Few elements of Windows are as emblematic and contentious as the Start menu—a feature that has wavered between reverence and revolt with every major update. With its latest iteration, Windows 11, Microsoft has doubled down on refinement, iterating endlessly on details across the operating system since its initial 2021 release. Yet, the Start menu and taskbar have largely remained sacred ground, evolving minimally despite vocal feedback. All that changes now. Microsoft is rolling out a fundamentally new Start menu design for Windows 11, and it may just be the biggest leap for the feature in a decade.
For millions of Windows users, the Start menu is more than an interface element; it’s muscle memory. After experimenting with radical changes in Windows 8, Microsoft has learned to tread carefully, balancing innovation with the comforts of tradition. The latest Start menu refresh—likely to debut to the wider public in the 25H2 update—signals a shift in philosophy: prioritize personalization, improve information density, and modernize the classics without sacrificing usability.
Microsoft now offers two organizational views for the All Apps section:
For the millions who rely on their PCs for productivity, these tweaks aren’t trivial—they’re central to a smoother computing experience.
Historically, major visual and functional overhauls like these have been fraught with missteps. Recall the widespread backlash to the Windows 8 Start screen, which was ultimately walked back after feedback from users who found it disruptive. The Windows 11 design team appears intent on avoiding such pitfalls this time around, rolling out iterative, opt-in changes that solicit feedback and allow for course corrections before features are permanently enshrined.
Unlike the Windows 8 Start screen, which upended the entire desktop paradigm, Windows 11’s update is incremental and more attuned to feedback. Users unwilling to abandon their learned workflows are not forced to adapt; the familiar alphabetical list persists as the Grid view. For those eager for a more curated, modern experience, categories bring order and visual appeal.
In practical terms, the new menu is less about aesthetics and more about function. The emphasis on adaptive design and efficient use of space ensures that the Start menu works equally well whether docked on a 13-inch laptop, a 32-inch monitor, or a foldable device—a critical consideration as hardware diversity continues to explode.
However, some users note that the categorization algorithm is a bit hit-or-miss, sometimes grouping lesser-known or specialist apps under “Other” where they might warrant their own category. Power users—often the most vocal in Microsoft’s forums—have advocated for custom grouping options and the ability to pin entire app folders as a way to further tame sprawling software catalogs.
Microsoft’s careful, incremental rollout—first to Insiders and then to the wider public—reflects a maturation in how the company manages change. Overhauls are now iterative, less jarring, and more deeply informed by telemetry and direct user feedback.
For enterprise administrators and IT professionals, these changes signal a need to revisit end-user education, revision of internal documentation and—potentially—a review of group policies related to UI customization and privacy. With each new UI paradigm, training and transitional support become paramount in minimizing workflow disruption.
As always, the risks surrounding major interface changes are real: instability, user resistance, and the chance that categorization logic may not fit every workflow. Yet the move toward a more adaptive, user-tailored experience is unmistakable—and welcome.
Microsoft’s challenge in the coming months will be ensuring that this new Start menu remains not just flexible on paper, but genuinely intuitive, performant, and customizable in practice. For the vast, diverse Windows user base, incremental—but thoughtfully crafted—change may be exactly what the brand’s most iconic interface element requires.
Whether you’re a Windows purist, a productivity power user, or simply someone who wants a neater, smarter Start menu, the coming update is shaping up as one of the most meaningful yet in the Windows 11 era. As always, the ultimate test will be in daily, real-world use—but for now, the signs point toward progress rather than disruption.
Source: How-To Geek Windows 11 Now Has a New Start Menu Design
The Evolving Start Menu: Microsoft’s Reluctant Revolution
For millions of Windows users, the Start menu is more than an interface element; it’s muscle memory. After experimenting with radical changes in Windows 8, Microsoft has learned to tread carefully, balancing innovation with the comforts of tradition. The latest Start menu refresh—likely to debut to the wider public in the 25H2 update—signals a shift in philosophy: prioritize personalization, improve information density, and modernize the classics without sacrificing usability.What’s New? Key Features of the Redesigned Start Menu
The new Windows 11 Start menu introduces several core enhancements designed explicitly to enhance organization, adaptability, and user choice.1. Categorized App Organization
One of the most conspicuous upgrades is the way apps are now presented. Instead of the traditional list buried under an "All apps" menu, users can access their installed apps directly by scrolling down within the Start menu—a subtle but meaningful improvement in usability.Microsoft now offers two organizational views for the All Apps section:
- Category View: Apps are automatically grouped into logical categories such as Productivity, Games, and more. A category appears if at least three apps qualify under the same label; otherwise, such outliers default to the catch-all “Other” group. This method breaks from decades of alphabetical rigidity and presents a genuinely helpful context for users whose app libraries are unwieldy or diverse.
- Grid View: For those who prefer the comfort of order, Grid view is tailored to mimic the alphabetical list seen in previous Windows versions, but with a broader, visually friendlier layout. Apps are spaced out horizontally, making it easier to scan and select at a glance—especially useful for users with extensive app collections.
2. Adaptive Layouts for Any Display
The new Start menu is designed with modern device diversity in mind. Display real estate is paramount, and Microsoft has crafted layouts that respond intelligently to device size:- On larger monitors: Up to eight columns of pinned apps, six recommendations, and four columns of app categories can be displayed simultaneously, maximizing quick access without clutter.
- On smaller devices: Pinned app columns reduce to six, with correspondingly fewer recommendations and categories—ensuring efficient use of available space while retaining ease of navigation.
3. Improved Integration With Linked Devices
A small but notable new button appears if users link their phone to their PC. With a single click, users can bring up a compact dashboard showing phone notifications, battery status, recent calls, and SMS—all from within the familiar Start menu environment. While phone integration is not new, surfacing these controls in the Start menu is a thoughtful touch, streamlining workflows and reducing context switching.4. Streamlined Access and Personalization
Microsoft has paid particular attention to removing friction from everyday tasks. In the revised Start menu, the path from search to app launch to document opening is much more direct. Recent files and frequently used apps—housed in a revitalized "Recommended" section—take center stage in the middle of the Start menu, promising quicker access to what matters.For the millions who rely on their PCs for productivity, these tweaks aren’t trivial—they’re central to a smoother computing experience.
The Journey: From Insider Previews to Public Rollout
Users who closely follow Windows developments may find these changes oddly familiar. Microsoft’s Insider Preview program—the company’s ongoing beta testing ground—has showcased elements of this updated Start menu for months. The appearance of the categorized app view, grid layout, and adaptive scaling signals Microsoft’s confidence that these features are ready for wider adoption.Historically, major visual and functional overhauls like these have been fraught with missteps. Recall the widespread backlash to the Windows 8 Start screen, which was ultimately walked back after feedback from users who found it disruptive. The Windows 11 design team appears intent on avoiding such pitfalls this time around, rolling out iterative, opt-in changes that solicit feedback and allow for course corrections before features are permanently enshrined.
Critical Analysis: The Strengths—and the Sticking Points
The new Start menu design marks an impressive stride toward modern usability, but as with any sweeping interface overhaul, the implementation is not without risks and caveats.Notable Strengths
- Enhanced Organization: By leveraging categories, Microsoft addresses long-standing user complaints about the bloat and sprawl of the All Apps view. Grouping apps contextually saves time and meets a real user need.
- Visual Clarity and Space Utilization: The grid layout feels less claustrophobic and makes excellent use of widescreen monitors, which are now the norm in both workplaces and homes.
- Device Adaptability: Responsive sizing demonstrates a level of polish that has sometimes been missing in previous Windows releases. The focus on optimizing for multiple form factors will likely improve the out-of-box experience on everything from Surface tablets to multi-monitor desktop setups.
- Cross-Device Integration: Embedding phone status directly in the Start menu solidifies Windows’ stance as the nucleus of the user’s digital life—a central hub that acknowledges the interplay between devices.
- Customization and Memory: Remembering the user’s chosen view seems like a minor feature, but in reality, it enforces a feeling of ownership and reduces cognitive load, making the OS feel genuinely “yours.”
Potential Risks and Drawbacks
- Learning Curve for Veteran Users: Even well-designed changes can trigger resistance, especially among enterprise users and those who have grown attached to Windows’ predictability. Categorized views may confuse users expecting strictly alphabetical lists.
- Category Logic: The system’s method for deciding categories—such as the threshold of three apps for a category to be created—might feel arbitrary to some. Power users may wish for the ability to create, combine, or rename categories manually. At present, there is no evidence Microsoft will allow granular customization beyond the built-in organizational logic.
- Bugs and Instability: As of mid-2025, the new Start menu experience is still rolling out in pre-release builds. History suggests that such UI overhauls occasionally introduce regressions, performance hiccups, or compatibility issues with third-party utilities and legacy workflows. Microsoft recommends that only adventurous users or those on non-critical machines install the latest Insider updates.
- Fragmentation Between Builds: For now, some of these features are available only to select users who opt in to the Insider program. Mainstream adoption will not occur until the 25H2 update is officially released. This staggered rollout may cause confusion for organizations managing mixed device fleets or users encountering documentation mismatch.
- Privacy and Recommendation Engine: The “Recommended” section’s logic has yet to be fully disclosed. With Windows increasingly surfacing files and usage data within the OS, privacy-conscious users may want clarity (and control) over what appears in these sections, especially on shared or professional devices.
How Does The New Menu Compare to Previous Iterations?
Microsoft’s approach to user interface redesign has always been cautious—oscillating between radical experimentation and retrenchment. The new Start menu’s categorized app views recall, in principle, the tile-based groupings introduced in Windows 8 and refined in Windows 10, but executed with considerably more restraint.Unlike the Windows 8 Start screen, which upended the entire desktop paradigm, Windows 11’s update is incremental and more attuned to feedback. Users unwilling to abandon their learned workflows are not forced to adapt; the familiar alphabetical list persists as the Grid view. For those eager for a more curated, modern experience, categories bring order and visual appeal.
In practical terms, the new menu is less about aesthetics and more about function. The emphasis on adaptive design and efficient use of space ensures that the Start menu works equally well whether docked on a 13-inch laptop, a 32-inch monitor, or a foldable device—a critical consideration as hardware diversity continues to explode.
A Look at Insider and Early User Feedback
Initial feedback from Windows Insiders has generally been favorable, with many praising the improved discoverability of apps and the elegant, adaptive layouts. Early adopters report that the grid view, in particular, accelerates the process of tracking down rarely used programs. There is enthusiasm for cross-device integration, which edges Windows 11 closer to the seamless ecosystem approach popularized by Apple.However, some users note that the categorization algorithm is a bit hit-or-miss, sometimes grouping lesser-known or specialist apps under “Other” where they might warrant their own category. Power users—often the most vocal in Microsoft’s forums—have advocated for custom grouping options and the ability to pin entire app folders as a way to further tame sprawling software catalogs.
Microsoft’s careful, incremental rollout—first to Insiders and then to the wider public—reflects a maturation in how the company manages change. Overhauls are now iterative, less jarring, and more deeply informed by telemetry and direct user feedback.
The Road Ahead: What to Expect With Windows 11 25H2
The finalized Start menu overhaul is anticipated to ship with the Windows 11 25H2 update, slated for broad release later this year. For those eager to test-drive the experience immediately, participation in the Windows Insider program provides early access, though Microsoft (as ever) cautions that bugs and regressions may crop up in pre-release software.For enterprise administrators and IT professionals, these changes signal a need to revisit end-user education, revision of internal documentation and—potentially—a review of group policies related to UI customization and privacy. With each new UI paradigm, training and transitional support become paramount in minimizing workflow disruption.
Final Thoughts: Balancing Innovation and Familiarity
The new Start menu in Windows 11 demonstrates a restrained, pragmatic approach to modernization. Instead of chasing passing UI fads or prioritizing aesthetics over substance, Microsoft has anchored this redesign in organization, efficiency, and adaptability. The enhancements are meaningful, addressing longstanding frustrations around app discovery and Start menu bloat, while carefully preserving options for users who prefer the familiar.As always, the risks surrounding major interface changes are real: instability, user resistance, and the chance that categorization logic may not fit every workflow. Yet the move toward a more adaptive, user-tailored experience is unmistakable—and welcome.
Microsoft’s challenge in the coming months will be ensuring that this new Start menu remains not just flexible on paper, but genuinely intuitive, performant, and customizable in practice. For the vast, diverse Windows user base, incremental—but thoughtfully crafted—change may be exactly what the brand’s most iconic interface element requires.
Whether you’re a Windows purist, a productivity power user, or simply someone who wants a neater, smarter Start menu, the coming update is shaping up as one of the most meaningful yet in the Windows 11 era. As always, the ultimate test will be in daily, real-world use—but for now, the signs point toward progress rather than disruption.
Source: How-To Geek Windows 11 Now Has a New Start Menu Design
