On Windows 11, as part of Microsoft's broader "Windows K2" initiative to improve the operating system and rebuild user trust, the company has revealed the first wave of Start menu changes that will soon begin rolling out through the Windows Insider Program.

The upcoming improvements focus heavily on customization and usability. Some of the most notable changes include the ability to resize the Start menu, show or hide individual sections, and separate file recommendations from recent activities.

When the software giant introduced Windows 11, the company replaced the classic Windows 10 Start menu with a completely redesigned experience. The new design removed Live Tiles and the secondary pane layout in favor of a simplified, centered menu that only included traditional app icons.

While the redesign modernized the interface, it also reduced functionality and customization options compared to Windows 10. Since launch, users have consistently criticized the Start menu for feeling restrictive and less flexible.

Now, Microsoft appears ready to address many of those complaints.

Resizing support is finally coming to Windows 11

One of the biggest additions is support for manually resizing the Start menu.

Until now, the Start menu automatically adjusted its dimensions based on screen size and resolution, offering virtually no control over its appearance. In future updates, users will be able to choose between smaller and larger layouts.

Unlike Windows 10, Windows 11 still won't allow freeform resizing by dragging the edges of the menu or enable a full-screen Start experience. However, the new option is still a major improvement over the current fixed layout.

Microsoft is expected to add the feature through a new "Start menu size" setting available from Settings > Personalization > Start.

Microsoft is also adding new privacy controls

Microsoft is also introducing privacy-focused improvements for users who frequently share their screens during meetings, presentations, or live streams.

The company plans to add a new option called "Hide your name and profile picture on Start." When enabled, the Start menu will no longer display the account name and profile image.

The setting will appear under Settings > Personalization > Start > Other.

Originally, the Windows 11 Start menu separated content into multiple areas, including "Pinned," "Recommended," and the separate "All apps" list.

One of the most common complaints after launch was the inability to remove the "Recommended" section entirely. Microsoft eventually added a workaround, but it required turning off several unrelated settings before the section disappeared.

More recently, the company redesigned the Start menu by merging the "All apps" list into the main interface. However, customization still remained limited.

As part of the Windows K2 effort, Microsoft has now confirmed that users will soon get dedicated toggles to individually show or hide the "Pinned," "Recommended," and "All" sections.

In addition, Microsoft plans to separate file recommendations from system recommendations. This means users will finally be able to disable recommendations on the Start menu without also disabling recent files and Jump Lists across the Taskbar and File Explorer.

Windows Central's take

These changes may seem small at first glance, but they address some of the most persistent complaints about the Start menu since the operating system launched back in 2021.

The lack of customization has always been one of Windows 11's weakest aspects. Microsoft simplified the Start menu too aggressively, and in the process, removed many of the features Windows 10 users relied on daily.

I think the new resize option and dedicated section toggles are long overdue. The separation between recommendations and recent files is also an important improvement because users should have more granular control over privacy and personalization settings.

If Microsoft continues down this path and keeps restoring flexibility without overcomplicating the interface, the Start menu could finally become good on Windows 11 instead of one of its biggest frustrations.

What are your thoughts on the new Start menu changes? Let me know in the comments.

More resources

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• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

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