The unveiling of the revamped Windows 11 Start menu has garnered significant attention from users and the technology community alike, promising a more streamlined experience—but also introducing a fresh set of limitations. Microsoft’s approach with this latest update reflects its perennial challenge: balancing user feedback with its own overarching design philosophy. As the new Start menu finds its way into the hands of Windows Insiders, a deeper dive reveals both notable strengths and critical drawbacks that merit close examination.
For years, Windows enthusiasts have voiced concerns about the Start menu’s evolution. Many felt that previous iterations, especially those spanning the Windows 8 to early Windows 11 periods, either introduced too much clutter or failed to prioritize efficiency for desktop users. Microsoft clearly listened—at least in part. The new Start menu aims to address these complaints by offering a much cleaner look and more logical organization.
Gone is the cluttered two-page layout that confused both newcomers and veterans. In its place is a single, scrollable view that makes better use of the full screen, enhancing both desktop productivity and touch usability. This minimalist approach is in line with modern UI trends across both desktop and mobile platforms, ensuring that Windows remains competitive in terms of aesthetics and usability.
Perhaps the most widely celebrated tweak is the ability to finally remove the “Recommended” section. Previously, this area would display recently used apps and files, often to the annoyance of users who value privacy or simply prefer a less crowded interface. Now, users can opt out, freeing up more space for apps that matter most to them.
Windows handles this sorting locally, relying on an on-device JSON file to determine which apps go where. There’s no use of cloud or AI-based categorization, which is a positive for users concerned about privacy. Your app list isn’t being sent to Microsoft servers for analysis. The process is lightweight and ensures that app organization happens instantly on your own machine.
However, this approach comes with a substantial trade-off. Users have no ability to customize categories nor reassign apps. The categories themselves are rigidly predefined, and app placement is based solely on criteria set by Microsoft. If the system cannot determine an appropriate category for an app—or if a category drops below a three-app threshold—the app ends up in the “Other” bin, alongside anything else the system failed to categorize.
This inflexibility is striking, especially given the intense community demand for more Start menu personalization. Many power users have developed workflows or mental models based on custom groups or folder arrangements—a feature notably present in Windows 10—and this new system disregards those customizations completely. The inability to so much as move a single app between categories is certain to frustrate users who crave greater control over their computing environment.
This can quickly lead to a cascade of organizational oddities. For example, uninstalling one seldom-used app in the “Creativity” section could collapse the category, sending your preferred creative tools into an amorphous pile that defeats the purpose of categorization. The system’s rigidity can undermine its own attempt at neatness and logical grouping.
Further, apps within each category are arranged based on usage frequency. The more you use an app, the higher it appears on the list. This is a practical touch—promoting the tools you use regularly—but it also removes any manual pinning or ordering that some users found essential for their own workflow optimizations.
This local-only policy does have side effects: the system is less “smart” in recognizing non-mainstream applications, especially third-party or niche utilities that lack clear tags or metadata. They’re more likely to land in “Other” by default, again emphasizing the inflexible, sometimes clumsy nature of the system.
However, from a privacy-first standpoint, this is a win. Given the growing scrutiny over how tech giants handle sensitive user information, Microsoft’s choice to keep categorization on-device is both commendable and aligned with current best practices in privacy-focused software design.
By limiting both the number and nature of Start menu categories, and entirely removing user input from the sorting process, Microsoft risks alienating its most passionate supporters. This approach stands in contrast even to mobile competitors; on Android and iOS, users can create folders, rearrange icons, and tailor their app launchers to meet individual needs.
It’s important to note, however, that Microsoft may yet respond to feedback and add more customization options. In communications with media and early testers, company representatives suggested that improvements to the “Categories” view are planned. If user demand reaches a tipping point, it’s plausible—perhaps even likely—that features enabling user-defined categories or manual sorting could make their way into future updates.
The move to Windows 8’s Start screen was widely panned for its lack of coherence and excessive focus on touch, at the expense of keyboard-and-mouse users. Windows 10 responded by restoring some user control, with the return of Live Tiles (which were themselves divisive) and customizable groups.
With Windows 11, Microsoft initially moved toward a minimalist design, trimming features but largely leaving Start menu organization in the hands of the user. This latest update swings back in the direction of enforced structure—a decision that may evoke memories of Windows 8’s inflexibility.
However, these positives are frequently offset by complaints about the Category view’s immutability. A recurring sentiment is that the joy of a simpler menu is dampened by the inability to adapt it to individual needs. Users who rely on custom Start menu setups for productivity—or simply out of habit—find themselves boxed in by Microsoft’s preset approach.
It’s also worth noting that the use of a local JSON file for app categorization, while privacy-friendly, introduces an element of opacity. Power users accustomed to editing configuration files may attempt to tweak the JSON layout, but there is little documentation or support for doing so, and any changes risk being overwritten by Windows updates.
Insiders and early adopters should expect the company to refine these features over time. Microsoft has a track record of responding, eventually, to sustained user feedback. With enough advocacy, it’s plausible that future builds will restore more granular control over categories or even reintroduce manual sorting as an option.
Until then, the current iteration is best understood as a compromise—one that will please those who value simplicity at the cost of flexibility, but frustrate those who see the Windows desktop as an environment to be shaped to personal preference.
For enthusiasts, professionals, and longtime Windows fans, the loss of deep customization stings. The forced rigidity may drive some toward third-party Start menu replacements or even to other platforms, should Microsoft not respond with greater flexibility in future updates.
As the rollout continues and more users weigh in, Microsoft’s ability to listen, adapt, and refine will determine whether the new Start menu is truly a leap forward—or simply another turn in a long cycle of “look but don’t touch” design philosophy.
Source: Laptop Mag Look but don't touch: New Windows 11 Start menu swaps one frustration for another
For years, Windows enthusiasts have voiced concerns about the Start menu’s evolution. Many felt that previous iterations, especially those spanning the Windows 8 to early Windows 11 periods, either introduced too much clutter or failed to prioritize efficiency for desktop users. Microsoft clearly listened—at least in part. The new Start menu aims to address these complaints by offering a much cleaner look and more logical organization.Gone is the cluttered two-page layout that confused both newcomers and veterans. In its place is a single, scrollable view that makes better use of the full screen, enhancing both desktop productivity and touch usability. This minimalist approach is in line with modern UI trends across both desktop and mobile platforms, ensuring that Windows remains competitive in terms of aesthetics and usability.
Perhaps the most widely celebrated tweak is the ability to finally remove the “Recommended” section. Previously, this area would display recently used apps and files, often to the annoyance of users who value privacy or simply prefer a less crowded interface. Now, users can opt out, freeing up more space for apps that matter most to them.
Introducing Categories: Automatic Organization with Major Caveats
The real headline innovation for the redesigned Start menu is the new Category view. Apps are now grouped into broad categories such as Utilities and Tools, Productivity, Games, Social, Entertainment, Creativity, Information & Reading, and Other. At face value, this organizational scheme holds promise—especially for users who install dozens of apps and struggle to find them quickly.Windows handles this sorting locally, relying on an on-device JSON file to determine which apps go where. There’s no use of cloud or AI-based categorization, which is a positive for users concerned about privacy. Your app list isn’t being sent to Microsoft servers for analysis. The process is lightweight and ensures that app organization happens instantly on your own machine.
However, this approach comes with a substantial trade-off. Users have no ability to customize categories nor reassign apps. The categories themselves are rigidly predefined, and app placement is based solely on criteria set by Microsoft. If the system cannot determine an appropriate category for an app—or if a category drops below a three-app threshold—the app ends up in the “Other” bin, alongside anything else the system failed to categorize.
This inflexibility is striking, especially given the intense community demand for more Start menu personalization. Many power users have developed workflows or mental models based on custom groups or folder arrangements—a feature notably present in Windows 10—and this new system disregards those customizations completely. The inability to so much as move a single app between categories is certain to frustrate users who crave greater control over their computing environment.
How Categories Work—and When They Don’t
The implementation details of the Category view deserve scrutiny. Categories will only display if at least three apps occupy them. Uninstaller just one application from a category containing three, and the entire category vanishes. The displaced apps are automatically shunted into “Other,” regardless of how mismatched they may seem.This can quickly lead to a cascade of organizational oddities. For example, uninstalling one seldom-used app in the “Creativity” section could collapse the category, sending your preferred creative tools into an amorphous pile that defeats the purpose of categorization. The system’s rigidity can undermine its own attempt at neatness and logical grouping.
Further, apps within each category are arranged based on usage frequency. The more you use an app, the higher it appears on the list. This is a practical touch—promoting the tools you use regularly—but it also removes any manual pinning or ordering that some users found essential for their own workflow optimizations.
Privacy Is a Winner in Microsoft’s Design
One area where the new Start menu shines defensibly is privacy. The entire categorization process occurs locally and is driven by machine-resident files. By not sending an inventory of installed apps to Microsoft’s cloud, users' application habits and preferences remain private, avoiding any unnecessary data collection or transmission.This local-only policy does have side effects: the system is less “smart” in recognizing non-mainstream applications, especially third-party or niche utilities that lack clear tags or metadata. They’re more likely to land in “Other” by default, again emphasizing the inflexible, sometimes clumsy nature of the system.
However, from a privacy-first standpoint, this is a win. Given the growing scrutiny over how tech giants handle sensitive user information, Microsoft’s choice to keep categorization on-device is both commendable and aligned with current best practices in privacy-focused software design.
The Elusive Promise of Customization
For a company that has, over many years, championed user choice and flexibility, Microsoft’s new approach is surprisingly prescriptive. Feedback from the Windows community consistently shows that customization is a high priority. From wallpapers and color themes to the placement of shortcuts, Windows users often expect to fine-tune nearly every element of their desktop.By limiting both the number and nature of Start menu categories, and entirely removing user input from the sorting process, Microsoft risks alienating its most passionate supporters. This approach stands in contrast even to mobile competitors; on Android and iOS, users can create folders, rearrange icons, and tailor their app launchers to meet individual needs.
It’s important to note, however, that Microsoft may yet respond to feedback and add more customization options. In communications with media and early testers, company representatives suggested that improvements to the “Categories” view are planned. If user demand reaches a tipping point, it’s plausible—perhaps even likely—that features enabling user-defined categories or manual sorting could make their way into future updates.
Comparison With Start Menus of the Past
A historical perspective puts this release in context. Windows 95’s original Start menu was famously customizable for its time, allowing users to create folders, drag shortcuts, and tailor the menu to individual tastes. Later, Windows XP and 7 layered on visual polish, but retained much of this flexibility.The move to Windows 8’s Start screen was widely panned for its lack of coherence and excessive focus on touch, at the expense of keyboard-and-mouse users. Windows 10 responded by restoring some user control, with the return of Live Tiles (which were themselves divisive) and customizable groups.
With Windows 11, Microsoft initially moved toward a minimalist design, trimming features but largely leaving Start menu organization in the hands of the user. This latest update swings back in the direction of enforced structure—a decision that may evoke memories of Windows 8’s inflexibility.
User Reactions: Applause and Backlash
Early responses from the Windows Insider community, as shared in prominent forums and social media posts, highlight the polarizing nature of the Start menu redesign. Many users appreciate the cleaner, less cluttered interface and welcome the removal of the “Recommended” section. The single, scrollable view makes for snappier navigation and reduces cognitive load.However, these positives are frequently offset by complaints about the Category view’s immutability. A recurring sentiment is that the joy of a simpler menu is dampened by the inability to adapt it to individual needs. Users who rely on custom Start menu setups for productivity—or simply out of habit—find themselves boxed in by Microsoft’s preset approach.
It’s also worth noting that the use of a local JSON file for app categorization, while privacy-friendly, introduces an element of opacity. Power users accustomed to editing configuration files may attempt to tweak the JSON layout, but there is little documentation or support for doing so, and any changes risk being overwritten by Windows updates.
Critical Strengths of the Redesigned Start Menu
Despite its controversial limitations, the new Start menu brings a host of commendable improvements:- Cleaner design: The simplified interface is more approachable and reduces distractions, especially for first-time users or those less comfortable with technology.
- Greater efficiency: The consolidated, scrollable view is more practical and leverages modern display resolutions more effectively. It also feels faster, in part due to reduced clutter.
- Removal of the “Recommended” section: This option addresses a longstanding source of frustration and makes the menu feel more secure and private.
- Local processing: The choice to manage categorization on-device is a best-in-class privacy practice.
- Usage-based sorting: For many, seeing the most-frequently used apps at the top will speed up common tasks.
Significant Risks and Frustrations
Yet, these advantages are counterbalanced by substantial risks and points of contention:- Lack of customization: Users cannot create their own categories, merge or split existing ones, or manually assign apps. For enthusiasts and professionals, this rigidity is a major regression.
- Opaque sorting logic: There is little transparency about how apps are categorized. When something lands in “Other,” users have no recourse to fix it.
- Category volatility: Because categories disappear below a three-app threshold, the organization of apps can change unexpectedly, leading to confusion.
- Potential for user alienation: By prioritizing simplicity over flexibility, Microsoft faces the risk of alienating long-time Windows power users—a group that has historically championed the platform over more restrictive alternatives.
What Happens Next?
The Start menu remains a defining element of the Windows experience. Each redesign brings passionate debate and sharp scrutiny. While Microsoft’s latest approach with Windows 11’s new Start menu introduces significant steps forward in terms of aesthetics and privacy, it simultaneously rolls back hard-won gains in user-driven customization.Insiders and early adopters should expect the company to refine these features over time. Microsoft has a track record of responding, eventually, to sustained user feedback. With enough advocacy, it’s plausible that future builds will restore more granular control over categories or even reintroduce manual sorting as an option.
Until then, the current iteration is best understood as a compromise—one that will please those who value simplicity at the cost of flexibility, but frustrate those who see the Windows desktop as an environment to be shaped to personal preference.
Conclusion: Progress, or a Step Back for Power Users?
Windows 11’s redesigned Start menu is a microcosm of the broader battles shaping modern operating systems: simplicity vs. control, privacy vs. smart features, consistency vs. customization. For the average user, the changes are likely an overall improvement, making the Start menu less intimidating and more efficient to navigate.For enthusiasts, professionals, and longtime Windows fans, the loss of deep customization stings. The forced rigidity may drive some toward third-party Start menu replacements or even to other platforms, should Microsoft not respond with greater flexibility in future updates.
As the rollout continues and more users weigh in, Microsoft’s ability to listen, adapt, and refine will determine whether the new Start menu is truly a leap forward—or simply another turn in a long cycle of “look but don’t touch” design philosophy.
Source: Laptop Mag Look but don't touch: New Windows 11 Start menu swaps one frustration for another