Microsoft is working on a major update for the Windows 11 Start menu that is designed to give users more control over how the menu appears. According to sources familiar with the plans, these improvements are being developed as part of the new WinUI 3 Start menu that Microsoft has already confirmed is in the works.

I’m told that the new Start menu will look similar to the existing one, but will have more advanced customization options that can be configured in the Windows Settings app. Options for turning on or off specific sections as well as the ability to manually choose between either the small or large Start menu layout is being added.

Right now, the Windows 11 Start menu already has small and large layouts, but this is not configurable. Windows decides if you should have the small or large layout based on your screen size. Some users have complained about this, and so the new Start menu will finally give users the option to choose for themselves, I’m told.

The other major customization option being added is the ability to toggle off entire sections of the menu that you don’t use. If you’re not a fan of the recommended feed, or don’t really find yourself pinning apps to the Start menu, you’ll be able to turn these sections off within Settings via a single click. You'll even be able to disable the all apps list if you don't want it.

In addition to new customization options, sources say the new Start menu will be much faster and responsive, too. One of the goals of the new Start menu is for it to always remain responsive, even when the system is under intense load. The current Start menu will often take seconds to appear if the CPU is bogged down, but the new Start menu appears to address this issue.

These performance improvements will also extend to the search experience within the new Start menu. Even under heavy load, users will be able to very quickly hit the Start button and start typing to search without it missing any keys, which frequently happens if you’re too quick with the existing Start menu.

These Start menu improvements are all part of Microsoft’s larger effort to address pain points in Windows, under a project codenamed Windows K2. The goal of the project is to refocus energy on making Windows 11 a fast, fluid, and stable platform that’s easy to use and doesn’t get in the way.

Let me know your thoughts on these Start menu upgrades in the comments below!

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