Windows 11 Start Menu Gets a Major Overhaul: New Customization and Performance Boosts Arrive in Insider Builds
Microsoft is testing significant updates for the Windows 11 Start menu, including expanded user customization controls and performance enhancements, through new Insider Preview builds. The updates are part of a broader initiative to improve system responsiveness and user control.
"It is your choice, and it should be easy to make." — Microsoft Spokesperson
Customization Features
New Insider Preview builds introduce several user-configurable options for the Start menu:
- Section Toggles: Users can now independently show or hide three Start menu sections: Pinned apps, Recent (formerly Recommended), and All apps, via a consolidated Start settings page.
- Menu Size Selection: Users can choose from three predefined Start menu sizes: Automatic, Small, and Default. Manual resizing by dragging edges remains unavailable.
- Profile Visibility: A toggle to hide the user's name and profile picture from the Start menu has been added.
- Advanced Customization (In Development): Sources indicate Microsoft is developing additional options that would allow users to manually choose between small or large layouts, as well as toggle off entire sections. Windows currently selects layout based on screen size automatically.
Performance Improvements
Both sources confirm ongoing work to improve Start menu performance:
- CPU Boost Feature: The Low Latency Profile CPU boost, introduced via the May 2026 optional update KB5089573, is being rolled out. Microsoft reports that this reduces animation lag and micro-stutters.
- Responsiveness Goals: Sources indicate the new Start menu is designed to remain responsive even when the system is under heavy load, addressing current delays that can occur when the CPU is busy. Search functionality is expected to allow typing without missing keystrokes during system load.
- WinUI 3 Framework: Microsoft has confirmed ongoing work to rebuild core Windows components, including the Start menu, using native WinUI 3 frameworks. A fully native Start menu is in development.
Background and Context
These changes are part of a larger Microsoft initiative codenamed Windows K2, which aims to address user feedback and improve Windows 11 performance and stability.
The Windows 11 Start menu has been criticized since launch for reduced customization compared to Windows 10 and Windows 8, including the loss of Live Tiles, flexible layouts, and full-screen mode, as well as performance concerns on some hardware. The current Insider builds aim to address customization complaints by giving users control over which sections appear and how large the menu is.
Insider Build Details
- Build 26300.8553 is available on the Experimental channel.
- Build 26220.8544 is available on the Beta channel.