The transformation of the Windows Start menu over three decades mirrors the changing relationship between users and their PCs, with each redesign becoming a focal point for both praise and controversy. With Windows 11’s upcoming 24H2 release, Microsoft is once again drawing a line in the sand—boldly reimagining how users access and organize their applications. In this feature, we dive deep into the nuances of the new Start menu, examining not only its technical underpinnings and most visible innovations, but also the trade-offs and potential pitfalls that every enthusiast, power user, and developer will need to consider as Windows’ aesthetic and functional heart beats anew.
Few elements in the Windows ecosystem stir as much passion as the Start menu. Since its debut in Windows 95, the Start button and its ever-evolving menu have come to symbolize accessibility, order, and personality in personal computing. The move from live tiles to a simplified grid with Windows 10, and then to Windows 11’s centered, glassy look, has always spawned debate. Microsoft’s rationale has consistently been to reduce clutter, improve performance, and surface what it perceives as “most relevant” for the user at any given moment.
With version 24H2, the Start menu is receiving a major overhaul intended to modernize and declutter—delivering a unified scrollable experience that collapses the All Apps list, Pinned apps, and Recommendations into a single page filled with intelligent, automatically sorted categories.
For example, if you uninstall all creative tools except Paint, “Creativity” disappears as a category and Paint gets swept into “Other.” If only a handful of apps are installed, almost everything collapses into that nondescript group.
However, the inability to create custom categories, adjust sorting logic, or even suppress unwanted category creation introduces new tensions, especially for power users. The lack of customization is at odds with a key tenet of Windows: user empowerment and adaptability.
Still, transparency about the logic behind these automatic classifications—and whether users will ever gain more control—remains limited. The current implementation puts Microsoft in the editorial role, and users in a passive position.
Comparative analyses with macOS Launchpad and various Linux desktop environments reveal that Windows, strangely, is now lagging in this area of desktop personalization. Both of those platforms offer a greater degree of custom organization—via folders, drag-and-drop, or entire rearrangements—without requiring deep registry or third-party intervention.
For now, however, there is no official mechanism for arranging apps into new categories, nor any registry hack or Group Policy workaround that provides full control over the new system. Users seeking to customize beyond Microsoft’s scheme must look for third-party Start menu replacements, which carry their own compatibility and security risks.
For power users, creative professionals, and those who rely on granular organization, there is reason for caution. Microsoft's current refusal to allow custom categories leaves an obvious aspirational goal for future updates, but also a glaring gap in personalization right now. The dominance of the “Other” category—and the shifting, sometimes unpredictable, appearance of categories—may complicate workflows for those pushing Windows to its limits.
Best Practices for Adapting to the New Start Menu:
Yet the nostalgia-driven, customization-loving core of the Windows community is left wanting. The inability to curate, create, or control categories is a regression in a system that historically prized flexibility. As with so many facets of Windows development, the pendulum may yet swing back—for now, though, users must adapt to a Start menu that gives with one hand even as it takes with the other.
With Microsoft signaling openness to future change, the conversation is far from over. If you value both the spirit and substance of personalization, continue to make your voice heard—because, in the world of Windows, few things are as powerful as user feedback when it comes to shaping what gets its place front and center.
Source: Windows Latest Windows 11 new Start menu won't let you create new Categories, clubs apps as "Other"
Few elements in the Windows ecosystem stir as much passion as the Start menu. Since its debut in Windows 95, the Start button and its ever-evolving menu have come to symbolize accessibility, order, and personality in personal computing. The move from live tiles to a simplified grid with Windows 10, and then to Windows 11’s centered, glassy look, has always spawned debate. Microsoft’s rationale has consistently been to reduce clutter, improve performance, and surface what it perceives as “most relevant” for the user at any given moment.With version 24H2, the Start menu is receiving a major overhaul intended to modernize and declutter—delivering a unified scrollable experience that collapses the All Apps list, Pinned apps, and Recommendations into a single page filled with intelligent, automatically sorted categories.
New Features: Categorization and a True All-in-One Page
Unlike the old Start menu—which maintained a wall between “Pinned,” “All Apps,” and “Recommended”—the new Start menu in Windows 11 24H2 offers a more dynamic, space-efficient design. Everything the user might need is visible at once, with installed apps grouped into categories.The Predefined Categories
Surpassing mere alphabetical sorting, the new system creates categories such as:- Utilities and Tools: Core system utilities like Settings, Clock, Calculator.
- Productivity: Browsers, AI apps (such as Copilot and ChatGPT), File Explorer, Notepad, Outlook.
- Games: The Xbox app, installed or bundled games like Solitaire.
- Social: Messaging apps including Telegram, Signal, WhatsApp.
- Entertainment: Media apps such as Windows Media Player, Netflix, Prime Video, Apple Music.
- Creativity: Tools like Paint, Camera, and Photos.
- Information & Reading: Apps like Weather, MSN, Maps.
- Other: A catch-all for anything the system cannot cleanly classify.
No Custom Categories—for Now
One of the most contentious aspects of this rollout, confirmed by both Microsoft and secondary reporting, is the inability for users to create their own custom categories. Unlike grouping or folder creation in previous versions, users must accept and use Microsoft's automatically generated buckets. If an app—or group of apps—does not fit one of these predetermined labels, it lands in the “Other” category, which can quickly become a junk drawer.For example, if you uninstall all creative tools except Paint, “Creativity” disappears as a category and Paint gets swept into “Other.” If only a handful of apps are installed, almost everything collapses into that nondescript group.
Category Visibility Rules
Another subtle but crucial detail: categories only appear if at least three apps are present in that group. This approach keeps the menu compact but can lead to confusion. Apps you're accustomed to finding under “Creativity” or “Utilities” may suddenly vanish from those tabs with the removal of a few related apps, further emphasizing Microsoft’s push for automation over manual curation.User Experience: Both Streamlined and Frustrating
Microsoft’s approach aims to modernize the Start menu, solving longstanding issues like the separation of “All Apps” and “Pinned.” Now, browsing through your installed software is a single seamless scroll—no more clunky transitions or redundant clicks. For casual users, this will likely deliver the promised “everything you need at a glance” benefit.However, the inability to create custom categories, adjust sorting logic, or even suppress unwanted category creation introduces new tensions, especially for power users. The lack of customization is at odds with a key tenet of Windows: user empowerment and adaptability.
Tech Details and Privacy: Local, Not Cloud-Based
Security-conscious users will appreciate that app categorization happens entirely on-device, with a locally maintained JSON file dictating which apps fall into which category. Microsoft’s insistence that none of this information leaves the user’s machine is notable—especially given the recent industry scrutiny on cloud data collection and privacy risks. At this stage, neither installed app lists nor usage data flows to Microsoft or its AI servers as part of this process.Still, transparency about the logic behind these automatic classifications—and whether users will ever gain more control—remains limited. The current implementation puts Microsoft in the editorial role, and users in a passive position.
Strengths: Cleaner Interface and Device Privacy
This new Start menu’s most significant victory is its cleanliness. Large-screen users, in particular, benefit from a design that finally makes full use of available space, letting the sheer number of installed apps breathe. The elimination of the “Recommended” feed, previously maligned for mixing app suggestions with recent files in a distracting way, declutters the experience and lets users focus on launching core tools without unnecessary noise.- Streamlined Access: All navigation happens in a single view. No more bouncing between tabs or buried lists.
- Better for Large Devices: Tablets and 2-in-1s with touch interfaces feel less cramped and more modern.
- No Cloud Transmission: The guarantee that categorization happens locally protects sensitive information about app usage, addressing a frequent privacy worry in today’s cloud-first digital landscape.
Weaknesses: A Step Back in Personalization
Yet the new Start menu’s relentless automation becomes a double-edged sword when viewed through the eyes of longtime Windows insiders and professionals.- No Custom Categories: A major feature for power users, small businesses, and those who build their workflow around quick-access personalized groupings is now gone. The rigidity of the system hearkens back to early Windows 8 days, where user pushback eventually forced Microsoft to add greater customization.
- Category Instability: Since a category requires at least three apps to show, rapid changes in what's available may cause important categories to disappear unexpectedly, potentially leading to confusion and wasted time.
- “Other” Category Creep: The more you pare down pre-installed or bundled apps, the more your essentials get dumped into “Other”—diluting the intended benefits of sorting altogether.
Critical Reception and Industry Context
Technology journalists and community members are divided. Usability testers have commended the decluttered, aesthetic approach, stating that new users benefit from a “friendlier,” less intimidating interface. However, Windows power users, IT pros, and accessibility advocates are voicing concerns about the outright removal of control. Several tech forums, including WindowsForum.com, have already seen active threads where users decry the “one-size-fits-all” mentality and request the return of folder creation or user-driven customization.Comparative analyses with macOS Launchpad and various Linux desktop environments reveal that Windows, strangely, is now lagging in this area of desktop personalization. Both of those platforms offer a greater degree of custom organization—via folders, drag-and-drop, or entire rearrangements—without requiring deep registry or third-party intervention.
Accessibility and Workflow Impacts
For users with accessibility needs or those who adopt unconventional workflows, forced automation may hinder rather than help. Voice-control and screen-reader interactions, for example, benefit from predictable, user-defined layouts. A system controlled exclusively by algorithmic guessing can make app locations volatile, adding friction for those who rely on muscle memory or assistive technology. Microsoft has not yet detailed how these changes will be optimized for accessibility, beyond stating that “all apps will remain discoverable.”The Future: Will Custom Categories Make a Return?
Microsoft has stopped short of ruling out future customization—indeed, there are hints within development notes and leaks that user-driven categories or at least nameable folders might return in later builds (possibly as part of the 25H2 development cycle). The company often relies on user feedback, collected through insider builds and feedback hubs, to refine its interface decisions. Historically, vocal community advocacy has been successful in forcing reversals or reintroductions of beloved features.For now, however, there is no official mechanism for arranging apps into new categories, nor any registry hack or Group Policy workaround that provides full control over the new system. Users seeking to customize beyond Microsoft’s scheme must look for third-party Start menu replacements, which carry their own compatibility and security risks.
What Happens Next: Rollout and Availability
This redesigned Start menu will soon roll out to all users with the Windows 11 24H2 update and will ship by default with future builds, including version 25H2. Early previews, as well as widespread testing in the Windows Insider program, reveal that the new Start menu is stable and visually consistent—though the long-term impact of its design decisions will become clearer only after a few months of everyday use in the wild.Key Takeaways and Recommendations
For most mainstream and casual users, Windows 11’s new Start menu represents a win: a streamlined, focused, and privacy-respecting way to jump into daily tasks. The removal of clutter and the local-only categorization engine solve several persistent gripes, particularly around privacy and performance.For power users, creative professionals, and those who rely on granular organization, there is reason for caution. Microsoft's current refusal to allow custom categories leaves an obvious aspirational goal for future updates, but also a glaring gap in personalization right now. The dominance of the “Other” category—and the shifting, sometimes unpredictable, appearance of categories—may complicate workflows for those pushing Windows to its limits.
Best Practices for Adapting to the New Start Menu:
- Familiarize yourself with the new categories and how your most-used apps are distributed across them.
- Monitor for loss of categories as you uninstall apps, to avoid confusion.
- Consider whether third-party menu replacements are worth their trade-offs if you absolutely require deep customization.
- Stay engaged with the Windows Insider feedback program; collective advocacy has shifted Microsoft’s UX direction before.
Conclusion: Modernization with Measured Trade-Offs
Windows 11’s new Start menu encapsulates Microsoft’s current philosophy: automated intelligence, clean design, and secure, privacy-conscious local computation take precedence. For most users, these improvements outweigh the limitations—especially given the widespread negative feedback the “Recommended” feed and previous menu layouts generated.Yet the nostalgia-driven, customization-loving core of the Windows community is left wanting. The inability to curate, create, or control categories is a regression in a system that historically prized flexibility. As with so many facets of Windows development, the pendulum may yet swing back—for now, though, users must adapt to a Start menu that gives with one hand even as it takes with the other.
With Microsoft signaling openness to future change, the conversation is far from over. If you value both the spirit and substance of personalization, continue to make your voice heard—because, in the world of Windows, few things are as powerful as user feedback when it comes to shaping what gets its place front and center.
Source: Windows Latest Windows 11 new Start menu won't let you create new Categories, clubs apps as "Other"