Microsoft has merged the Windows 11 Start Menu's pinned apps and full app list into a single scrollable layout, debuting in builds 26100.7019 and 26200.7019. The overhaul eliminates the frustrating two-step switching routine users endured for years. Powered by WinUI instead of React, the redesigned menu delivers noticeably faster, more native performance. Three organized sections — Pinned, Recommended, and All Apps — now coexist cleanly, and there's more waiting beneath the surface.
Microsoft is overhauling the Windows 11 Start Menu in a significant way — merging pinned apps and the full app list into a single, scrollable layout that finally feels less like a design afterthought. The change, introduced in Windows 11 builds 26100.7019 and 26200.7019, represents one of the more substantial interface shifts the company has made in years. For the millions of users who quietly tolerated the old fragmented experience, this one is personal.
The new layout eliminates the two-step routine of switching between pinned apps and the full app list. Instead, everything resides in one place — pinned apps at the top, followed by a scrollable grid of all installed apps arranged in labelled square boxes. The Start Menu itself is also larger, accommodating three distinct sections: Pinned, an optional Recommended section, and All Apps. It sounds simple, and that is precisely the point.
Deployment began rolling out gradually in November 2025 through server-side activation, with the February 2026 update KB5074109 formalising the change for most PCs. Microsoft staged the rollout carefully, gathering user feedback before wider activation — a sign the company understands this touches something deeply habitual for its user base. These are the kinds of changes people notice at 8 a.m. with coffee in hand, not buried in patch notes.
Under the hood, the performance story is just as compelling. Microsoft migrated the Start Menu away from React — the web-heavy framework previously powering the Recommended feed and All Apps list — to WinUI, a native Windows framework. The result is a noticeably more responsive experience. React served its purpose, but running web-rendered components inside a core OS interface was always a questionable trade-off. WinUI brings the Start Menu closer to how Windows should feel: fast, fluid, and native.
Customisation options have expanded too. Users can toggle between Grid and List views for the All Apps section, and the Start Menu remembers whichever view was used last. Dragging the top or side borders allows manual resizing. The Recommended section, once widely dismissed as filler, now surfaces relevant apps and recently viewed files with noticeably smarter logic — and it can be turned off entirely for those who prefer a cleaner look.
That said, limitations remain. There is still no way to remove the All Apps section entirely, and some resize controls remain absent. Microsoft is actively encouraging feedback through the Feedback Hub, which suggests further refinements are on the way. Disabling the Recommended feed also removes recent files from Jump Lists and File Explorer, a side effect worth noting for users who rely on those features. For those unhappy with the new design, third-party tools such as VIVE Tool remain an option for reverting to the previous Start Menu appearance.
The bigger picture here is clear: Microsoft is betting on performance, reliability, and coherence as its 2026 roadmap priorities. For a Start Menu that once felt like it belonged to a different operating system, that is a bet worth watching.
Final Thoughts
Microsoft's recent updates to the Windows 11 Start Menu indicate a significant shift, revealing that the original vision needed adjustment. As the Start Menu is a crucial part of the Windows experience, how Microsoft evolves it will determine whether users fully embrace Windows 11. At North Lakes PC Repairs, we can assist you in navigating these changes and optimizing your system for the latest features. Don’t hesitate to reach out! Click on our contact page to get in touch with us today.
