Microsoft still has time to fix this hideous Start menu "update"

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The new category view in the Windows 11 Start menu needs more time in the oven.

Windows 11 Start menu
The Start menu on Windows 11 will soon feature a category view, though Microsoft has not announced the feature yet. (Image credit: Future)

What you need to know

  • Microsoft is working on a category view within the Windows 11 Start menu.
  • The view groups apps in a way similar to what's seen on smartphones running iOS or Android.
  • The new feature has not been announced by Microsoft and requires a third-party tool to enable it, so you can expect some bugs if you do try it.
  • Once the new feature rolls out, it appears that you'll be able to toggle between Alphabetical, Grid, and Category views within the Start menu.

A new category view is in the works for the Windows 11 Start menu. While Microsoft has not announced the new feature, the option can be enabled through third-party tools if you're running Windows 11 build 22635.4010, which shipped to Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel recently.

The change was spotted by X user phantomofearth, who also shared a video of the feature in action.

Category view works in a similar way to how apps are organized on iOS or Android. App icons appear within subsections, making it easier to find specific apps. The view differs from using folders, since Windows 11 groups the apps automatically and in a different type of grid.

The general concept of category view seems to work well, but I think the design needs refinement. Icons don't look natural within their grid layout and hover effects still seem to be a bit off. Since Microsoft has not even announced the feature yet, there is still plenty of time to refine its design and make improvements. Presumably, category view will also go through the Windows Insider Program, giving Microsoft more chances to receive feedback.

Windows 11 Start menu woes

Windows 11 Start menu with recommendations turned off but still showing a prompt.

The fact that you cannot disable the Recommended section of the Start menu is one of many issues brought up by Windows 11 users. (Image credit: Future)

The Windows 11 Start menu has received criticism since its early days. Design preference is subjective, of course, but there are some common complaints about the menu. Many dislike the plethora of promoted apps and ads within the Start menu, which have only become more plentiful since the initial release of Windows 11. Others dislike the lack of customization options within the Windows 11 Start menu, often turning toward programs like Start11.

Microsoft also removed some features when moving from Windows 10 to Windows 11, such as the ability to move the taskbar to the top of your monitor. The tech giant also added features that few requested. For example, the notification dot in the image above isn't for anything pressing. Instead, it's a prompt to add my phone number to my Microsoft account. I'm fairly certain Microsoft already has that information somewhere, but I doubt the Start menu knows that.

One comment on X made in response to the new category view in testing echoed sentiments I've seen shared several times. "Anything but removing Recommended," said Meriç Bağlayan. That comment refers to the fact that you cannot hide the Recommended section of the Start menu. Even if you disable all the content that would appear in that section, Windows 11 just wastes the space with a prompt to turn on Recommended content.

I don't hate the general concept of the Windows 11 Start menu. I'm okay with the fact that Microsoft moved away from Live Tiles and shifted toward a more launcher-like approach to opening apps. But Microsoft took out beloved features, added options few people want, reduced customization options, and refuses to address issues brought up by the community. A few design changes and customization options would go a long way for the Start menu. Until or unless those are made, at least we have a hideous version of category view to play with.

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Sean Endicott
Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He's covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean's journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_. 

1 Comment Comment from the forums
  • GraniteStateColin
    For most Start menu features, whether positive or negative, most are largely cosmetic and personal preference. However, the missing Jump Lists for pinned apps is a daily pain point for me, wasting minutes of my time every single day. Start11 does fix this, but it's slow and crash-prone compared to the built-in Start menu, and so is ultimately as bad or worse than the missing Jump Lists.

    If anyone from MS is reading this (or Windows Central writers who sometimes make notes of problems with Start), it is absurd that Jump Lists work for non-pinned apps (the ones users don't access frequently), but not for the frequently used Pinned apps. If anything, this is backwards, but rather than removing Jump Lists from non-pinned apps, please encourage MS to add them back for pinned apps.

    We had this at least in Windows 7-10, and I think even in XP (and maybe 2000). This is a horrible degradation of a basic, important, and massive time saving feature for many of us power users who frequently use more apps than can be pinned to the Taskbar.

    For all of us who run over a hundred apps (I have about 80 pinned, with hundreds more not pinned), we might not know all the app names, so need to access them through the Start group folders of pinned apps. We NEED Jump Lists to quickly get back to the document or computer (e.g., in PuTTY) recently used in that app.
    Reply