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 enthusiasts, the state of the Start Menu in modern Windows has often been a subject for debate, experimentation, and, at times, frustration. This tension between tradition and innovation is at the core of today’s vibrant user interface modding scene, where projects like the community-driven Windows 25 mod have sparked fresh interest in customizing the Windows environment—sometimes even outshining Microsoft’s own efforts. Yet now, with a major Start Menu redesign rolling out for Windows 11, the balance could be tipping back in Microsoft’s favor, raising big questions about what the “best” Windows Start Menu should look and feel like.
For Windows enthusiasts who crave control over every aspect of their UI, Windows 25 offers more than just a fresh coat of paint. Built on the backbone of powerful tools like Windhawk and StartAllBack, this mod delivers a Start Menu experience that walks the fine line between nostalgia and modernism.
Crucially, Microsoft opted for restraint and user familiarity over flashy innovation—a tacit acknowledgment of just how iconic and emotionally resonant the Start Menu has become. By fuzzing the line between traditional and modern, the new Start Menu aims to win back users who’ve felt alienated by previous overhauls.
The energetic mod scene—fed by tools like Windhawk and projects like Windows 25—demonstrates how deeply many users care about not just the function, but the form of their digital environments. Social media platforms and design forums overflow with mock-ups, wishlists, and conceptual redesigns. The Start Menu stands as a canvas where Microsoft’s vision and the community’s creativity intersect—and sometimes clash.
At the same time, Microsoft’s new openness to user feedback (as evidenced by the major Windows 11 Start Menu update) signals that the company recognizes the stakes. The downside, of course, is the latent tension: any update to the “official” menu could inadvertently break beloved tools, reigniting the cat-and-mouse dynamic between the UI modding community and Microsoft’s engineering team.
Either way, the flurry of activity around both the modding scene and Microsoft’s own design labs shows that the Start Menu—far from being a solved problem—remains a living, evolving part of what makes Windows unique. It’s a stage on which both community ingenuity and corporate stewardship play out, often in direct dialogue with each other.
In the coming months, as Microsoft’s refreshed menu arrives on desktops worldwide and modders respond in kind, Windows users stand to benefit most—empowered by real choice, genuine innovation, and the ongoing reinvention of what the Start Menu can be. For now, whichever menu you launch every morning, one thing is certain: the spirit of Windows, and the freedom it represents, is alive and well—one click at a time.
Source: Pocket-lint https://www.pocket-lint.com/microsoft-tempting-me-to-revert-back-to-windows-11/
The Allure of the Windows 25 Start Menu: A Community-Crafted Alternative
For Windows enthusiasts who crave control over every aspect of their UI, Windows 25 offers more than just a fresh coat of paint. Built on the backbone of powerful tools like Windhawk and StartAllBack, this mod delivers a Start Menu experience that walks the fine line between nostalgia and modernism.Design Philosophy: Blending Familiarity and Freshness
One of the hallmarks of Windows 25 is its uniquely clean take on the Start Menu. For many, the design is reminiscent of Windows 10's menu but refined with contemporary sensibilities:- System Shortcuts Moved to the Left: Unlike the native Windows 11 Start Menu, which clusters system shortcuts awkwardly, Windows 25 repositions them on the left. This change makes these essential functions easier to find and more ergonomically accessible.
- Subtle Backplate Under Pinned Apps: The mod introduces a subtle translucent backplate, lending visual coherence to pinned icons and folders without cluttering the interface.
- Live Tiles Inspiration: While Windows 10’s Live Tiles were often maligned for their inconsistent execution, their spirit lives on here—in the form of neatly organized, symmetrical layouts and clean edges.
Functionality: Prioritizing User Choice
The Windows 25 Start Menu doesn’t stop at esthetics. Critical usability improvements set it apart:- Recommended Content on Demand: Unlike the Windows 11 Start Menu, which overtly surfaces recommended files and apps—sometimes to the detriment of user privacy or focus—Windows 25 tucks these suggestions away behind a sub-menu. Users see them only when they choose to, creating a cleaner, more distraction-free experience.
- Flexible Customization: With deep integration into Windhawk and StartAllBack, users can fine-tune nearly every pixel. Want a hybrid look between Windows 7 and Windows 10? It’s possible. Prefer a minimalist, icon-forward design? Also within reach.
Stability and Performance: Surprisingly Robust
Despite being a mod reliant on community tooling, Windows 25 has shown surprising stability and performance. Users, including the author of the Pocket-lint feature, have reported smooth operation on a variety of hardware configurations—including the Surface Laptop 3—since day one. There are only minor caveats: some design tweaks might not appeal to all, and, as with any mod, future Windows updates could risk breaking compatibility.Microsoft Responds: The Promised Windows 11 Start Menu Redesign
Just as community mods like Windows 25 have reached a new height of polish and popularity, Microsoft is fighting back with a substantial Start Menu revamp for Windows 11. Announced alongside the latest batch of Surface hardware and detailed in a dedicated Microsoft Design blog post, the forthcoming redesign aims to address years of user feedback while positioning Windows 11 more competitively against both its predecessors and its contemporaries—particularly macOS and third-party UI mods.Key Features: Aiming for Function and Flexibility
New details and verified previews from Microsoft highlight several headline features:- Space Optimization and Streamlining: The revised menu makes far better use of available space, reducing redundancy and maximizing the number of visible apps and shortcuts at a glance.
- Remove Recommendation Section: Users gain the option to entirely eliminate the “Recommended” section—a frequent pain point among Windows power users. Instead of being forced to see Microsoft’s suggestions, users can now opt for a cleaner, more self-directed experience, finally answering one of the community’s longest-standing complaints.
- Unified App Organization: The most notable shift is the unification of pinned and installed apps under a single screen. No more toggling between separate views or lists—all your apps live together, echoing the “App Library” concept that Apple popularized in iOS and macOS.
- Enhanced App Sorting and Organization: With new sorting options reminiscent of Apple’s App Library, users can group, rearrange, or search for apps more intuitively.
- Streamlined Access to Phone Link and More: The redesign also incorporates easier access to companion features like Phone Link, subtly reinforcing Windows 11’s cross-device ambitions.
Visual Notes: Evolution, Not Revolution
Unlike the radical, sometimes polarizing mock-ups circulating on Reddit and X, Microsoft’s redesign takes an evolutionary rather than revolutionary approach. Early concept images shared by the company show that various layouts were considered: some separate “Start,” “My Apps,” and “Create” into distinct tabs, while others lean into a more unified, grid-based look.Crucially, Microsoft opted for restraint and user familiarity over flashy innovation—a tacit acknowledgment of just how iconic and emotionally resonant the Start Menu has become. By fuzzing the line between traditional and modern, the new Start Menu aims to win back users who’ve felt alienated by previous overhauls.
Comparative Analysis: Modded Freedom vs. Official Integration
For anyone who’s spent time with both Windows 25 and the latest Windows 11 beta builds, the differences—and tradeoffs—between the two approaches are stark.The Strengths of Windows 25
- Customization Depth: With Windhawk and StartAllBack, nearly every aspect of the experience is within the user’s control.
- No Forced Recommendations: Microsoft’s predilection for surfacing apps and files it thinks you want can be intrusive; Windows 25 respects the user’s boundaries.
- Homage to Windows 10’s Strengths: For many, Windows 10’s menu struck a natural balance of utility and flexibility. Windows 25 leans into those strengths without baggage.
- Active Community and Iteration: As an open, community-driven project, new features, bug fixes, and visual flourishes can be delivered on a rolling basis—no waiting for a Patch Tuesday.
The Risks and Weaknesses of Windows 25
- Update Fragility: All mod users live under the shadow of Windows updates potentially breaking core functionality. Microsoft has a track record of making UI tweaks that inadvertently (or intentionally) disrupt third-party mods.
- Limited Official Support: When something goes wrong, there’s no official recourse. Users depend on the goodwill and responsiveness of the community for fixes and updates.
- Variable Aesthetic Quality: As with any open mod, not every change lands; some design tweaks may feel less coherent or less polished than Microsoft’s tightly controlled UI.
- Potential Security Gaps: Modifying UI elements at a deep level invites a host of potential security complications—not necessarily because of malicious code, but because indirect pathways into the shell could be exposed.
The Strengths of Microsoft’s Redesigned Start Menu
- System Stability and Compatibility: As part of the official OS, Microsoft’s Start Menu faces extensive QA and should (in theory) work seamlessly with every feature Windows 11 offers.
- Unified Experience: For those who want a “set-and-forget” solution—and aren’t interested in tinkering—sticking with the official Start Menu simplifies maintenance and reduces friction.
- Long-Term Forward Compatibility: Unlike community mods, built-in features are less likely to be broken by future updates.
- Polished Visuals and Cohesion: Microsoft’s design team ensures that the overall look and feel fits within the larger Fluent design language.
- New Functional Flexibility: Finally addressing user calls for more control (removing recommendations, new organization options), this redesign represents a thoughtful, user-responsive update.
The Limitations and Unresolved Issues with Microsoft’s Approach
- Slower Feature Iteration: Big changes come only at the pace of Windows releases, which can mean months (or years) between new options.
- Less Extreme Customization: While the new Start Menu is more flexible, it still can’t match the modding scene for deep, granular tweaks.
- Distrust Among Power Users: A segment of the community remains wary of Microsoft’s long-term vision, especially as it relates to ads, suggested content, or cloud integration.
The Start Menu as a Cultural Icon—and a Battleground
No other aspect of the Windows UI inspires as much passion and debate as the Start Menu. It’s a symbol of usability, nostalgia, and the core promise of the Windows PC: the ability to build your own workflow, on your own terms.The energetic mod scene—fed by tools like Windhawk and projects like Windows 25—demonstrates how deeply many users care about not just the function, but the form of their digital environments. Social media platforms and design forums overflow with mock-ups, wishlists, and conceptual redesigns. The Start Menu stands as a canvas where Microsoft’s vision and the community’s creativity intersect—and sometimes clash.
At the same time, Microsoft’s new openness to user feedback (as evidenced by the major Windows 11 Start Menu update) signals that the company recognizes the stakes. The downside, of course, is the latent tension: any update to the “official” menu could inadvertently break beloved tools, reigniting the cat-and-mouse dynamic between the UI modding community and Microsoft’s engineering team.
What’s Next? Modding, Updates, and the Future of Start
As Microsoft prepares to roll out its new Start Menu, a new phase of the UI wars looms:- Will users raised on customization stay loyal to their mods, or jump back to an official menu that finally addresses long-standing complaints?
- Can third-party tools like Windhawk and StartAllBack adapt quickly enough to inevitable breaking changes introduced by future Windows updates?
- And critically: will Microsoft continue to empower user choice, or will greater customization always live on the fringes—risking disruption with each major Windows release?
Conclusion: A Renegotiation of Power and Preference
Choosing between Windows 25’s Start Menu and Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 11 redesign is less about which menu is objectively “better” and more about which philosophy you embrace. Do you want total control, even if it means navigating a world of unofficial, occasionally unstable tweaks? Or does the appeal of a well-integrated, officially supported, and finally user-responsive Start Menu outweigh the allure of bespoke customization?Either way, the flurry of activity around both the modding scene and Microsoft’s own design labs shows that the Start Menu—far from being a solved problem—remains a living, evolving part of what makes Windows unique. It’s a stage on which both community ingenuity and corporate stewardship play out, often in direct dialogue with each other.
In the coming months, as Microsoft’s refreshed menu arrives on desktops worldwide and modders respond in kind, Windows users stand to benefit most—empowered by real choice, genuine innovation, and the ongoing reinvention of what the Start Menu can be. For now, whichever menu you launch every morning, one thing is certain: the spirit of Windows, and the freedom it represents, is alive and well—one click at a time.
Source: Pocket-lint https://www.pocket-lint.com/microsoft-tempting-me-to-revert-back-to-windows-11/
