Back to Basics: Microsoft Experiments with Redesigned Start Menu in Windows 11 Beta Builds

Windows 11 has become almost synonymous with Microsoft’s advancements in generative AI, making it easy to forget that its initial release was primarily a cosmetic update to Windows 10. Despite this focus, Microsoft continues to refine the core elements of the operating system’s design. An example of this ongoing effort is evident in a recent Windows 11 beta build that features a revamped Start menu, as discovered by Windows tester phantomofearth (via The Verge).

This newly redesigned Start menu marks the first significant update since Windows 11 debuted over three years ago. The refreshed menu offers a larger display area, showcasing up to two rows of eight pinned apps. While this is the default view, users can expand this section to see more apps. Below these pinned apps, users can access a scrollable list of installed applications, which replaces the “All” button found in the current Start menu. Users can choose to view these apps in a vertically scrollable list, a horizontal grid, or sorted by category, with the latter being the most space-efficient option.

One of the most intriguing features for users who find Windows’ constant reminders and recommendations bothersome is the ability to turn off the “Recommended” section entirely. This new option allows users to replace the Recommended area with a complete list of all installed apps on their PC. While some may find the Recommended section useful for quickly accessing recently installed apps or opened files, others have found it increasingly cluttered with advertisements for apps from the Microsoft Store in recent Windows 11 builds.

Source: (Ars Technica)