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Winsage

May 6, 2025

Microsoft Reveals New Windows 11 Start Menu and Upcoming Copilot+ Features

Microsoft has announced upcoming features for Windows 11, including a redesigned Start Menu, enhancements to Click to Do, and improvements in Windows Search. Key features for Windows Insiders using Qualcomm-powered Copilot+ PCs include an AI Agent in Settings, new Click to Do actions for scheduling and messaging, dynamic lighting controls in Photos, a Paint sticker generator, object selection in Paint, an improved Snipping tool, and rich image descriptions in Narrator. Additional features for all Windows Insiders include a new Start Menu with a phone companion sidebar, AI actions in File Explorer, updates to Notepad, Copilot improvements, and a Microsoft Store AI Hub. Notably, Copilot+ PC experiences will not be available in all markets until later, with some features expected to arrive in the European Economic Area in 2025.

Winsage

April 8, 2025

Microsoft’s new Windows 11 Start menu is bigger and fixes a major pain point

Microsoft is rolling out a redesigned Start menu for Windows 11 users, featuring a larger layout that consolidates functionality onto a single scrollable page. Users can disable the recommended feed, allowing for a cleaner interface. The new design provides easy access to all apps without navigating through multiple sections, with options for a category view or list format. Users can pin up to eight apps per row, with no restrictions on the number of rows. This updated Start menu is currently being tested in the 24H2 builds of Windows 11 and is also being backported to the 23H2 versions, indicating a wider rollout is expected soon.

Winsage

February 24, 2025

Microsoft changes Windows 11’s Start menu for the better (gasp) while introducing nifty new file sharing options

Windows 11 is testing a new preview build (22635.4950) in the Beta channel, featuring enhancements for user experience. Notable updates include a revamped file-sharing feature that allows drag-and-drop functionality to applications like WhatsApp, My Phone, and Microsoft Teams. The Start menu is being redesigned with options for a grid view and a category view in the 'All apps' section. The grid view expands horizontally to display more apps, while the category view organizes apps into groups based on function. The update also improves accessibility support in File Explorer and addresses several bugs. These features are expected to appear in Dev builds soon and are nearing public release.

Winsage

February 22, 2025

Windows upgrades to Start, Search, and Share might arrive sooner than you expect

A new Drag Tray feature allows users to share files by dragging them to a tray at the top of the screen, simplifying the sharing process. The Start menu can now be customized with a Grid view or a Category view for easier navigation. Windows Search has been updated to allow users to find images by typing a description instead of the file name, including images stored in the cloud. This search enhancement is currently available on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, with support for AMD and Intel models expected soon.

Winsage

February 21, 2025

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4950 (Beta Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4950 (KB5052078) has been released to the Beta Channel for Insiders not upgrading to version 24H2. This update includes new features such as a drag tray for easier file sharing, and two new views (grid and category) in the Start menu. Improvements include enhanced text scaling support in File Explorer, fixes for taskbar app window previews, and corrections for Japanese name formatting in Settings. Known issues involve delays in app icon appearances in the Start menu and slow closing of File Explorer for some users. Insiders can enable a toggle for immediate updates via Settings > Windows Update. Features may change or not be released based on testing and feedback.

Winsage

August 27, 2024

Windows 11 Start menu moves toward Windows 10 with Categories view

A new "category" view has been discovered in the Start menu of Windows 11 beta Build 22635.4082, which organizes applications into predefined groups like "entertainment" and "music." This feature is not fully customizable and is currently activated through specialized tools for hidden registry entries. Additionally, the latest beta introduces media controls on the lock screen, allowing users to manage media playback without unlocking their PCs. Microsoft has not officially acknowledged the category view feature.

Winsage

August 27, 2024

Microsoft improves Windows 11 Start menu, with no new ads in sight – and there’s a bonus for the lock screen in latest preview

Windows 11 has released a new preview build, 22635 (KB5041876), in the Beta channel, featuring enhancements to the interface. The update includes a revamped category view for the Start > All apps section, which now displays tooltips with app names on hover and has restructured application categories. Additionally, improvements to the lock screen allow users to see media controls while audio is playing, along with a blur effect. Microsoft has refined a feature for notification suggestions, enabling users to disable notifications from unacknowledged apps without affecting the notifications themselves. The update also includes fixes for issues like crashes in File Explorer and the Start menu. Users will have options among the default list, the new category view, and an additional grid view currently in preview.

Winsage

August 12, 2024

Windows 11 has a rare Start menu change inbound, possibly – one that might make you smile

Microsoft is testing a new grid layout for the Start menu in Windows 11, moving away from the current lengthy list format. The latest beta build features a hidden category view that organizes applications into distinct groups, such as entertainment or navigation, displaying them in banks of four icons. If a category exceeds four applications, mini-icons can be used to showcase up to 16 apps. This change aims to enhance visual appeal and improve accessibility for users.

Winsage

August 12, 2024

Windows 11 users, good news – the Start menu could get a fresh new look to make your apps more manageable

Microsoft is testing a new ‘Category’ layout for the Start menu in Windows 11, which serves as an alternative to the traditional ‘All apps’ section. This layout features solid-colored squares organized in blocks of four and is part of a broader initiative that includes a grid-based layout. The Category layout has become somewhat functional in the latest Windows 11 Beta channel build, but it remains hidden within the system. The timeline for the rollout of this feature in the upcoming Windows 11 update, version 24H2, is uncertain.

Winsage

July 15, 2024

Windows 11 Start menu could get better if Microsoft pushes forward with this nifty change that’s currently in testing

- Early work on a new feature in Windows 11 is being analyzed. - The feature shows colored blocks for each category, which may host icons of four apps. - The interface is still in the early stages and may not be properly implemented or released. - Microsoft is also testing a grid view for apps in the Start menu, which may make the category view unnecessary. - Organizing apps into categories in the Start menu is seen as a potentially appealing move.