Microsoft is expanding its redesigned Windows 11 Start menu to a wider audience, confirming the overhaul was driven by Feedback Hub data showing users wanted faster access and greater personalization. The revamped layout unifies pinned apps and All Apps into a single view, offering category, grid, or A-Z browsing — think a smarter floor plan rather than a full renovation. Originally released October 2025, the phased rollout continues, and there’s considerably more to unpack about what’s actually changed.
Microsoft is rolling out a redesigned Start menu to a broader range of Windows 11 users, marking the most significant overhaul of the feature since the operating system launched. Originally released in October 2025, the update is now reaching wider audiences through phased deployment, with many users simply waking up to a new layout overnight. No dramatic announcement. No countdown. Just a new Start menu, waiting quietly.
Microsoft’s most significant Start menu overhaul since Windows 11 launched is quietly arriving for users — no fanfare, just a new layout overnight.
The company confirmed the broader release to Windows Latest, noting that Windows Insider Program Dev Channel participants had already been experiencing the redesign in preview. The rollout continues in waves, which means not everyone has it yet — but it is coming, and the community is already discussing it.
So why overhaul something that already worked? Microsoft says the answer came directly from Feedback Hub data. Users wanted speed, better personalisation, and easier app discovery. After nearly a year of exploring radical ideas and rejecting most of them, the team landed on something that feels familiar but moves faster. Think of it less like a renovation and more like a smarter floor plan in the same house.
The most notable change is unified app browsing. A new “All” button expands the apps section directly within the Start menu, eliminating the separate screen that used to feel like a detour. Pinned apps and All Apps no longer exist in separate worlds. Instead, apps surface at the top level in three views: categories, grid, or A-Z list. The category grid prioritises frequently used apps, borrowing the logic of phone interfaces like iOS, meaning less scrolling and faster access.
The menu additionally adapts intelligently to screen size. Smaller devices display six columns of pinned apps, while larger monitors show eight. The pinned section automatically shrinks when fewer apps are pinned, expanding either the recommendations or the category view to fill the space naturally.
The search panel now matches the Start menu’s full height, creating a cleaner visual flow that feels considered rather than cobbled together. Recommendations sit beneath the app list, displaying recent files, apps, and Microsoft Store promotions. Users who find that section unnecessary can hide it entirely, though toggling it off also disables recent items in File Explorer and Jump Lists — a trade-off worth noting before committing.
Customisation exists, but has its limits. Users can choose their preferred All-apps view, hide recommendations, and pin frequently used apps. However, manual resizing of the Start menu remains off the table even with repeated user requests. Microsoft has clearly drawn a line there. Users who wish to revert to the previous layout will find no built-in path back, as reverting requires third-party tools to restore the old Start menu experience. For those seeking additional functionality beyond what Microsoft offers, tools such as Start11 and OpenShell provide expanded customisation options that the default menu does not support.
The redesign reflects something the broader Windows community has been asking for: a Start menu that respects both time and screen real estate. Whether it fully delivers that promise will depend on living with it daily — which, for a growing number of users, starts now.
Final Thoughts
Microsoft’s Start Menu redesign is a strategic move aimed at enhancing user productivity rather than just a visual update. As the rollout expands and the reasoning behind the changes is shared, it’s clear that Microsoft is paying attention to user feedback, even if hesitantly. The success of the new layout will depend on whether the productivity benefits outweigh the challenges of adapting to the new design. With ongoing changes expected, it’s a sign that Windows 11’s evolution is not yet complete.
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