start menu alternatives

The Windows 11 Start menu, continuing the evolution of Microsoft’s iconic interface, introduces a new organizational structure split between “Pinned” shortcuts at the top and a lower “Recommended” section. While the pinned area offers the traditional familiarity of quick-access tiles, it’s the...

The world of Windows customization has been steadily evolving, enticing both veteran enthusiasts and casual users to reimagine what their desktops can look like and how they function. For years, Rainmeter has stood as the gold standard for desktop widgets and theming; however, many novice users...

Few aspects of the Windows user interface have been as hotly debated as the Start menu, and Microsoft’s decision-making around its design has fueled passionate discussions, heated feedback, and a proliferation of third-party alternatives. With the Windows 11 redesign gathering momentum and a new...

For the millions of Windows users who rely on the Start menu as the launchpad of their computing experience, every redesign feels personal. Microsoft’s latest overhaul of the Start menu, now rolling out to Windows 11 Insiders, is perhaps the most ambitious since the launch of the OS itself. It...

The Windows desktop landscape has long been dominated by the Start menu—an iconic feature since Windows 95—serving as both a launchpad for applications and a central touchpoint for system navigation. Yet, in recent years, a new breed of power users, productivity enthusiasts, and keyboard...

The Windows Start menu has remained at the heart of the user experience since its debut in Windows 95, but its evolution has not always been universally celebrated. When Windows 11 arrived, many long-time fans bemoaned changes that seemed to favor form over function: cramped app layouts...

The refreshed Windows 11 Start Menu is rolling out its latest iteration to Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel, marking yet another chapter in Microsoft’s ongoing evolution of desktop navigation. This update, deployed as part of build 26200.5641, arrives after a period of anticipation fueled by...

For decades, Windows users have relied on the Start Menu as the beating heart of their daily workflows. From Windows 95’s iconic pop-up to Windows 10’s hybrid live tiles, this central interface has served as the default launchpad for applications, file searches, and quick system access. Yet...

Ever since the introduction of the Start Menu in 1995, Microsoft’s flagship operating system has revolved around this iconic UI element—a gateway to the heart of the Windows experience. Over the past three decades, the Start Menu has evolved, reimagined with every generation. But for many...

For years, the Windows Start menu has stood as both a symbol of user familiarity and a lightning rod for controversy. In the context of Windows 11, few issues have garnered as much user feedback—and outright frustration—as the new Start menu design and its limits on customization. From forums...

The Start menu stands at the heart of the Windows operating system, yet its evolution has not come without controversy or resistance. While Microsoft’s transition to a minimalist, widget-driven Start menu in Windows 11 strives for modern appeal and touch-friendliness, a vocal portion of the...

If there’s one thing that separates the ordinary Windows user from a digital time traveler hopping between Control Panels and system tools at the speed of light, it’s the Run dialog box. A little window with a big personality, Run has weathered decades of Windows redesigns, survived the Start...

Windows 11’s built-in Start menu has been a topic of heated debate ever since its debut. Many users have found its design clunky and restrictive, especially when compared with the layouts of previous Windows versions. With limited customization options and an overall “backward redesign” that...