Microsoft Takes a Bold Step: Revamped Windows 11 Start Menu Goes Wide, Explains the Rethink

Microsoft’s November 2025 update ditches the familiar Windows 11 Start Menu for a sprawling single-surface design that merges pinned apps and the full apps list into one vertically scrollable interface. The redesign offers 6- or 8-column grids adapting to screen resolution, displaying up to 24 pinned apps with integrated Phone Link functionality. Although reducing clicks to access applications, users criticize its massive footprint—consuming up to 90% of screen width—and inflexible sizing options. The community remains divided as Microsoft monitors feedback across millions of devices, with effectiveness varying considerably by screen size and workflow preferences.

Microsoft has rolled out a dramatic overhaul of the Windows 11 Start Menu through November 2025‘s Patch Tuesday update KB5068861, collapsing the pinned apps and full apps list into a single, vertically scrollable interface. This redesign, arriving as part of the 25H2 and 24H2 servicing wave, represents the most significant Start Menu revision since Windows 11’s 2021 launch—and it’s already sparking heated debate across the Windows community.

The November 2025 Start Menu overhaul merges pinned and all apps into one scrollable interface—Windows 11’s biggest redesign yet.

The new design abandons the compact two-page approach for something considerably wider. The interface merges everything into one unified surface that adapts based on screen resolution, displaying either a 6-column or 8-column grid. Default configurations show 16 pinned apps, expandable to 24, with larger grids appearing automatically on high-DPI displays. It’s a bold pivot towards information density over minimalist elegance.

Here’s where it gets interesting: the All Apps section now lives directly on the main surface. No more clicking through to a separate page. Users can toggle between three sorting options—Name Grid, Name List, and Category—with the system remembering preferences across sessions. The pinned section intelligently shrinks to a single row when few apps are pinned, sliding other content upward to maximise space efficiency. This change aims to enhance user experience by reducing the number of clicks needed to access applications. Microsoft also emphasizes that the redesigned interface is optimized for various device types, including tablets and hybrid devices, to provide a more consistent experience across form factors.

Microsoft has additionally integrated Phone Link directly into the Start Menu through an expandable side panel accessible via a mobile device button. When activated, it increases the menu’s width and surfaces mobile content alongside desktop elements—a genuinely clever blend of ecosystems that feels less bolted-on than previous attempts.

The Recommended area remains, though it’s now fully optional. Users can disable it entirely or let it dynamically resize based on available content. It displays recently opened apps and files by default, with sections that expand or collapse based on usage patterns.

But not everyone’s celebrating. Complaints are rolling in about the menu’s massive footprint, with some users reporting it consumes up to 90% of screen width on lower-resolution displays. There’s no manual resize control. No height adjustment. The automated category grouping performs inconsistently, and users can’t create custom categories or manually move apps between groups—a frustrating limitation for those who prefer granular control over their workspace.

Microsoft claims its responsive design addresses scalability concerns, though the company is monitoring feedback as the update phases across machines. The rollout was previewed in late 2025 optional updates and includes related taskbar and search improvements particularly for Copilot+ PCs. The taskbar now features updated battery icon color codes including green for charging, yellow for battery saver mode, and red for critically low power. These security measures are implemented to protect site integrity as the update reaches millions of WordPress-based Windows information sites.

Whether this redesign represents thoughtful evolution or overreach depends largely on screen size and personal workflow. For high-resolution displays, the density and unified interface deliver efficiency. For everyone else? It’s a reminder that one size rarely fits all—especially when that size is genuinely, undeniably wide.

Final Thoughts

Microsoft’s wider Start Menu update represents necessary evolution as the company addresses user feedback about wasted screen space while explaining their design philosophy. As Windows 11 continues to mature with iterative refinements, millions of users will soon test whether they embrace the expanded layout or seek customization alternatives.

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