Windows 11 Start Menu Redesign: The Ultimate Guide to New Features & Customization

Windows 11 continues to iterate on the legacy of its iconic predecessors, and the Start menu remains one of the most recognizable elements in the Windows experience. With the latest Insider builds, Microsoft is embarking on a significant redesign of the Start menu—both visually and functionally. This overhaul aligns with user demands for customization and usability, while also infusing Windows 11 with a fresh, modern approach. But what exactly is changing, and is this update a genuine usability leap or merely another layer of aesthetic polish? Let’s take a detailed look at what’s new, how to experience the changes now, and what it might mean for everyday users.

The Evolution of the Start Menu: What’s Actually Changing?​

The Windows Start menu’s evolution traces decades of feedback, trends, and, at times, controversy—think of the polarizing switch to Live Tiles or the brief disappearance of the menu in Windows 8. With Windows 11’s latest Insider builds (specifically build 26200.5641 for the Dev Channel and 26120.4250 for Beta), Microsoft is rolling out the most substantial set of Start menu changes since the OS’s launch:

• Larger, Fully Scrollable Interface: The new menu design dramatically enlarges the Start menu frame and unifies the previously separate “Pinned,” “Recommended,” and “All” sections into a single, adaptable, scroll-centric experience.
• Removal of the “Recommended” Section: Responding to one of the top user requests, Microsoft now lets you toggle off the “Recommended” suggestions—removing suggested files, apps, websites, and tips.
• Improved Organization and Customization: An updated “All” section introduces various view modes (Category, Grid, List), making it easier to browse and locate apps.
• Sidebar Toggle for Connected Devices: A new, easily accessible toggle appears whenever your phone is connected, streamlining cross-device interactions.

Each of these changes impacts how users launch apps, discover content, and customize their desktop environment.

A Closer Look: Design and Functionality​

Unified, Scrollable Menu​

Microsoft’s solution to Start menu bloat and fragmentation is a unified, fully scrollable menu. The days of tabbed “Pinned” and “Recommended” sections are now replaced with a single, vertically arranged interface. This approach offers several advantages:

• Greater adaptability across various screen sizes and resolutions.
• Simplified navigation for power users who maintain many pinned apps.
• Continuous scroll that replaces the sometimes-clunky page-by-page navigation of prior designs.

However, for some users, the larger menu may initially feel intrusive—especially on small screens. The good news is that the interface scales dynamically, optimizing for different devices from compact tablets to ultrawide monitors.

Pin Management and New “Show All” Workflow​

The new Start design enhances pin management:

• You can now show up to eight columns of pins (depending on screen size), with more pins surfaceable at a glance.
• The menu displays a clear “Show All” option at the top right, quickly expanding to reveal all pinned elements.
• In Settings, the new “Show all pins by default” option lets you set this behavior for every session, streamlining workflows for users who rely on vast libraries of apps.

For those who prefer to tailor their Start environment, the increase in visible pins is a sizable quality-of-life boost.

“Recommended” Section: Now Optional​

Microsoft has long faced criticism for the “Recommended” section—a space that often surfaced recently used files, apps, or web content, but sometimes felt like advertising or unnecessary clutter. For the first time in Windows 11, users can now entirely remove this section:

• Disable recently added apps, recommendations, tips, and browsing history links from Start via simple toggles in the Settings page.
• The Start menu becomes a nearly pure launcher, free from distractions, for those who prefer a minimalist approach.

While this is cause for celebration among power users and privacy advocates, there’s a catch: these settings are still somewhat buried, and the average user may not realize the full breadth of new customization options unless they explore Start settings in depth.

“All Apps” Views: Category, Grid, and List​

The “All” section is now more powerful and flexible:

• Category View: Apps automatically group under categories (e.g., Productivity, Social, Entertainment) as long as three or more apps share a classification. Anything that doesn’t fit lands in the “Others” group. This mirrors app grouping behaviors users may recognize from mobile platforms.
• Grid View: Delivers a clean, horizontally organized, alphabetical grid, optimizing scan speed and giving power users a fast way to spot apps.
• List View: Preserves the traditional, legacy-style app list familiar to veteran Windows users.

On smaller screens, the layout adapts: up to six columns for apps or three for categories, ensuring that usability isn’t compromised regardless of device form factor.

Sidebar Toggle: Seamlessness for Cross-Device Users​

If your iPhone or Android phone is connected to your PC, a new toggle appears next to the Start menu’s search box. Previously, enabling the mobile sidebar required a trip into Start settings—a minor but noticeable friction point. Now, users can quickly reveal or hide their mobile sidebar, unlocking features like SMS relay or shared notifications with a single click.
This upfront integration is consistent with Microsoft’s strategy to grow the ecosystem around “Phone Link” and related continuity features, gradually closing the gap on Apple’s famed device synergy.

Enabling the New Start Menu: Step-by-Step Guide​

These changes are rolling out gradually to Insiders, but not everyone sees them immediately after updating—even within the Dev and Beta Channels. Fortunately, Microsoft’s reliance on controlled feature rollouts means power users have a workaround to unlock these features early through the community-favorite ViveTool.
Disclaimer: Modifying system features using experimental tools can sometimes cause unexpected behaviors. Proceed only if you understand the risks.

Requirements Before You Begin​

• Your PC must be enrolled in the Windows Insider Dev or Beta Channel
• You must have updated to Windows 11 build 26200.5641+ (Dev) or 26120.4250+ (Beta)
• Basic familiarity with using Command Prompt and extracting files

Using ViveTool to Enable the Redesigned Start Menu​

• Download ViveTool:
• Visit the ViveTool GitHub repository.
• Download the latest release for your system. For Copilot+ PCs, make sure to select the ARM64 version; for others, use the standard x64.
• Extract the Tool:
• Right-click the downloaded .zip file and choose Extract All. Take note of the folder location.
• Launch Command Prompt as Admin:
• Click Start, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
• Navigate to ViveTool Directory:
• In Command Prompt, type:
  cd c:\your\folder\path\vivetool
• Enable the Start Menu Redesign:
• Run the following command:
  vivetool /enable /id:48433719,49221331,47205210,49381526,49402389,49820095,55495322
• Copy-paste the IDs exactly as above.
• Restart Your PC:
• A reboot is necessary for the changes to take effect.

If you’re not already in the Insider program and want to experiment, you can enroll your PC from Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program, select either the Dev or Beta Channel, log in with your Microsoft account, and follow the prompts. However, keep in mind that Insider builds—especially those in the Dev Channel—are not recommended for mission-critical or daily-use systems. They may have stability and compatibility quirks.

Critical Analysis: Progress or Potential Pitfall?​

Any sweeping UI overhaul invites strong opinions. Here’s what works well in Microsoft’s new approach and what still presents challenges.

Notable Strengths​

• User-Centric Customization: The option to remove the “Recommended” section shows that Microsoft is listening to long-standing feedback from tech enthusiasts and privacy-conscious users.
• Adaptability: The unified, scrollable design ensures the Start menu works well across an ever-growing array of device types and screen sizes.
• Enhanced App Organization: Grid, Category, and List views deliver flexibility without forcing a one-size-fits-all approach. This is crucial in an age where PCs are used for both productivity and leisure in wildly different ways.
• Cross-Device Improvements: Streamlined access to mobile sidebar features reflects Windows 11’s goal to become a greater part of users’ digital lives—not just on PC, but across ecosystems.

Potential Risks and Regressions​

• Feature Discoverability: Many new customization options (especially disabling “Recommended”) are buried in settings menus. Less technically inclined users may never encounter them—potentially missing out on a streamlined experience.
• Early Adoption Warnings: Because these features are exclusive to Insider builds—and require manual activation for some—the larger user base won’t benefit until official rollout. Furthermore, enabling experimental features via ViveTool carries some risk; unsupported changes can cause instability or breaking changes, particularly as builds advance.
• Layout Overwhelm: The expanded layout, while powerful for heavy app users, could overwhelm users accustomed to a more compact menu.
• Transition Fatigue: Microsoft’s ongoing evolution of the Start menu means that users face a learning curve with each wave of updates. Organizations and power users may tire of constantly adjusting to these changes, especially as defaults shift with each dev channel release.

The Broader Context: Why Start Menu Changes Matter​

Why devote much energy to the Start menu? Simply put, it is the primary gateway between the user and their entire PC. A well-designed Start menu can mean the difference between frictionless productivity and frustrating inefficiency. Microsoft’s decision to unify, simplify, and empower users to declutter their desktop experience may seem small, but it’s foundational to the next era of Windows.
Moreover, Microsoft’s embrace of gradual, opt-in experimentation (via both the Windows Insider Program and ViveTool) reflects a maturation in how the company solicits feedback and rolls out change. Rather than forcing wholesale changes overnight—sometimes with negative user backlash (as with Windows 8’s Start screen)—they’re carefully testing, collecting feedback, and making customization accessible to those who want it most.

How to Get the Most from the Redesigned Start Menu​

If you’re excited (or skeptical), here’s how to make the most of the new options as they become mainstream:

• Audit Your Pins: With deeper pinning capabilities, consider which apps deserve persistent presence. Use groups to keep things tidy.
• Disable Recommendations for Privacy: Especially if you share your device, disable personal content suggestions to keep your workflows and data private.
• Experiment with Views: Cycle between Category, Grid, and List—different workflows or contexts might call for different display modes.
• Explore Sidebar Features: If you pair your PC with a mobile device, leverage the new sidebar toggle for richer device continuity.
• Stay Informed via Settings: As Microsoft iterates, revisit the Start menu’s options—each build may bring new toggles, defaults, and possibilities.

The Road Ahead: What’s Next for Windows 11’s Start Menu?​

Given Microsoft’s track record, it’s unlikely this is the “final form” for the Windows 11 Start menu. The Insider and Beta channels exist precisely to collect feedback and iterate on user experience. Some features, views, or settings may be tweaked—or even rolled back—prior to formal release on the Stable Channel.
Industry experts contend that Microsoft’s move toward a “living OS” model, with features toggled remotely and regularly refreshed, means users should expect this pace of change to accelerate. With Copilot AI integration, “Moments” updates, and more, the Start menu will likely play host to additional intelligent and cloud-driven features in the coming years.

Final Thoughts​

The redesigned Start menu in Windows 11 exemplifies Microsoft’s balancing act: honoring decades of user expectations while forging ahead with modern design. These changes—larger, more customizable, and with cleaner app organization—are a strong step forward in usability and flexibility. Yet, the gradual, opt-in nature of this rollout means it’ll be some time before all users benefit from the improvements, and only those who know where to look can take full advantage today.
For now, those on the cutting edge can experience a Start menu that better fits their workflow, privacy needs, and device ecosystem. As these updates spread to a wider release, expect deeper personalization to become a defining feature of the Windows experience.
Whether you eagerly unlock every new feature or wait for the dust to settle on stable builds, one thing is clear: the Start menu isn’t just the face of Windows—it’s the heart of how we work and play on our PCs. Stay tuned to see how this essential tool continues to evolve, and don’t hesitate to experiment if you’re a Windows Insider eager to help shape what comes next.

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For more Windows 11 guides, hands-on troubleshooting, and up-to-the-minute feature breakdowns, keep exploring the latest content from WindowsForum.com.

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Source: Windows Central Microsoft is letting Windows 11 users try a redesigned Start menu, and I'll show you how to enable it