Microsoft has overhauled Windows 11’s Start menu, replacing the multi-pane layout with a single, vertically scrollable interface supporting up to 24 pinned apps in a 6- or 8-column grid. Rolling out via KB5068861 and broader February 2026 updates, the redesign adapts dynamically across screen sizes and device types. Reception remains divided — supporters praise improved app discovery whereas critics invoke Windows 8 nightmares — and everything behind the controversy is worth exploring further.
Microsoft has overhauled the Windows 11 Start menu — its most significant redesign since the operating system launched in 2021. The change is not subtle. It’s the kind of update that makes longtime Windows users pause mid-click and wonder whether they have accidentally installed something else.
The revamped Start menu began rolling out through the November 2025 Patch Tuesday update, KB5068861, before reaching wider audiences in February 2026. A subsequent January 2026 cumulative update, KB5074109, expanded the new Categories layout to additional devices. Microsoft did not rush this. Testing started in late 2024, moved through iterative Dev Channel previews across 2025, and arrived as part of the Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2 servicing waves. The company clearly wanted to get this right — or at least, as right as a company redesigning something millions of people use daily possibly can.
Microsoft did not rush this — testing began in late 2024, with the rollout stretching well into 2026.
The core change eliminates the old multi-pane structure entirely. Pinned apps and the full apps list now share a single, vertically scrollable interface. Users can view apps in a 6- or 8-column grid depending on screen resolution, accommodating up to 24 pinned apps at once.
A category grid view — unmistakably reminiscent of iOS — groups apps by type, eliminating what Microsoft apparently identified as “marathon scrolling.” For anyone who ever felt lost in the original Start menu’s maze of panes, this redesign feels like finally finding your place.
Phone Link receives notable elevation here, tucked into an expandable side panel that widens the menu to accommodate mobile content. The Recommended section surfaces recent files and items by default, tying into File Explorer and Jump Lists through a single toggle. It is a cohesive approach, although disabling Recommended affects more than users might expect.
The new menu adapts dynamically to screen size, with a minimum height preventing layout jitter and larger grids on high-DPI and multi-monitor setups. Tablets and hybrid devices benefit most visibly. Microsoft clearly designed this for a hardware environment that looks very different from 2021.
Reception, predictably, is divided. Critics invoked Windows 8 almost immediately — the size of the new menu carrying uncomfortable flashbacks for those who lived through that particular era. Supporters counter that the single-page approach meaningfully reduces clicks and improves app discovery without forcing users to navigate a separate All Apps list. Both camps are right, in their own way.
Customisation remains limited. There is no manual resize option, no way to remove the All Apps section, and automated category grouping has drawn criticism for inconsistent organisation. Users wanting the 6-column layout particularly may need third-party tools to achieve this. Those seeking to revert entirely are in a similar position, as no official rollback option exists for returning to the previous Start menu design.
Complaints have also emerged about the menu’s sheer physical presence on screen, with some users reporting it consuming up to 90% of screen width on their displays — a footprint that feels difficult to ignore regardless of workflow preferences.
Whether this redesign earns long-term loyalty or becomes another cautionary tale depends entirely on whether Microsoft listens to what comes next from its user base — something it claims drove this design in the first place.
Final Thoughts
Microsoft’s recent overhaul of the Start Menu in Windows 11 indicates more than just a visual update; it suggests an acknowledgment that the initial design may not have met user expectations. The true impact of this redesign will be determined by how well it resonates with everyday users. At U Break We Fix, we understand the importance of these changes and are here to assist you in adapting to the new features. If you have questions or need support, don’t hesitate to reach out. Click on our contact us page to get in touch!
