Windows 11 Users Will See a Major Overhaul of the Start Menu This Week.
This week, Windows 11 users will receive the long-awaited redesigned Start menu. While these features have been available in beta for some time , Microsoft is releasing the updated interface to everyone with November’s Patch Tuesday.
What’s new in the Windows 11 Start menu
The Start menu can now be swipe to see all apps on the main page, instead of having to click “All apps” to open a separate page. Below pinned apps and recommendations, Microsoft now automatically categorizes similar apps into groups (for example, a “Productivity” group might include your browsers and Microsoft 365), and places the remaining apps into an “Other” category. Categories are created from three or more similar apps. Microsoft currently doesn’t allow you to customize your own categories. After the update, this view will be the default, but you can revert to a grid view with apps listed A-Z.
The new Start menu also adapts to your screen size: on larger screens, the default display is eight columns of pinned apps, six columns of recommendations, and four columns of categories. On smaller screens, the menu shrinks to six columns of pinned apps, four columns of recommendations, and three columns of categories. You can also turn off recommendations, allowing you to see more of your installed apps in the Start menu without scrolling. This option is located in Settings > Personalization > Start .
In addition to the improved Start menu, Windows 11 users will also see several other updates this Patch Tuesday. The battery icon will now display a percentage and optionally a color indicator, and File Explorer will replace the Quick Access toolbar on the home page with a “Recommended” section. Voice Access and Click to Do have also received improved features.
You don’t need to reinstall Windows to update your Start menu. Just make sure your system is configured to automatically check for updates as they become available.