After years of criticism from users, Microsoft finally confirmed that it is developing more powerful customization features for the Windows 11 Start menu and plans to provide more user-controllable layout options on the existing basis. March Rogers, one of the leaders of Microsoft's design team and the company's partner-level design director, recently publicly stated on social platform
In the current version of Windows 11, the Start menu has been controversial since its launch. Some users feel that it looks too large on high-resolution screens, and the look and feel is unsatisfactory if the scaling settings are not adjusted. What is even more criticized is the newly introduced "category" layout: the system will automatically categorize applications, but not only can users not freely edit categories, but it is also difficult to organize them according to their own usage habits, making the interface look bloated both visually and in use.
Previously, the media revealed that Microsoft internally tested at least five completely different designs before finalizing the current Start menu plan, and multiple screenshots of the prototype interface that had never been made public were leaked. These prototypes showed different information levels, application presentation methods and layout ideas, but in the end they were not adopted and only stayed in the experimental stage. After this wave of internal design drafts were shared on social media, it triggered extensive discussions among users and design practitioners, and also prompted the Microsoft design team to respond more positively to external concerns.
In the latest response, March Rogers said on X that the new start menu design is supported by a series of user research and feedback, and the goal is to make it easier for users to access the apps they really need. He also revealed that Microsoft is currently developing additional customization options, but has not yet announced the specific functional form and launch time. Judging from its statement, Microsoft will not overturn the existing Start menu and overhaul it. Instead, it is more likely to add adjustable items to the existing framework to provide users with a higher degree of freedom.
Currently, the Start menu gives users very limited space at the customization level, especially after the "category" layout is launched. Complaints about the "categorization" function have also long occupied a high-profile position on Microsoft's feedback platform. Some users explicitly requested that they be able to define their own categories, believing that automatic categorization without editing capabilities would only increase interface noise and usage burden. Some users bluntly stated that if the design had been checked by experienced user interface experts, it should not have entered the official version in its current form.
From the perspective of implementation mechanism, Windows 11’s Start menu classification does not use the cloud or artificial intelligence, but relies on a local JSON file of about 15MB to complete automatic classification. This file presets categories such as "Entertainment", "Social", and "Creative" and matches them with the application's package family name. However, due to incomplete description information or non-standard metadata, some applications cannot be accurately identified and can only be classified into the "other" category, exacerbating the sense of fragmented experience.
This is why it is widely speculated that once Microsoft actually launches the new start menu customization function, "category" related settings are likely to be one of the focus of changes. If users can manually adjust categories, merge or rename groups, or even turn off the automatic classification mechanism completely, the usefulness and controllability of the Start menu will have the opportunity to be significantly improved.
In addition to the interface and customization level, the Start menu is also changing on the underlying technology stack. Microsoft has recently confirmed that it is migrating the Start menu from a React Native-based implementation to WinUI, an adjustment aimed at reducing latency and improving overall performance and stability. For users, this means that operations such as opening the Start menu, invoking search, and loading app lists are expected to be even more responsive.
Sources revealed that Microsoft is still evaluating more interactive improvement plans internally. One of the changes being discussed would allow users to manually adjust the overall size of the Start menu interface between small and large sizes without relying on the system's global scaling settings. However, related features are still in the planning stage, and there is currently no clear release schedule. Microsoft has not given out which batch of updates will push these improvements to users.
After several rounds of design experiments and a long period of user controversy, Windows 11’s Start menu is on the verge of another tweak. For Microsoft, how to strike a balance between a unified design language, performance optimization and highly diverse user needs will directly affect the shape of this core portal in the next few years. For a large number of users who rely on the Start menu for work and entertainment, whether this round of changes can truly allow them to "control their own Start menu" will also become an important indicator for observing the evolution of the Windows 11 experience.