• Preview appearance, wallpaper, tile scale, group width and language before saving.
• Change language while Settings is open; the current section and draft remain available.
• Closing with unsaved changes offers Save and close, Discard and close, or Keep editing. Discard restores the saved appearance, tile sizing and language. Save failures keep the editor open.
• Preview values stay separate from saved preferences and Windows integration. Unrelated layout saves cannot capture them.

Prepared update reminders

• An explicit download continues after Settings closes. When ready, ReStart shows a restart notice; Not now keeps a smaller persistent reminder.
• An installation-specific preparation is restored on the next launch after checking inventories, version, architecture and payload/helper hashes again.
• A normal launch does not install an update automatically. Choose Restart and update and confirm; unsaved settings are resolved first.
• Handle invalid or modified update preparation without crashing.

Documentation and downloads

The eight UI languages and READMEs, canonical English guides and website are updated. Download the complete x64 or ARM64 ZIP below, or use Settings → Updates in an eligible portable installation. SHA-256 checksum files accompany both ZIPs. Existing pins and saved preferences are retained.

ReStart v1.6.1

A small update for clearer pinned-home navigation and more flexible backgrounds.

Fixed

• Align the empty-home Create a group and pin apps action with the Pinned tiles navigation row, including translated labels and different tile scales.
• Return directly to the pinned home screen after Finish selecting or clicking Pinned tiles, without an All apps detour. Drag navigation still preserves the active selection.

Improved

• Background tint now ranges from 10–100%.
• Add an independent Wallpaper blur control from 0–50. Choose 0 for a sharp background. The default blur is reduced from the previous fixed value of 35 to 12; existing tint settings are preserved.
• Localize the new setting in all eight supported languages. High contrast takes precedence, and foreground controls remain sharp.

Download or update

Use Settings → Updates in a writable ReStart 1.6.0 portable installation to check, download and restart into this update. You can also download the x64 or ARM64 ZIP below and extract the complete package into a new folder. Your saved pins and preferences remain in the local ReStart settings folder.

SHA-256 checksum files are attached alongside both ZIPs.

ReStart v1.6.0

Added

• Guided portable updates: choose Download update, review the verified package, then Restart and update. Update checks remain API-key-free, and downloads and installation always require your action.
• About → Diagnostic information previews a report before you copy it. The report contains only versions, presentation mode, update status and classified error categories. It excludes names, local paths, app inventories, tile data, credentials and raw logs; nothing is uploaded automatically.

Reliability

• Verify package checksums, distribution inventories, individual file hashes, app versions and executable architecture before installation.
• Preserve saved settings and unrelated local files. Failed installation or candidate startup restores the previous distribution; interrupted transactions retain recovery information.
• Keep recovery prompts in the selected language and palette, and diagnostic feedback readable in narrow windows.
• Update all eight UI languages and READMEs, support instructions and website guidance.

Upgrading

If you are using v1.5.2 or earlier, exit ReStart and replace the complete portable package with this release. Keep TileHost, Examples, third-party and the new ReStart-package.json beside ReStart.exe.

The guided updater is available for subsequent updates from a complete, unmodified v1.6.0 package in a writable folder. Developer builds and older packages can still be updated manually. Local settings remain separate from the installation.

Download the x64 ZIP for Intel/AMD Windows PCs, or ARM64 for Windows on ARM. SHA-256 sidecars are included for both packages.

ReStart v1.5.2

This patch improves monitor sizing and live tile recovery after display changes.

Fixed

• Keep the launcher within the target monitor's physical working area when moving between displays with different DPI settings. WPF's suggested scaled window size no longer overrides the requested full-screen dimensions.
• Automatically recreate live tile browser surfaces after display/DPI changes, avoiding stale blank presentations that needed a manual Reload. Preserve tile JSON state, queued clicks, data connections, layout and permissions, and ignore replies from replaced browsers. Recovery waits until an active drag or inline rename finishes.

Developer updates

• Add an explicit visible-window platform check alongside the default hidden fixture. Both use fictional apps, isolated settings and the production monitor-placement helper.
• Add an isolated interactive fixture for keyboard and screen-reader checks.
• Update all eight READMEs and the website with measured two-display coverage at 100%, 125% and 150% scaling, including a portrait/landscape combination.
• Record basic Narrator announcements checked through Speech recap.
• Add 55 hidden browser recovery checks, including in-flight renders, notification bursts, dragging and inline renaming. The full live tile/Tile Studio suite passes 10,357 checks.

ReStart v1.5.1

ReStart 1.5.1 improves first-run and reset layouts while preserving existing saved pins.

Changes

• Select familiar installed apps by role using stable app identities and exact translated names. Avoid helpers, installers and unrelated substring matches, and deduplicate app identities and launch targets.
• Fill sparse initial groups to at least six tiles with distinct offline bundled examples. Weather, feeds and other connections are not configured automatically. This applies only to first launch and an explicitly confirmed layout reset.
• Add repeatable native platform checks for connected-monitor working areas, Windows/WPF DPI agreement and accessibility providers in eight languages and both themes, using fictional apps and a hidden host.
• Update all eight READMEs, the website and developer/testing documentation with initial-layout behavior and measured platform coverage.

Updating

Exit ReStart from the tray, extract the complete ZIP and replace the previous application files. Keep the supporting folders beside ReStart.exe. Local settings and saved layouts remain separate from the installation; updating does not reset your pins.

Choose win-x64 for most Intel/AMD PCs or win-arm64 for Windows on ARM. SHA-256 sidecars are included for both ZIPs. No separate .NET installation is required.

ReStart v1.5.0

Build something for your Start. ReStart 1.5.0 brings full web live tiles, a built-in editor and more control over your layout.

Create your own live tiles

• Use HTML, CSS and browser JavaScript, with SVG, Canvas, transparent backgrounds and four responsive tile sizes.
• Start from 19 editable examples, including Weather scene, System dashboard, News board and Canvas garden.
• Tile Studio includes theme-aware syntax highlighting, all four size previews, offline sample input, click testing, Tab/Shift+Tab indentation and offline Format document / Ctrl+Shift+F. Formatting is one undoable edit.
• News stories can scroll inside their own tile without scrolling the launcher. Live tile names can be hidden; they start enabled.
• The Orbit clock updates its hands from PC time between host refreshes.

Keep your layout under control

• Lock the whole layout or individual groups. Ctrl+Shift+L switches the global lock.
• Use Ctrl+E to select tiles, Ctrl+Arrow to move them, Ctrl+Shift+Arrow to move their group and Alt+1–4 to resize.
• Ordinary drops preview displaced tiles and groups before committing. Cancel to restore the original positions.
• A translucent copy of the tile, group or selection follows your pointer while the original is dimmed and the destination stays highlighted.
• Closed folders show consistent small-size live previews. Opening, closing and moving tiles preserve state and avoid reloading unrelated browser views.
• Folder icons fit their cells at different scales, including small tiles. Windows account pictures prefer the available high-resolution source.

Make Start yours

• Choose an image for ReStart independently of the desktop wallpaper.
• New and reset layouts use the bundled Month dots and Orbit clock.
• Optional startup update checks show a dismissible notice when a newer release is available. Updates still install manually, without an API key.
• Deleting app data while ReStart is running no longer silently recreates the removed settings or tile sources.

Download and update

Choose ReStart-win-x64.zip for Intel/AMD PCs or ReStart-win-arm64.zip for Windows on ARM. Extract the entire ZIP. Companion SHA-256 files are attached, along with the 60-second English product demonstration.

Close ReStart before replacing the complete extracted application package. Your layout and settings remain in the separate local app-data directory. HTML tiles require the Microsoft WebView2 Runtime; no separate .NET installation is needed for the portable builds.

Existing native JavaScript packages remain supported. Installed tile packages are editable copies and are not overwritten by an application update. Add a fresh bundled tile to try an updated example, or apply the desired changes to your installed copy.

ReStart v1.4.0

ReStart 1.4.0 expands Start search, native app commands and navigation, with individual switches for the behavior you want.

New

• Search beyond apps. Find fifteen localized Windows settings pages and local filenames already indexed by Windows. App results appear immediately; delayed file results preserve your selection. Either provider can be disabled.
• Choose how apps launch. Configure additional arguments, a working directory and administrator execution per desktop tile. Windows handles elevation consent. Available app menus can also show Recent/Frequent documents, respecting Windows history settings.
• Make the sidebar yours. Enable hover expansion and choose Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, Videos, Network or your personal folder. Recently added is optional; Most used is opt-in and keeps clearable activity locally.
• Control interaction feedback. Toggle drag hints, dwell progress, edge scrolling, automatic grouping/folder creation, group hover boundaries and tile hover highlighting independently. Tile press and folder reveal motion respect animation/accessibility settings.

Fixes

• Sidebar glyphs keep the same size and position when navigation expands.
• Select tiles now lives in the sidebar and background context menu, with Ctrl+E still available. Its eight-language wording explains multi-selection; normal tile/group dragging remains available at all times.
• Group deletion, layout import/reset and power confirmations follow the app theme, with localized Yes/No actions and No as the keyboard default.
• Expanded folders now reserve the width actually occupied by their contents, so a neighboring group outside that footprint stays in place.
• Search keeps the highlighted result consistent with Enter and arrow-key actions when asynchronous results arrive.
• Local app history stays separate from alphabetical folder navigation.
• Native launch actions handle declined elevation and preserve shortcut arguments and working directories.

Documentation and maintenance

• README guides are available in English, German, Spanish, French, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese. Translated guides are marked as AI-assisted and link to the English source. Reference documentation, repository policies and portable-package guidance use English consistently.
• Full-screen English screenshots and animation show real application icons, ordinary app tiles, folders and live tiles using isolated demonstration data.
• Language selectors are centered in every README; launcher images and animation reflect the current sidebar and selection controls.
• Source and tests are organized by responsibility, with checks for API documentation, project dependencies, README links and private data.

Download and update

• Intel/AMD Windows PCs: ReStart-win-x64.zip
• Windows on ARM: ReStart-win-arm64.zip
• Each ZIP has a matching .sha256 file for integrity verification.

Exit ReStart, extract the entire ZIP and replace the complete installation, keeping TileHost, Examples and third-party beside ReStart.exe. Settings and layouts remain in the local application-data folder, with upgrade backups. Update startup/Explorer registration if you move the executable. No separate .NET installation is required.

The release is checked with 285 automated tests, Windows native interaction fixtures and clean x64/ARM64 packages. ARM64 packages are cross-built; physical ARM64 testing remains separate.

Full changelog: v1.3.1...v1.4.0