Windows 11 Start Menu Redesign: How to Enable the New Features Now

The long-anticipated redesign of the Windows 11 Start menu marks one of the most substantial visual and functional rethinks Microsoft has made to the core Windows user experience since the platform's 2021 debut. Over four years in the making, the new Start menu is finally arriving for many users through the Windows Insider program, bringing a fresh approach that addresses common complaints, boosts customization, and refines the interface to feel more unified with the rest of Windows 11’s design language. Yet, as is often the case with Windows feature rollouts, not every user will see this change at the same time, and some may wish to enable it before Microsoft flips the switch globally.

What’s New in the Redesigned Windows 11 Start Menu?​

The new Start menu represents Microsoft’s sustained effort to reconcile user feedback with their forward-looking design vision. The most immediately noticeable change is the adoption of a unified, single-page layout. In place of disparate sections split between pinned apps, recommended files, and the all apps list, users now see a scrollable canvas that organizes everything in a cohesive visual flow.

Unified Scrollable Page​

All your pins and apps now appear on a single scrollable page, reducing the friction that previously existed when switching between sections. This streamlining is more than cosmetic; it enhances discoverability for both novice and power users by placing everything in one place and eliminating unnecessary clicks.

Customizable All Apps View​

Perhaps the second most significant improvement is the new customization options for the all apps list. Users can now toggle between three distinct presentation styles:

• List: A straightforward alphabetical listing reminiscent of classic Windows modalities.
• Grid: A visually denser, icon-focused view suitable for users who rely on quick identification.
• Category: Grouped by function or developer-specified category, helping heavy app users quickly narrow the choices.

This tri-modal list approach is a direct response to user requests for more flexible navigation in the Start menu and demonstrates Microsoft’s willingness to incorporate diverse workflows.

Hide the Recommended Section​

Arguably the most requested change is now a reality: users can finally hide the “Recommended” section from the Start menu. For years, criticisms mounted about suggested files and shortcuts taking up valuable screen space or surfacing irrelevant content. Now, from within the Start menu settings, a simple toggle lets users reclaim this area, resulting in a much cleaner and less distracting environment.

Phone Link Button​

Integrated deeply within both Windows and the broader Microsoft ecosystem, the Start menu now gains a dedicated “Phone Link” button when the new Start is active. This makes accessing device sync and cross-platform workflows even more seamless, though for some users this remains a minor footnote compared to the overall focus on menu customization.

How to Enable the Redesigned Start Menu​

Despite these exciting changes, Microsoft is sticking to its tradition of gradual feature rollouts. The redesigned Start menu is available as of this week’s Windows Insider Dev and Beta channel releases, but not all testers will receive it immediately. This rollout method—known as A/B testing or “selective enablement”—helps Microsoft gather feedback and monitor for regressions before wider deployment.

Manually Enabling the New Start Menu​

For those eager to experience the overhaul now, there’s a commonly used workaround: using the open-source ViVeTool utility. ViVeTool, a third-party tool popular among Windows enthusiasts and power users, allows feature flags in recent Windows builds to be toggled manually—effectively opting users into features Microsoft is still testing.

Step-by-Step Instructions​

• Download ViVeTool:
  Visit the ViVeTool GitHub page and download the latest release. Unzip the contents to an easily accessible folder, such as C:\Vive.
• Launch Command Prompt as Administrator:
  Press Windows + S, type “cmd”, and select “Run as Administrator”.
• Navigate to the ViVeTool Folder:
  Use the command
  cd C:\Vive
  (Adjust path as needed based on where you extracted the files.)
• Enable the Relevant Feature IDs:
  Copy and paste the following command into Command Prompt:
  vivetool /enable /id:47205210,49221331,49381526,49402389,49820095,55495322,48433719
  This bulk-enables all the known feature flags linked to the redesigned Start menu and its Phone Link button, as uncovered by community researchers and shared across platforms like X (formerly Twitter).
• Restart Your Computer:
  Changes will only take effect after a reboot.

After restarting, the new Start menu design and features should appear—provided you are on an eligible Dev or Beta channel build.
Note: If you are not already signed up for the Windows Insider Dev or Beta channels, this process will not work. You must be running an appropriate preview build, which typically means your system is opted in to receive test updates from Microsoft.

Critical Analysis: Strengths, Trade-Offs, and Potential Risks​

While the redesigned Start menu is a widely requested update, its implementation and how users are expected to activate it merit careful examination.

Strengths​

User-Driven Refinement​

Microsoft’s decision to heed persistent feedback—particularly enabling removal of the recommended section and providing multiple app list views—signals a refreshing user-centric approach. Critics will recall that when Windows 11 originally debuted, the Start menu left many power users dissatisfied, particularly those migrating from the more customizable Windows 10 experience. By offering more choice and reducing forced content (like recommendations and adware), Microsoft is recapturing some goodwill.

Aesthetic and Functional Coherence​

The single-page scrollable design harmonizes with the broader Windows 11 design theme: minimalism, clarity, and ease of use. This not only benefits aesthetic preferences but improves discoverability and speed for app launches.

Productivity Gains​

For heavy multitaskers and productivity enthusiasts, the ability to see all pins, organize apps in various layouts, and minimize visual noise collectively creates a more efficient workspace. This also lowers the learning curve for those transitioning from Windows 10 or those juggling devices in hybrid work environments.

Community Collaboration​

The prominence of third-party community involvement—including uncovering feature IDs and distributing how-to guides—demonstrates the ongoing importance of enthusiast communities in guiding and stress-testing Microsoft’s changes before global release. This crowd-sourced quality assurance adds a safety net beyond Microsoft’s in-house QA, though at the cost of some risk for bleeding-edge testers.

Potential Risks and Trade-Offs​

Stability Concerns​

Preview builds remain inherently more prone to bugs, crashes, and compatibility issues. While most users enabling these features are likely comfortable with troubleshooting, there is still risk in forcing experimental flags—especially as these can interact unpredictably with third-party apps or device drivers.
Microsoft’s disclaimer about preview builds is significant: these versions may include unfinished features, incomplete UI elements, or cause regressions. Users deploying feature flags via ViVeTool must understand that such changes can destabilize their system and, in rare cases, require a rollback or clean reinstall.

Feature Fragmentation and Confusion​

The gradual, staggered rollout of Start menu changes may produce confusion among users running the same insider build but observing different experiences. Some may interpret this as a software problem or bug, rather than as intended A/B testing. Similarly, guiding less technical users through enabling or disabling preview features risks complications if steps are missed or misunderstood.
There’s also potential for ecosystem fragmentation—third-party guides and forum posts may quickly become outdated as Microsoft silently alters feature IDs or changes activation parameters within weekly updates.

Security Implications​

While ViVeTool is open-source and broadly vetted, manually toggling undocumented feature flags always carries some risk. Windows is designed to enable features in a coordinated manner so dependent code is delivered in order; forcing features early might expose unfinished code paths or features that haven’t undergone a full security audit.
Users should download ViVeTool only from its official GitHub repository to avoid trojanized packages—a real threat given the popularity and search volume for such tools.

Uncertain Timeline for Release​

Official communication from Microsoft remains vague on when this new Start menu design will reach all users. While history suggests non-security updates and the Release Preview channel often receive these changes within weeks or months, a global stable rollout could be further delayed if feedback uncovers major issues. This ambiguity can frustrate users eager for a consistent experience across their devices.

How Does This Redesign Compare to Previous Start Menus?​

For decades, the Start menu has been the hallmark of Windows identity—an anchor for launching apps, finding files, and exploring features. Each major revision since Windows 95 has reflected shifting priorities and technical constraints.

• Windows 7/10: Highly customizable, with Live Tiles and deep right-click context menus.
• Windows 8: A radical full-screen app grid, ultimately unpopular with desktop users.
• Windows 11 (2021): Streamlined, visually modern, but lambasted for lost flexibility and recommended content.

This new redesign appears to merge the clarity of Windows 11’s initial vision with the user-driven flexibility of earlier eras—striking a balance that could satisfy both casual and advanced users. It demonstrates Microsoft's renewed sensitivity to user feedback while retaining its overall minimalist, touch-friendly ethos.

Enabling the Redesigned Start Menu: Frequently Asked Questions​

Is enabling the new Start menu supported by Microsoft?
No. While using ViVeTool is not illegal or inherently dangerous, it is unofficial and unsupported. Users assume responsibility for any issues resulting from forced feature activation.
Can I revert to the old Start menu if I have problems?
Yes. You can disable the same feature IDs using ViVeTool’s /disable parameter. However, some settings or cosmetic changes may persist until the next OS update or require a system refresh.
Does this method risk my personal files or data?
Generally, toggling Start menu feature flags does not affect user data, but instability or bugs in preview builds can sometimes lead to data loss. Always maintain proper backups before experimenting with preview features.
Will my other apps and device drivers continue working?
Most first-party and well-supported third-party apps will work as before, but there’s always a risk of incompatibilities, especially with shell extensions or system tweaks. Only enable preview features on non-essential or secondary devices.
How widely can this be applied?
Only PCs enrolled in the Windows Insider Program’s Dev or Beta channels and running the latest updates will accept these feature flags. Retail (stable) Windows 11 builds do not yet permit this enablement.

SEO-Friendly Guide Summary​

For users eager to enable the redesigned Windows 11 Start menu, Microsoft has released sweeping changes to the user experience, currently rolling out via Insider builds. The new menu unifies all pins and apps in a scrollable layout, introduces multiple app-list views (list, grid, category), and finally allows hiding the controversial recommended section. Although available to a subset of Windows Insiders, any power user can force-enable the new design by using ViVeTool—a free, open-source utility—to flip the right feature flags. This guide walks through downloading ViVeTool, running the correct commands, and rebooting for changes to take effect. The redesigned Start menu offers substantial improvements in customization and usability, but comes with typical preview risks: possible instability, unsupported changes, and no guaranteed path to future updates until global release.

The Road Ahead for the Start Menu​

Microsoft’s revamped Start menu is more than just a visual refresh; it underscores a deepening commitment to addressing community needs while maintaining the evolving visual language of Windows 11. The blend of practical enhancements and user-centric customization signals a maturation of Microsoft’s design philosophy—one that values both clarity and agency.
As the update moves from Dev and Beta channels toward wider release, careful monitoring of user feedback and crash telemetry will likely shape final adjustments. Microsoft’s openness to rapid iteration, informed by real-world users, bodes well for the continued relevancy and smooth functioning of the Start menu across device types and form factors.
For Windows enthusiasts and power users alike, this moment marks a positive, if overdue, step forward—one that reaffirms the operating system’s legacy while inviting its millions of users to help shape its future. The road may still have a few rough patches as new features settle in, but the destination looks decidedly more inviting than ever.

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Source: Neowin How to enable the redesigned Windows 11 Start menu