Major New Windows 11 Update Redesigns The Start Menu - What You Need To Know

Microsoft

Follow ZDNET: Add america arsenic a preferred source on Google.

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The latest Windows 11 Insider update tries to amended nan Start menu.
• The paper shows each apps connected nan main page and a surface for your phone.
• The update besides enhances File Explorer pinch a recommended record section.

I don't for illustration nan Windows 11 Start menu. I deliberation it's clunky, inflexible, and conscionable plain dumb. That's why I usage a Start paper replacement, specifically Stardock's Start11, connected my main PC.

But I do still move to nan Start paper crossed my Windows 11 virtual machines. For those, I've been hoping that Microsoft will effort to correct immoderate of nan flaws and quirks successful nan built-in menu. And that seems to beryllium nan extremity down a caller update.

Now rolling retired gradually to Windows 11 Insiders, nan latest update yet attempts to bring a redesigned Start paper to nan mix. In a Tuesday blog post, Microsoft said that nan caller paper will thief you entree your apps much quickly and smoothly, truthful you tin find what you request much easily. It besides introduced changes to File Explorer and nan taskbar. Here's what to expect.

Start menu

First up, nan All conception appears straight connected nan main page of nan Start paper alternatively than arsenic a abstracted area you person to prime to access. The All conception is besides scrollable, truthful you tin simply move down nan surface to spot each your apps.

Instead of limiting you to an alphabetical database of installed apps, nan caller paper lets you move betwixt class position and grid view. With class view, your apps are placed into folders that effort to shape them based connected type. With grid view, your apps spell backmost to being listed alphabetically, but pinch much horizontal space, truthful you tin amended position them. Choose 1 position aliases nan other, and nan Start paper will retrieve your choice.

Also: Microsoft said my PC can't tally Windows 11, but I upgraded successful 5 minutes anyhow - here's how

The overhauled paper besides adapts to your surface size. On a larger display, you're capable to spot much pinned apps, recommended apps, and categories. You tin besides grow aliases illness nan Pinned and Recommended sections based connected what you want to see.

Further, a caller pane for Phone Link lets you entree calls and messages connected your connected iPhone aliases Android phone. If that doesn't liking you, you tin easy hide nan pane.

Microsoft has slow dribbled retired immoderate of these changes to Windows insiders successful nan past. But it's been deed aliases miss. Hopefully, nan caller update will use them to everyone successful nan Insiders program.

File Explorer

Beyond nan Start menu, File Explorer besides gets immoderate tweaks courtesy of this latest Insider's build.

The Home page of File Explorer will now show recommended files for some Microsoft accounts and section accounts. If enabled, this area will show files you often use, files you've precocious downloaded, aliases files you've added to nan File Explorer Gallery. If you for illustration not to spot this, you tin easy move it off.

Hovering complete a record successful File Explorer will show you specified commands arsenic "Open record location" and "Ask Copilot." Initially, this will beryllium disposable only pinch individual Microsoft accounts, but will grow to activity and schoolhouse accounts successful nan future.

Taskbar

The Windows taskbar is nan adjacent recipient of a mates of tweaks.

The artillery icon successful nan System Tray will now show different colors to bespeak nan charging status. A greenish icon intends your PC is successful charging mode and successful a bully state. A yellowish icon tells you that nan artillery is astatine 20% aliases below. Further, you tin alteration an action to spot your artillery percent successful nan System Tray.

Hovering complete nan icon of an unfastened app connected nan taskbar will show a caller "Share pinch Copilot" button. Selecting it triggers Copilot Vision, which tin analyse and reply questions astir nan contented successful nan file. Don't want to spot this? You tin easy move it disconnected via taskbar settings.

Also: Running Windows 11? Install this emergency spot earlier you usage betterment mode - here's why

With nan latest update, Microsoft has made it moreover more difficult to take a section account during nan Windows 11 setup. But astatine slightest you tin now sanction your default personification folder. In nan past, Windows would automatically prime a files sanction based connected your username, which wasn't ever ideal.

The process for naming your personification files is cumbersome, arsenic you person to unfastened a punctual and manually tally a mates of commands. Hopefully, Microsoft will amended this astatine immoderate point.

The caller update besides tweaks nan Click to Do option connected Copilot+PCs, Windows sound access, and Microsoft 365 Copilot. You'll besides find a assortment of bug fixes for different Windows features.

The astir important changes are still nan ones to nan Start menu. Though I'll apt proceed to usage Start11, astatine slightest Microsoft is trying to correct immoderate of nan idiosyncrasies of nan existent menu.