Windows 11 Preview Build Brings New Start Menu Changes
What Is New in the Start Menu Layout?
Open first thing each morning, the updated Start screen now sorts things smarter. Because of tweaks under the hood, finding your work feels quicker. What stands out most? Control shifts toward you – no longer stuck with layouts handed down automatically.
- Rename the “Recommended” section to “Recent”
- You can hide or display important Start sections.
- Menu size can be small, large or auto.
- The start settings are getting a rework for easier control.
How Does the New Recent Section Help Users?
We renamed the “Recent” part for the Start menu to make it more intuitive. The word “Recommended” was a lot of users confused. It mashed files, apps and suggestions together. “Recent” is a better description because most of the items in the area are either recently used or recently added, which helps users get back to work faster.
Can users remove parts from the Start Menu?
Some people like it clean — the test version allows them to toggle the pieces. Sections can disappear if they are barely touched. Pinned programmes stay handy, without clutter crowding in. There is less noise when there are no unused parts. Choice determines the way things appear now.
- Users can collapse pinned section.
- Recent can be obscured by users.
- The all apps section is controlled by the users.
- The Start menu can look cleaner and more personal .
- These options can assist with focus and navigation.
How to Resize the Start Menu?
Microsoft is also experimenting with new sizes for the Start menu. You can have a small Start menu, a large Start menu or Windows can decide the default. That’s important because Windows 11 runs on lots of different devices, from small laptops to big monitors, and one menu size might not work for everyone.
Why Control Profile Visibility
Another nice privacy change is being able to hide the user name and profile picture from the Start menu. This can be helpful in offices, shared spaces, classrooms or for screen recordings. Users can have more control over which personal information is shown on the desktop interface.
- Users can hide profile pics.
- Users can hide the account name.
- It gives you privacy when you are sharing your screen.
- Makes the Start menu look cleaner.
How Will the New Start Settings Page Work?
We’re redesigning the Start settings page to make it easier for casual users to personalise. Better organised place for finding start related controls rather than scattered options will make it easier for the users to locate start related controls. This may help speed things along and make the Windows 11 personalisation feel more direct, especially for those who regularly tweak layout and visibility options.
Are These Start Menu Changes Going to Make You More Efficient?
Changes like this can make you more productive by cutting down on visual noise and making that important app easier to access. A cleaner Start menu makes it easier to launch apps, recent files and system locations. Power users will enjoy the control over sections and size that can make the desktop experience more efficient.
- Get to your most-used apps faster.
- Better organisation of your daily tasks.
- Better use of space on different screen sizes.
- Less distraction from unwanted sections.
- More control over your desktop style.
When will everyone get the new Start Menu?
These features are in a Windows 11 preview build, so they are first available only to Windows Insider users. Microsoft typically tries out these features, gathers feedback, addresses any issues, and then decides whether to roll them out more broadly. If you’re a typical user, you’ll need to wait until a future stable Windows 11 update.
Should You Install the Preview Build or Not?
Fans of testing new Windows features might want to check out this preview build, especially since the changes to the Start menu are not only visible but practical. Preview builds may have bugs or unpolished behaviour though. If you’re not comfortable testing software, it’s generally best to wait for the stable release on a primary work PC.
