Microsoft has quietly answered one of the longest-running user complaints about Windows 11 by rebuilding the Start menu into a single, scrollable launcher with new viewing modes, explicit controls for recommendations, and tighter Phone Link integration — and you can get it now via an optional October preview or, if you accept the risk, by using community tools to flip the feature immediately.
Background / Overview
Windows’ Start menu has been the emotional center of the desktop for decades. When Windows 11 launched with a visually minimalist Start, the split between Pinned items and a separate “All apps” page plus an intrusive “Recommended” pane created friction for many power users and anyone with a large app library. Microsoft’s response — a redesigned Start menu rolled into the October 2025 optional update (KB5067036) — restores discoverability while adding modern, adaptive behavior that scales across laptop, tablet and large-monitor setups. The package is being delivered as an
optional, non-security preview and is being toggled on in stages by Microsoft. That means the preview binaries may be installed on your PC but the new Start UI might still be controlled by server-side feature flags; you may need to wait hours or days after installing the preview for the experience to appear. This article explains what changed, why it matters, how to enable the redesigned Start through Microsoft’s supported path, the community (unsupported) options that enthusiasts are using, and the practical risks and mitigations every Windows user should consider.
What changed — the redesigned Start, in plain language
The October preview replaces the two‑pane pattern with a single, vertically scrollable Start canvas that includes Pinned apps, Recommended content (if enabled), and the entire All apps inventory on the main surface. Put simply: no more extra click to reach the full app list. Key user-facing improvements:
- Scrollable All section on the main page — the installed apps list is accessible directly from Start, eliminating the separate “All apps” page.
- Three All apps presentation modes — Category view (default, groups apps into topical buckets and surfaces frequently used apps), Grid view (denser, alphabetized grid for horizontal scanning), and List view (classic A→Z list). The Start menu remembers your last choice.
- Explicit controls for Recommended content — toggles in Settings → Personalization → Start let you hide Recommended elements such as recently added apps, recommended files, and other suggested items so your app list takes priority.
- Phone Link integration inside Start — a small phone icon next to search opens a collapsible Phone Link panel that surfaces recent notifications, missed calls and messages from a paired mobile device. Availability depends on region and pairing.
- Adaptive density and larger-screen support — the Start canvas expands to show more pinned apps and categories on ultrawide or high‑DPI displays, and includes layout changes to fit more shortcuts and documents without looking sparse.
- Companion Taskbar and File Explorer polish — smoother thumbnail animations when hovering apps and a refreshed battery icon that can display percentage directly in the taskbar shipped with the same preview.
These are practical, usability-focused changes rather than a radical redesign. The result is a Start menu that looks familiar but behaves much more like modern mobile and launcher paradigms where everything is discoverable with a single scroll.
Why it matters: practical benefits and the UX payoff
For people who keep dozens or hundreds of apps installed, the new Start reduces friction and shortens the common “open app X” workflow by removing a page transition.
Category view helps when you remember an app’s purpose (like “photo editors” or “communication”) but not its exact name, while
Grid view benefits visual scanning on wide screens. The toggles for Recommended content restore control to users who prefer a no-nonsense app launcher. From a design perspective, Microsoft appears to be shifting Start from an aesthetic-first launcher back toward a productivity-first tool — with sensible defaults and adaptive behavior that suits both touch and keyboard users.
How to get the new Start menu — the supported, recommended path
Microsoft is shipping the redesign in the October 28, 2025 optional preview (KB5067036), targeted at Windows 11 versions
24H2 and
25H2. These preview packages include updated OS builds (commonly listed as
26100.7019 and
26200.7019). Installing the preview is the supported way to receive the necessary binaries; Microsoft may still enable the UI gradually by server-side gating. Follow these steps to install the preview safely:
- Confirm your Windows edition and build:
- Press Windows+R, type winver, and press Enter. Ensure you’re on Windows 11 version 24H2 or 25H2 and that you have recent cumulative updates installed.
- Install the optional preview update:
- Open Start → Settings → Windows Update.
- Click Check for updates.
- If the optional preview (KB5067036) appears under “Optional updates available,” select Download and install.
- Restart when prompted and wait:
- After installation, sign out/sign in or restart. Because Microsoft uses staged enablement, the new Start might not appear immediately even after the preview is installed. Wait 24–72 hours and check again.
Why use the supported path? It keeps your device within Microsoft’s update model, maintains formal compatibility with enterprise management tools, and avoids unsupported changes to feature flags. For most users — particularly those on work or school devices — this is the safest option.
How to get it now — community (unsupported) method with ViVeTool (advanced users only)
Enthusiasts who don’t want to wait for Microsoft’s server-side flip have been using a community utility called
ViVeTool to toggle internal feature flags locally. This method is
unsupported by Microsoft and can be fragile; use it only on test machines or after making a full backup and creating a System Restore point. General ViVeTool steps used by the community:
- Download the latest ViVeTool release from the official GitHub repository and extract it (e.g., to C:\ViVeTool).
- Open an elevated Command Prompt (Run as administrator) and change directory to the ViVeTool folder.
- Run one of the commonly reported enable commands:
- Minimal (often sufficient): vivetool /enable /id:47205210
- Multi‑ID set (used in some builds): vivetool /enable /id:57048231,47205210,56328729,48433719
- Reboot and check Start. If you run into issues, undo with vivetool /disable /id:<id> or vivetool /reset /id:<id>, then reboot.
Important cautions about ViVeTool:
- The numeric IDs are community‑discovered mappings to Microsoft’s internal feature gates and are not officially documented; they can change between builds.
- Flipping flags locally may not produce the full experience if Microsoft’s backend still gates server-side features.
- Some users have reported regressions after using ViVeTool (search failing, Start not opening, or visual glitches); be prepared to roll back or uninstall the preview.
If you proceed with ViVeTool, treat your device like a lab: back up, test, and avoid running it on production or enterprise-managed machines.
Troubleshooting and known problems to watch for
No major rollout is risk-free. Early reports from multiple outlets and user threads highlight a few issues to be aware of:
- A newly reported bug tied to KB5067036 can cause Task Manager to duplicate itself when closed, leaving multiple hidden instances running in the background and consuming memory — users and sites documented workarounds using taskkill or avoiding the “X” button until a patch arrives. Microsoft has acknowledged some issues and will likely issue a fix promptly. If you rely on Task Manager heavily, consider delaying the optional preview until the fix is available.
- Because the preview is optional and the full experience is server-gated, installing KB5067036 may not immediately flip the new UI. Patience or ViVeTool (unsupported) will be required.
- Third-party tools that interact with Start or the taskbar (start menu replacements, custom shell utilities, EDR/AV hooks) may conflict with the new UI. Test those tools after updating and verify EDR/AV compatibility.
- If you have to revert to the old Start, uninstall the preview update via Settings → Windows Update → Update history → Uninstall updates, or use ViVeTool to reset/disable the flags you toggled. Always have a recovery plan (system image or restore point).
Enterprise and IT considerations
IT teams should treat KB5067036 as a preview and pilot it before wide deployment. Key guidance for admins:
- Validate MDM and Group Policy interactions, especially if you have custom Start layouts or scripts that programmatically manage pinned items.
- Check compatibility with endpoint security, monitoring agents, and line‑of‑business applications that modify shell behavior.
- Expect inconsistent exposure across a fleet due to Microsoft’s staged, server-side enablement; document rollout expectations in your change calendar.
For organizations that require predictability, wait for the feature to arrive through standard cumulative updates or pilot the optional preview in a controlled test ring.
What this means for Windows 10 holdouts and upgrade messaging
The GB News article that prompted this discussion also noted that many users remain on Windows 10, which reached its support endpoint in October 2025; Microsoft offered an Extended Security Updates (ESU) path for consumers through October 2026. Consumers can enroll in ESU via several methods: enabling Windows Backup to sync to OneDrive, redeeming Microsoft Rewards points, or paying a one‑time fee (pricing is regional and appears quoted in USD ~$30 for the paid path). In the European Economic Area (EEA), regulatory pressure led Microsoft to relax some conditions and offer free consumer ESU enrollment without requiring OneDrive backup. These ESU enrollment specifics and caveats are important to review in your region before assuming a single price or route. Note: the exact local currency amount cited in some outlets (for example a £22 figure in the UK) can reflect direct conversion or local pricing and may vary; check the enrollment wizard in Settings → Windows Update or Microsoft’s support guidance for the current local price and available free enrollment options. Treat unverified single‑figure claims as region-dependent until verified in the Windows Update enrollment UI.
Security, privacy, and data considerations
- Hiding Recommended content reduces the sharing of suggested files and web content surfaced within Start, which some users view as a privacy win.
- The free ESU enrollment path that requires a Microsoft account and OneDrive backup ties update entitlement to cloud services — weigh the trade-off between convenience and cloud storage/privacy. In the EEA, the rules were adapted to local regulation but still require an MSA.
- Server-side feature gating means Microsoft logs telemetry to decide who receives the UI first. Organizations sensitive to telemetry or those that ban cloud entitlements will want to pilot carefully and consider opt-out or group policy controls where available.
Practical recommendation and step-by-step checklist
For most readers who want the new Start while minimizing risk:
- Backup: create a System Restore point or full disk image.
- Confirm Windows version / build: run winver and verify you’re on 24H2 or 25H2.
- Use the supported route:
- Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates.
- If KB5067036 (Optional preview) appears, install it and restart.
- Wait up to 72 hours for server-side enablement; if it doesn’t appear, check update history or try the Microsoft Update Catalog for the MSU.
- If you are a power user and accept the risk:
- Download ViVeTool from the official GitHub.
- Run ViVeTool with the commonly reported flag (vivetool /enable /id:47205210) and reboot.
- If issues occur, use vivetool /disable /id:<id> or uninstall KB5067036 and revert.
- If you experience Task Manager duplication or other regressions, follow the temporary workarounds (taskkill /im taskmgr.exe /f) and await Microsoft’s patch; consider uninstalling the optional preview if the bug is disruptive.
Verdict — the redesign’s strengths and the risks to weigh
Strengths:
- Restores discoverability by promoting “All apps” to the top-level Start canvas.
- Flexible browsing modes (Category, Grid, List) let users pick the workflow that fits their style.
- Better use of large displays and improved Phone Link integration add modern continuity features that many users will appreciate.
Risks and caveats:
- The update is packaged as an optional preview and uses server-side feature gating, so installing the preview does not guarantee immediate access.
- Unofficial enabling via ViVeTool is powerful but unsupported and can cause regressions; it should be used only on test machines with full backups.
- There have been credible reports of bugs tied to KB5067036 (notably Task Manager duplication) — consider waiting if you need absolute system stability.
Overall, KB5067036 is a cautious, well-scoped response to years of user feedback. For everyday users and enterprises, the supported preview path is the recommended route; for enthusiasts, the community enablement route offers speed at the cost of supportability and potential instability.
Microsoft’s new Start menu is a rare case of a visible, practical UX problem being fixed without sacrificing Windows 11’s aesthetic. The rollout strategy — optional preview binaries plus server‑side enablement — gives Microsoft room to monitor stability while letting enthusiasts accelerate adoption. For anyone who spends a lot of time launching and reorganizing apps, the new Start is worth testing; for those who value absolute reliability on mission‑critical devices, wait for the final cumulative release and early patches to land.
Source: GB News
Windows 11 will unlock an all-new Start Menu design, but here's how to get it right now