The recent enhancements to the Start Menu, as outlined by Microsoft earlier this month, have now entered the Insider testing phase. The latest Experimental build, 26300.8533, brings a host of features designed to refine user experience, including a revamped Start menu settings page and the option to conceal personal information such as names and profile pictures.
New Customization Options
Insiders participating in the Experimental Channel can now select between a small or large Start menu, in addition to the previously available “Automatic (default)” setting. This build also introduces section-level toggles, allowing users to independently display or hide the ‘All’, ‘Pinned’, and ‘Recommended’ sections, with the latter now rebranded as “Recent.”
In tandem with these changes, Microsoft has rolled out new Windows 11 preview builds across the Beta, Experimental (26H1), and Experimental (Future Platforms) channels, albeit with only minor adjustments. The company has issued a cautionary note to Insiders currently exploring the 26H1 builds, advising them to consider reverting to version 25H2 of the operating system before the deadline of June 5, 2026.
According to the Windows Insider team, “We are in the process of releasing the Windows 11 version 26H1 build to those Insiders who have elected this version under Advanced options in the Windows Insider Program settings. We will begin releasing this version to those Insiders who have elected this change on June 5, 2026.”
It is important to note that Windows 11 version 26H1 will exclusively support devices equipped with new silicon, including Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 2 chips. Microsoft has previously indicated that due to the distinct Windows core underlying 26H1, an upgrade to Windows 11 version 26H2 later this year will not be feasible. The Windows Insider team reassured users that “these devices will have a path to update in a future Windows release.”
For those currently testing the 26H1 builds, reverting to the 25H2 version necessitates a clean installation of the operating system, presenting a challenge for users eager to maintain their testing environment.
