Four years post-launch, Microsoft has addressed a long-standing concern regarding its Start menu in Windows 11. Users will now find that accessing a comprehensive list of installed applications no longer requires the extra step of clicking the “All” button. The updated Start menu, which is gradually being rolled out, introduces three distinct viewing options for all installed programs.
The original Start menu featured a curated list of shortcuts to apps and files, determined by Windows, which were displayed in a Recommended section beneath the pinned apps. This setup often left users wanting a more straightforward approach to accessing their applications.
The revamped Start menu now allows users to disable the Recommended section entirely. To do this, simply right-click anywhere within the menu, select Settings, navigate to the Personalization options, and toggle off the settings for Show recently added apps, Show recommended files, and Show recommendations for tips.
By opting to hide the Recommended section, users will see a direct list of all their applications right beneath the pinned shortcuts. If the Recommended section remains visible, the complete list of apps will appear below it. The new menu offers three viewing formats: a grid layout arranged alphabetically, a simple list in alphabetical order, or a categorized grouping. The grid view stands out as the most information-dense and comprehensive option available.
How to make the new Start menu appear
To access this new Start menu, users must be operating on build 26100.7019, 26200.7019, or any newer versions of Windows 11. Ensuring that all the latest updates are installed is crucial, which can be done by navigating to Settings -> Windows Update and clicking on Check for updates. Users can verify their Windows build number by pressing Windows + R to open the run prompt and entering winver.
If the correct build number is confirmed, the new Start menu may appear automatically. However, if it does not, users can utilize ViveTool, a utility designed to enable hidden Windows features, to activate it. The process involves downloading ViveTool and extracting it to C:vive. Afterward, open a command prompt with administrative privileges and navigate to that directory using the command:
cd c:vive
Next, execute the following command to enable the new Start menu:
vivetool /enable /id:57048231,47205210,56328729,48433719
After a restart, the new Start menu should be readily accessible upon clicking the Start button.
