Windows 11's Start menu is one of the reasons many customers do not want to abandon Windows 10 and upgrade to Windows 11. However, it appears that Microsoft is finally ready to fix that with a seriously massive Start menu redesign.
The just-released Windows 11 preview builds from the Dev and Beta Channels contain a big Start menu rework that fixes several complaints about its current implementation. Microsoft is finally ditching a two-section design in favor of a single scrollable view. Your pins and recommendations sit on top, while the All Apps list is right below them—simply start scrolling, and you are good to go browse all installed apps, no more clicking the "All" button.
Another thing that will make a lot of Windows 11 users happy is the ability to turn off the "Recommended" section for good and keep only pinned apps and folders. This has been a big point of criticism during all these years, and Microsoft is finally adhering to customer feedback.
The reworked Start menu was spotted by the eagle-eyed Windows Insider phantomofearth on X:
Hidden in today's Dev/Beta CUs: a major update to the Windows 11 Start menu! It has a new, larger layout with everything on one scrollable page, with the "All" list below recommendations - which can FINALLY be turned off! Pinned list is now limited to 2 rows, but can be expanded. pic.twitter.com/JkP3V2I5g6
— phantomofearth 🌳 (@phantomofearth) April 3, 2025
You can turn on the new Start menu in the latest Dev and Beta builds by doing the following:
- Download ViveTool from GitHub and unpack the files in a convenient and easy-to-find folder.
- Run Command Prompt as Administrator and navigate to the folder containing the ViveTool files with the CD command. For example, if you have placed ViveTool in C:\Vive, type CD C:\Vive.
- Type vivetool /enable /id:49402389,49221331,47205210,48433719 and press Enter.
- Restart your computer.
Microsoft has not announced it yet, as it is probably not ready for prime time by the company's standards.
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