start menu customization

Start menu customization in Windows 11 has become a major focus for Microsoft, especially in Insider preview builds from 2026. Recent updates, such as Build 26300.8553, introduce controls to hide sections like Pinned, Recommended, and All apps, resize the menu, and improve privacy by concealing account identity. These changes reflect a shift from a rigid design to a more configurable surface, addressing long-standing user complaints. The tag covers threads discussing these new toggles, size presets, and privacy options, as well as existing customization through Settings > Personalization > Start. The overarching theme is Microsoft's gradual concession that the Start menu should be user-adjustable rather than a fixed expression of company priorities.