Microsoft is rebuilding the Windows 11 Start menu with deeper customization and faster performance

• Windows 11 Start menu is being redesigned with a focus on customization and performance.
• Users will gain control over layout size instead of relying on automatic system behavior.
• Also, entire sections, like Pinned, Recommended, or the All apps list, will have an off switch.
• The redesign is being reworked in WinUI 3 for a more modern, flexible interface.
• Performance improvements aim to keep Start responsive even under heavy system load.

Microsoft is preparing a major redesign of the Start menu on Windows 11, aiming to deliver deeper customization and faster performance. The changes are currently in development as part of the company’s new WinUI 3-based Start experience and are expected to roll out in upcoming updates tied to its broader Windows platform improvements.

According to sources familiar with the plan (via Windows Central), the update will allow users to resize the Start menu and turn entire sections on or off directly from the Settings app. This marks one of the most significant shifts in how Start behaves since Windows 11 first launched. However, the menu will retain the same familiar design you see today.

This Start menu update will make a difference

The Start menu is the front door to Windows 11. It’s where users launch apps, search for files, and navigate the system. Yet even after recent layout changes, it has remained surprisingly limited since the operating system first became available.

That is the core issue that the company now appears ready to fix.

Currently, users cannot fully control the menu’s layout or size. Unless you use specific workarounds, the system decides whether to display a smaller or larger layout based on the screen size. Sections like “Recommended” often feel forced, even though in the latest redesign, users can remove this section, but the process isn’t intuitive.

This update directly addresses those complaints. It puts control back in the hands of the user. You decide how Start looks, what it shows, and how it behaves.

There is also a broader shift here. Microsoft is signaling that usability and responsiveness are once again priorities. This is important because small delays in something as central as the menu can affect the entire perception of the operating system.

From an editorial standpoint, this change is overdue. The Start menu should be the most customizable surface in the operating system. Instead, it has been one of the most restricted. Giving users the ability to resize it and remove unused sections is not just a feature update. It’s a correction.

How the new Start menu works under the hood

The redesign is built on Microsoft’s modern interface platform, WinUI 3. This framework allows the company to decouple parts of the interface from legacy components and optimize them independently.

In practical terms, the new Start menu introduces a settings-driven model. Users will be able to configure layout and visibility options directly from the Settings app rather than relying on hidden system logic.

The update also focuses heavily on responsiveness. The software giant is reworking how Start handles system resources so it remains fast even under heavy load.

The experience is expected to feel more direct and user-controlled. Instead of the system deciding how the Start menu should behave, from the “Start” settings page, users will feel that the layout becomes something they actively choose rather than something automatically assigned. You will be able to set the size manually and decide which sections remain visible.

If certain areas feel unnecessary, such as the “Pinned,” “Recommended,” or the full “All” apps list, they can simply be switched off. This turns Start into a cleaner interface that reflects individual preference rather than a fixed design.

At the same time, Microsoft is working on performance improvements that are not immediately visible but are noticeable in daily use. The system will prioritize input handling and rendering for the Start experience. In practical terms, this means that when you press the “Windows” key and start typing, the menu reacts immediately. Even under heavy system load, responsiveness is designed to remain consistent, reducing the delays and missed input that can occur today.

As a side note, @PhantomOfEarth on X has noted that the performance and reliability changes can already be enabled in the latest preview of the operating system (build 26300.8170) using the 60878308 ViveTool code.

A broader push to fix Windows 11’s friction points

These changes are part of a broader internal effort to refine Windows 11 as part of the “Windows K12” project, focused on performance, stability, and usability. The goal is to make the system feel faster, more predictable, and less intrusive.

The Start menu sits at the center of that effort. For years, Microsoft has experimented with Start. From the full-screen design of Windows 8 to the hybrid approach of Windows 10, each iteration has sought to balance simplicity with flexibility. Windows 11 leaned too far into simplicity. Now the company is recalibrating.

If executed well, this redesign could quietly become one of the most impactful updates to Windows 11. Not because it introduces something flashy, but because it fixes something fundamental.