Microsoft overhauled the Windows 11 Start menu in late 2025, transforming it from a compact launcher into a sprawling dashboard-style interface — bold enough to resurrect uncomfortable Windows 8 comparisons. The redesign introduced a 6-to-8-column grid, embedded All Apps directly into the menu, and added automated app categorization. Reception remains mixed, with limited customization frustrating power users. There’s considerably more to this story than the surface-level redesign suggests.
Microsoft has overhauled the Windows 11 Start menu, rolling out a larger, restructured design to users beginning November 2025. The update, which started shipping in October 2025 and will continue into 2026, marks one of the more visible interface shifts the company has made since Windows 8 left many users with less than fond memories of tiles. By January 2026, the redesigned menu became widely available through standard Windows Update channels, affecting versions 24H2 and 25H2.
The new design is noticeably larger. Rather than a compact launcher, the menu now expands across a 6-column or 8-column grid, depending on screen resolution and scaling settings. Think of it less like a menu and more like a dashboard that has finally embraced its space.
The new Start menu doesn’t whisper its arrival. It expands, occupies space, and dares you to call it a menu.
The Pinned section accommodates two rows of up to eight apps each, while the Recommended section surfaces recent files, frequently used apps, and, yes, occasional Microsoft Store promotions that nobody asked for but everyone gets anyway.
Perhaps the most significant structural change is how All Apps now integrates directly into the menu without requiring extra clicks to access. Apps are automatically grouped into categories such as Productivity or Developer Tools, and users can switch to a Grid View for alphabetical browsing.
It sounds organised in theory. In practice, the automated categorisation has drawn criticism for being imprecise, with some apps ending up in categories that raise genuine eyebrows. Manual category editing is not available, leaving users either to accept Microsoft’s organisational instincts or to live with mild frustration.
A Phone Link sidebar also makes an appearance, offering smartphone access directly from the Start menu. Some users see this as a genuinely useful convergence of devices, while others have quietly hidden the icon through settings and moved on with their lives.
Customisation options exist but are deliberately limited. Users can remove the Recommended section through settings, adjust the All Apps layout via right-click, and hide the Phone Link icon. Those seeking finer control have turned to registry patches or third-party tools, which can force the smaller 6-column version—the digital equivalent of refusing to rearrange furniture just because someone suggests it.
Reception has been predictably divided. Larger display users dealing with the 8-column layout have voiced frustration, while others have embraced the expanded design and Phone Link integration as long-overdue improvements. Users who prefer the previous layout can use VIVE Tool to revert to the old Start menu experience.
The comparison to the Windows 8 Start screen circulates in tech forums, sometimes as criticism, sometimes as reluctant nostalgia. Many users continue to express a strong preference for the Windows 7 Start menu style, citing its simplicity and straightforward design as a benchmark Microsoft has yet to recapture.
What Microsoft is clearly communicating is that the Start menu should reflect how people actually use Windows today—phones connected, files surfaced, apps grouped. Whether the community agrees with that vision is another matter entirely. The update is here, it is large, and it is not particularly interested in being subtle about it.
Final Thoughts
Microsoft’s recent overhaul of the Start Menu in Windows 11 signifies more than just a visual update; it reflects the company’s commitment to evolving the user experience. As users navigate these changes, it’s clear that Microsoft is moving beyond a cautious approach. This redesign sets the stage for a more intuitive and adaptable Windows experience in the future. The windows 11 start menu redesign features a streamlined layout that prioritizes user efficiency and personalization. Widgets have been integrated to provide real-time updates at a glance, while the enhanced search functionality allows for quicker access to applications and settings. This thoughtful configuration is designed to help users seamlessly transition into their workflows, ensuring a more productive environment.
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