All articles tagged with #start menu
Microsoft is rolling out an Insider Preview (Build 26300.8493) that reinstates a resizable taskbar and configurable Start menu on Windows 11, letting users move the taskbar to the top or sides, enable smaller icons, and tailor Start menu content and size, while maintaining a list of recently installed apps; the company also teases a modern Run dialog and broader performance and UX improvements.
Microsoft is rolling out full Windows 11 taskbar and Start Menu customization to Windows Insider participants in the Experimental channel, allowing the Taskbar to be moved to top, bottom, left, or right with per-position alignment and smaller icons, plus a revamped Start Menu with adjustable sizes and toggleable sections (Pinned, Recent, All) and privacy options. Start’s file recommendations are now separated from File Explorer’s recent items, and the Recent area is renamed from Recommended. The updates are set to reach 24H2/25H2/26H1 users in coming weeks.
Microsoft says personalization is in Windows’ DNA and will roll out a wave of Windows 11 customization features this year, starting with a movable, smaller taskbar for Windows Insider testers (with a public rollout after bug fixes) and a highly configurable Start menu that can change size, hide sections (All apps, Recommended/Recent, Pinned), rename Suggested items to Recent, and show recently installed apps. Additional changes, such as a future taskbar resize, are planned throughout the year as Microsoft seeks to win back Windows users by focusing on fundamentals and customization.
Microsoft is adding Small and Large Start menu layouts for Windows 11 and letting users hide sections (Pinned, All apps, Recommended). You’ll be able to disable the profile/name in Start, and the rollout will occur over the coming weeks with more options planned, including a WinUI-based Start menu and a movable, smaller taskbar in previews.
Microsoft is testing a 'low latency profile' in Windows 11 that briefly boosts CPU speed to make the Start menu, File Explorer and other UI elements feel more responsive; early tests on builds show faster performance than the current public version, while critics worry about power use. Microsoft and advocates say this CPU bursting is a normal technique used by modern OSes (including macOS and Linux) and is paired with other optimizations as part of ongoing Windows quality improvements amid Windows 11 hardware upgrade momentum.
Microsoft says it’s working on additional Start menu customization options for Windows 11 after user feedback criticized the current Categories layout. The changes are expected to be incremental rather than a full redesign, with potential new controls over categorization and maybe a resize option, and are accompanied by moving the Start menu to WinUI to improve performance; rollout timing isn’t disclosed.
Windows 11 ships with several out-of-the-box defaults that push background services, data collection, and promotional prompts. This Windows Central guide highlights 14 default configurations to adjust for better privacy, performance, and clarity, including disabling web results in Start, turning off Start recommendations, limiting diagnostic data, stopping post‑setup prompts, unpinning unnecessary taskbar items, avoiding Microsoft account sign-in, uninstalling preinstalled apps, managing updates and restarts, backing up BitLocker recovery offline, turning off Find my device, showing file extensions, using the legacy context menu, reducing system-wide ads, and disabling Edge startup boost. While these defaults can feel intrusive, Windows 11 remains highly configurable to reclaim control over privacy and resources.
Microsoft is rebuilding the Windows 11 Start menu with WinUI 3, adding Settings-based controls to resize between small and large layouts and to toggle off entire sections (including the Recommended feed and All apps), while boosting responsiveness and search performance under load as part of the Windows K2 initiative.
Windows 11’s Start menu is getting a major overhaul rolled out in waves: it now splits into three sections—Pinned (two rows, up to eight pins per row), Recommended (recent files/apps with optional promoted Store apps), and All (automatically grouped by category with a Grid View option). The All view can be switched to Grid View for an alphabetical list, and the menu adapts its size to your screen resolution but cannot be resized itself. It also tightens Phone Link integration. You can trigger the update earlier via Windows Update settings or ViVeTool. Third-party replacements like Start11 remain popular for further customization. The rollout is staged and user reactions are mixed.
Microsoft's November Windows 11 update (KB5068861) introduces a more customizable Start menu, improvements to the battery icon, and fixes for the Task Manager bug that caused it to run in the background, along with various other system fixes.
Windows 11 is getting a major Start menu redesign with a new scrollable, categorized UI that is rolling out with the November 11 Patch Tuesday update, offering a more adaptive and customizable experience, though some issues and limitations remain.
Microsoft's November 11, 2025, Windows 11 update introduces a redesigned Start menu, new security features like Administrator Protection, battery percentage display, updated File Explorer recommendations, fluid dictation for Voice Access, and improvements to Click to Do, enhancing user experience and security.
Microsoft has rolled out a new version of the Windows 11 Start menu that simplifies access to all installed apps by eliminating the need to click 'All'. Users can customize the menu to show all apps in various views, and the update is available for certain Windows builds, with the option to enable it via Windows updates or using ViveTool for unsupported versions.
The latest optional update for Windows 11 introduces a redesigned Start menu that addresses previous criticisms by adding features like a scrollable all apps section, customizable categories, and better integration with Phone Link, making it more functional and customizable than before.
Microsoft has rolled out a new Start menu for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, featuring a scrollable app section, new views, and Phone Link integration, along with improvements to File Explorer and battery indicators, available via optional update KB5067036.