Microsoft is now allowing Windows 11 testers to try out the new, larger Start menu, which includes a scrolling interface, new views, and more customization options. A preview of the new Start menu first appeared in Windows 11 builds in April, and Microsoft made the official announcement in May. Today’s Dev Channel release allows you to try it for the first time officially.
“We’ve made it easier to launch apps with a redesigned scrolling Start menu,” explains the Windows Insider team. The scrolling Start menu means that all apps are now on the top level, so you don’t have to go to a second page to find the apps you want.
You’ll also be able to turn off the recommended section to see more apps, and choose from two new views: by category and by grid. By default, the category view groups apps by category, while the grid view is organized alphabetically, more like a traditional list.
Microsoft also made the Start menu larger depending on the size of your device’s screen or monitor. “On larger devices, users can see 8 columns of pinned apps, 6 columns of recommendations, and 4 columns of categories in the Start menu,” says the Windows Insider team. “On smaller devices, you’ll see 6 columns of pinned apps, 4 recommendations, and 3 columns of categories.”
There is also a new mobile button on the Start menu that allows you to expand or collapse the Phone Link interface that appears next to the Start menu. Microsoft is also allowing Windows 11 users to select widgets on the lock screen, which allows them to add or remove widgets and change their location on the lock screen.
Finally, this latest Dev Channel build also includes a new Gamepad keyboard update that allows you to log into your PC with a PIN using the controller. This is part of Microsoft’s work to improve the Windows 11 experience on portable gaming devices, such as the recently announced ROG Xbox Ally devices.
