New Start Menu for Windows 11
Microsoft has released the October non-security preview update for Windows 11 Version 24H2 and Version 25H2.
This update brings the long-awaited new Start Menu. The new Start Menu includes a more customizable look and a number of quality of life improvements for users to make their everyday use easier.
How to get the update and when to wait
The update is called KB5067036, and it’s available right now for those who have the “Get updates as soon as they’re available” button enabled in Windows Update settings.
Unfortunately, the new Start Menu itself is being rolled out in stages. So, not everyone will see it immediately after installing the update.
Even if you choose to skip this update, the new Start Menu is expected to roll out more widely with next month’s Patch Tuesday update. So, you should be able to get the new Start Menu pretty soon.
The main advantage of the new Windows 11 Start Menu: Customization
The new Windows 11 Start Menu has been rebuilt from the ground up with the aim of improving customization.
The layout is now more dynamic. This means you can choose to hide parts of the interface that you never use.
For example, if you don’t want to see pinned or recommended apps and files, you can turn those parts off.
The new Start Menu makes it easier to view your app list
This new layout moves the “All Apps List” to the top of the Start Menu. It also adds two new ways to view it: Grid List and Category View.
By default, the new Start Menu displays your all apps list in a category view. This view attempts to automatically group your installed apps into categories, similar to the app shelf in iOS (iPhone) or iPadOS.
Other improvements to the Start Menu and Taskbar
The new Start Menu is more adaptive. This means it will appear larger on larger screens, giving you the ability to display more connected apps at once.
The Start Menu also includes an improved Phone Link Panel. You can now see more of your recent activities, such as notifications, missed calls, and text messages, from here.
The new update also includes improvements to the Taskbar. There are animations for thumbnails when you hover your mouse over open app icons, and a new battery icon that displays the battery percentage on the Taskbar.
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How to get the new Windows 11 Start Menu?
The new Windows 11 Start Menu is rolling out as an optional preview update, called KB5067036, for Version 24H2 and Version 25H2. This feature is being rolled out gradually, so you may not see it right away.
To get the KB5067036 update, make sure you have the “Get updates as soon as they’re available” switch turned on in your Windows Update settings. Then, check for updates.
Can you disable the new Start Menu?
The answer is ‘no’. Once you have the new Start Menu on your computer, you can’t disable it completely.
But don’t worry. You can disable some of the new features if you don’t like them. For example, you can disable the Phone Link Panel and the new view for the app list.
