Windows 11 users are getting a long-awaited Start menu redesign this week. While the features have been available in beta for awhile, Microsoft is rolling out the updated interface to everyone alongside November’s Patch Tuesday.
What’s new with the Windows 11 Start menu
The Start menu will now be scrollable, so you can see all of your apps on the homepage instead needing to click All apps to open a separate page. Below pinned apps and recommendations, Microsoft will now automatically categorize similar apps into groups—the Productivity group may include your browsers and Microsoft 365 suite, for example—and place remaining apps under Other. Categories are created with three or more similar apps. For the time being, Microsoft does not allow you to customize your own. This will be the default view after the update, though you can change back to grid view with apps listed A to Z.
The new Start menu will also adapt to fit your screen: Larger screens will default to eight columns of pinned apps, six recommendations, and four category columns. If your screen is smaller, the menu will shrink to six pinned app columns, four recommendations, and three columns of categories. You can also disable recommendations, which will allow you to see more installed apps on the Start menu without needing to scroll. You’ll find this option under Settings > Personalization > Start.
In addition to the improved Start menu, Windows 11 users will also see a handful of other updates this Patch Tuesday. The battery icon now will have an optional percentage display and color indicator, and File Explorer will have a Recommended section on the Home page in place of Quick Access. Voice Access and Click to Do also have improved features.
You do not need to reinstall Windows in order get the Start menu redesign. Just ensure your system is set to automatically check for updates as soon as they’re available.
