Microsoft is revamping the reviled Windows 11 Start menu – here's a sneak peek

Microsoft is testing a dramatic overhaul of the controversial Windows 11 Start menu. Potentially rolling out later this year, the changes aim to address some of the many criticisms that have dogged the menu over the years.

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As spotted by Windows latest, an X post from phantomofearth (who looks at Windows insider builds) takes us on a short video tour of the new and improved Start menu. Here is what is in store and how it tries to fix the flaws and limitations in the existing version.

What’s new in the Windows 11 Start menu?

The current Windows 11 Start menu shows only pinned and recommended apps up front. To see all your installed apps, you have to move to a different screen. The new menu displays all your apps right on the main screen, so they are more easily accessible.

Plus, you are able to view all the apps in one of three different layouts — a named list, a named grid, or folders based on category. The category folders are similar to the App Library found on the iPhone and iPad.

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Next up, the existing Pinned section displays only a few rows of apps, requiring you to scroll down to see the next batch. With the new menu, you can opt to show them all right off the bat.

The Recommended section shows apps and files that Microsoft thinks you will want to access, but this area chews up valuable space. In the new Start menu, you can completely disable the Recommended section, leaving more room for the Pinned apps and All apps sections.

The current Start menu is relatively small and can feel crowded. The new menu is larger and more expansive, with more room to house the various sections.

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Along with the new menu are new options in the Start area of the Settings screen. You can display all pins by default and show websites from your browsing history. Overall, the new menu and settings give you some helpful customization options lacking in the current menu.

How to try the new Windows 11 Start menu

Microsoft has not publicly announced the new Start menu, so it is not yet easily accessible. To try it, you would need the latest Windows 11 insider build as well as the Windows configuration tool ViVeTool, through which you would have to enable certain features. Otherwise, you will likely have to wait until it officially pops up in a future insider build.

Also: 7 quick ways to make Windows 11 less annoying right now

Since the release of Windows 11 in October 2021, the Start menu has been one of the most divisive changes, with many people criticizing its clumsy design and poor customization options. In 2022, a former director of user experience (UX) at Microsoft said that the menu has confusing elements and distractions and even makes it look like his PC is “infected by a virus.”

Start menu alternatives to consider

Personally, I have hated the Windows 11 Start menu from the get-go. Instead of improving the previous design from Windows 10, Microsoft took a step backwards and created a menu that is difficult to use, looks ungainly, and stifles personalization.

In response, I use and have always recommended a Start menu alternative. With such tools as Start11, StartAllBack, and Open Shell, you are able to replace the built-menu with a more traditional and user-friendly layout, and one that you can customize however you want.

Also: 6 things I always do after setting up Windows 11 – and why you should too

I would still like to see Microsoft return to the more familiar Start menu from the Windows 7 and Windows 10 days. But that would force the company to admit that it made a mistake with the Windows 11 menu, and that is not likely to happen. Still, the new changes seem like a step in the right direction, and they will hopefully help make Windows 11 a bit less frustrating and a bit more usable.

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