Microsoft continues to refine its latest operating system, and this month, it’s delivering a significant visual and functional upgrade. The Windows 11 Start Menu is getting a fresh new look. This new style is intended to increase productivity, improve customization, and make navigating easier than before. Windows 11 promised a leaner, more contemporary interface from the start.
Microsoft is now moving forward much more. This most recent release places more emphasis on the user experience than previous releases. Note that the previous releases were primarily concerned with security and system stability. The makeover of the Start Menu may really be the most obvious update consumers have noticed in months.
What’s new in the Windows 11 Start Menu?
To start with, Microsoft has improved the design. Users may now easily reorganize pinned apps because they are more dynamically structured. Users can also anticipate smarter app recommendations based on usage trends and recent activities. Finding what you need becomes easier and faster as a result.
A more intelligent “Recommended” section has also been added to the new menu. It now highlights frequently accessed documents and even makes recommendations for the next steps of ongoing projects. Contrary to its old feature of just listing recently opened files. This proactive feature distinguishes it from earlier iterations with an additional degree of intelligence. It also gets easier to switch between work and leisure.
Users can now create custom folders within the Start Menu, grouping similar apps or workflows together. Everything remains well-organized whether you’re launching leisure apps or productivity ones.
Windows 11 is also getting a variety of new AI features including; an AI agent integrated into the Windows settings menu, additional Click to Do text and image actions, AI editing capabilities for Paint, Photos, and the Snipping Tool, Copilot Vision visual search, enhanced Windows Search, rich image descriptions for Narrator, AI writing capabilities in Notepad, and AI actions from within File Explorer
These features are intended to “make our experiences more intuitive, more accessible, and ultimately more useful,” according to Microsoft’s blog post. Users will be able to ask an AI on the device to change Windows settings for them or ask for assistance in resolving issues they’re having, such as a little mouse cursor.
Microsoft is listening to feedback
Microsoft’s response to customer feedback is one factor contributing to the update’s success. The corporation has collected information from user forums and its Insider Program over the last 12 months. The outcome? A Start Menu that takes into account practical requirements.
By acting on this feedback, Microsoft ensures that this version isn’t just visually appealing—it’s more functional too. Importantly, performance improvements accompany the visual updates. Users will notice faster response times and smoother animations.
The Start Menu doesn’t just look better—it feels faster. For example, when users open or search within the menu, results appear almost instantly. That kind of responsiveness keeps the workflow moving without interruption.
When is it expected to roll out?
This month, a cumulative update to the Windows 11 Start Menu will start to roll out internationally. Microsoft intends to push it out more widely in the upcoming weeks, although initially it will only be available to users with compatible devices. You can gain access sooner if you check Settings for updates if you’re keen to test it out first.
