Discover Windows 11’s New iOS-Inspired Start Menu: A Game Changer for Accessing All Your Apps!

Exciting changes are coming to the Start menu in Windows 11. The updates in versions 24H2 and 23H3 will make it easier to navigate your apps. You’ll now be able to organize your apps in two ways: a Name-based Grid layout and a category view.

This update doesn’t overhaul the Start menu, but it introduces features that many users will appreciate. If you enjoy the look of live tiles or the organized style of iOS, you might find this update appealing.

Windows Latest first highlighted the changes in the Start menu’s “All” section earlier this year. They even shared a sneak peek of a leaked version, giving us a glimpse of the new layout.

Microsoft confirmed the upgrade through a recent blog post. The redesigned Start menu is set to roll out to Windows 11 23H2 soon.

Exploring the New Start Menu

What’s fresh about this new Start menu?

The new “All” page can display apps in an alphabetized grid format. Each app has its own tile icon. For instance, you can find Adobe programs like After Effects and Photoshop neatly listed under the letter A.

There’s also a new “Category” view where apps are grouped by type. This design feels spacious and clean, with larger icons that give it a fresh appearance. While it resembles the live tiles from older Windows versions, it also mimics the app organization seen on iOS.

Users can’t create their own categories just yet. It seems Microsoft is using some algorithms to categorize the apps automatically.

Previously, the Start menu displayed apps in a simple list down one side. Now, it presents each app with a distinct icon, arranged more neatly.

Microsoft is still testing these changes with Beta Channel users. There’s no word yet on when they will be widely available. However, it seems likely that we could see these updates within the next few months.

Future Updates to the Start Menu

But that’s not all—more enhancements are planned for the Start menu in 2025.

One exciting addition is a new sidebar that will let you check notifications and messages, as well as see apps opened on your Android phone.

The Start menu will also allow users to send files directly to their Android devices through an integration called Phone Link.