Microsoft has embarked on an intriguing journey to redesign the Start menu in Windows 11, unveiling a new, wider layout that allows users to disable the recommended feed of files and applications. This fresh design diverges from the current iteration, but it could have taken several different forms, as evidenced by a series of concept images released by the tech giant.
In a recent blog post, Microsoft shared insights into the creative process behind the Start menu’s redesign, showcasing five distinct concept designs that could have dramatically transformed user interaction with the menu. One of the concepts features an even more rounded menu, incorporating widget-like functionality alongside a dedicated “For You” section that aggregates Teams meetings, YouTube videos, and frequently accessed files.
Another intriguing design separates the “For You” section to the side, allowing the main menu to focus primarily on app categories. A further prototype envisions a landing page as the Start menu itself, complete with shortcuts, applications, files, and designated sections for accessing Android devices, personalized app lists, and creative tools. One particularly bold concept imagines a Start menu that occupies the entire vertical space of the screen, with distinct sections that users can scroll through vertically.
The Windows design team expressed their enthusiasm for the brainstorming process, stating, “Whiteboards, Figma frames, floor-to-ceiling paper prototypes—nothing was too scrappy. We sketched out a plethora of layouts, letting ourselves go wild and discover new things before applying the editorial pen.”
To refine their designs, Microsoft engaged with over 300 Windows 11 enthusiasts, conducting co-creation calls and utilizing eye-tracking heat maps to gauge user reactions. The design team closely monitored user engagement, counting scroll wheel movements and listening for expressions of delight to assess the effectiveness of their concepts.
The primary goals for the new Start menu include enhancing app visibility, increasing customizability, and ensuring speed, all while maintaining a sense of familiarity for users accustomed to three decades of design evolution. The outcome is a Start menu that is not only larger and more customizable than its predecessor but also allows users to remove the recommended feed—a feature many will likely appreciate. Additionally, the integration of a phone companion panel within the Start menu promises quick access to recent calls, messages, and phone files.
As Microsoft prepares to test this revamped Start menu with Windows Insiders over the next month, users can anticipate its rollout to the broader Windows 11 community in the coming months.
