Microsoft is attempting yet another revamp of the familiar Start menu by increasing the number of pinned shortcuts available and enabling scrolling through additional options instead of using an "All" button as required currently. Users will also be able to personalize the layout of their applications, choosing between vertical or horizontal displays or organizing them into categories.
The Windows Start menu stands as one of its core components and has been an integral part of the OS since Windows 95. With the release ofWindows 95, it underwent a significant redesign in terms of appearance. Windows 11 In 2021, however, it’s evident that Microsoft intends to enhance the menu's capabilities even further. This isn’t necessarily a negative development; personally, I'm unsure whether I’ve utilized it since Windows 7. Typically, when I look for applications to launch or seek specific files, I end up searching individually. Should Microsoft manage to revitalize the utility of the Start menu, you can count me interested.
In this latest beta version, you have the option to disable the Recommended section entirely, replacing it with a list of your personal applications instead. This feature can be particularly useful if you prefer not having Microsoft highlight recent installations for you or wish to avoid the advertisements they’ve started inserting into that area. To make these adjustments, users of the updated beta should access their Start menu settings and switch off every toggle related to recommendations—including those for newly installed programs, suggested documents, sites visited according to browser history, among others.
The Start menu has an increased size overall, providing more room for the applications you wish to access. This feature proves especially helpful when utilized in the organized view mode, as noted. Bluesky user Phantomofearth, Who identified these modifications in the most recent beta release? The Verge When activated, Category Listing organizes the applications into categories such as Productivity, Utilities and Tools, Games, and Entertainment, amongst others.
If you're eager to test out the new insider features for yourself, you'll need to obtain the most recent update. 24H2 Insider build of Windows 11 and activate the subsequent feature IDs:
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49402389
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49221331
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47205210
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48433719 (as a last resort)
We aren't sure about the timing or whether this updated Start menu design will reach all users, but Microsoft’s decision to include it in specific builds of the 23H2 release of Windows 11 indicates that it's headed our way eventually. Stay tuned over the next few months as it becomes more widely available.