Microsoft Moves to Expand Windows 11’s Start Menu Redesign, Revealing Why It’s Changed Again

Microsoft is expanding its redesigned Windows 11 Start menu to more devices in January 2026, consolidating Pinned, Recommended, and All Apps into one streamlined panel. Gone is the clunky “All Apps” button — navigation now flows naturally, like a menu that actually remembers it’s supposed to help. Targeting versions 24H2 and 25H2, the rollout prioritizes refinement over reinvention, though power users remain skeptical about reduced customization — and there’s considerably more to unpack here.

Microsoft is overhauling the Windows 11 Start menu with a wider rollout beginning January 2026, introducing a redesigned layout that integrates all apps directly into the main panel — no extra clicks required. The update, which first appeared as an optional download during the November 2025 Security Update, targets Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, both with build numbers ending in 7019. Microsoft confirmed to Windows Latest that the broader push will occur in the final week of January 2026, gradually reaching more devices.

Microsoft’s redesigned Windows 11 Start menu arrives broadly in January 2026, putting all apps front and centre instantly.

The redesign consolidates the Start menu into three clear sections: Pinned, Recommended, and All apps. The last section is the highlight — it now resides directly on the Start menu home, collapsing what was previously a separate navigational step into a single, immediate view. Category view allows users to browse every installed app without scrolling through what often felt like an endless alphabetical list. Think of it less like a filing cabinet and more like a well-organised shelf where everything is visible.

So why change it again? Microsoft states that nearly a year of development informed this decision, with Feedback Hub data guiding the team towards a design that feels more personal and calm while enhancing app discovery. The company deliberately stepped back from radical concepts — earlier prototypes reportedly explored a “For You” dashboard, widget integration, and left-side navigation panes — ultimately favouring refinement over revolution.

The goal, as Microsoft frames it, is to honour the original Start menu promise: a fast, intuitive starting point in an increasingly noisy digital world.

Customisation options are found in Settings under Personalisation then Start. Users can toggle the Recommended section on or off entirely, choose to display recently added apps, most-used apps, or websites pulled from browser history. Three viewing modes — Category, List, and Grid — cater to different working styles. Notably absent is any manual resize option; the larger layout scales automatically to screen resolution, which may frustrate those who like to tinker but will likely please the majority who never adjusted those settings anyway.

Compared to its predecessor, the new menu reduces navigation latency by eliminating the separate All apps button. The Pinned and Recommended sections remain, just larger. The Pinned section displays two rows of apps by default, with each row accommodating up to eight different pins. There are no Live Tiles or Metro throwbacks — the design stays firmly rooted in Fluent Design principles, featuring rounded geometry and Mica material. It’s an evolution, not a reinvention.

Criticism has not entirely dissipated. Search performance remains inconsistent on certain machines, requests for a movable taskbar continue to be ignored despite significant upvotes on Feedback Hub, and reduced customisation options still attract complaints from power users. Users who preferred the old Start menu are unlikely to find the new UI any more appealing, as Microsoft acknowledges it has been selective in the feedback it has chosen to incorporate.

Whether this iteration genuinely earns community trust or merely reshuffles familiar frustrations will become clearer as the January rollout reaches everyday desktops. Users eager for early access can enable the feature now via Settings, Windows Update, and the latest updates toggle.

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