The Windows 11 Start Menu: A Fresh Look and Feel
The Windows Start menu is getting a major makeover, and it’s rolling out to all users with the November 11 Patch Tuesday update. This update brings a host of new features and improvements that will change the way you interact with your apps.
Scrollable and Simplified
One of the most noticeable changes is the introduction of a scrollable Start menu. This means you can now access all your apps in one place, without the need to jump to a separate page. The ‘All’ section is now right on the main screen, making it easier to find what you need.
Two Views, One Experience
The Start menu offers two user interfaces (UIs) for the ‘All apps’ list. By default, Microsoft uses a categorized view, which groups apps by type and prioritizes your most-used apps. These categories are created and managed locally using a JSON file, and a category is formed when it contains at least three apps. Smaller groups remain in the ‘Other’ category.
Additionally, there’s a grid view, which maintains the classic A to Z order but provides a wider layout, allowing you to scan more apps at once.
Adaptive Design
The new Start menu UI is adaptive, adjusting to your screen size. On larger screens, you’ll see a more expansive menu with eight columns of pinned apps, six recommendations, and four columns in the ‘All’ categories. Smaller screens will display six columns of pinned apps, four recommendations, and three columns in the ‘All’ categories.
Pinned Area Flexibility
If you only pin a few apps, the Pinned area collapses into a single row, and other sections move up, ensuring a clean and organized look.
Remove the Recommended Feed
If you prefer a more streamlined experience, you can remove the Recommended feed. Simply go to Settings > Personalization > Start and toggle off the options for recently added apps, recommended files, websites from your history, and tips. This will hide the recommendations, giving you more space for your installed apps.
Addressing UI Issues
While the new Start menu is an improvement, it may cover a significant portion of the screen on PCs with low resolutions, causing UI issues. To resolve this, consider adjusting the scale settings in Settings > System > Display.
Custom Categories
One area where customization could be enhanced is the ability to create custom categories. Currently, most apps fall under the ‘Other’ category because they don’t meet Microsoft’s criteria for forming categories. However, it’s expected that customization controls will improve over time.
Getting the Update
The new Start menu UI is rolling out with the November 2025 Patch Tuesday update and will be available in builds 26200.7019 and 26100.7019 or newer. It won’t be enabled by default, so you’ll need to manually activate it.
Stay Secure with Secrets Management
As you explore the new Start menu, remember that effective secrets management is crucial for security. Consider checking out the Secrets Security Cheat Sheet for guidance on managing and securing your secrets, whether they’re old keys or AI-generated code.