Microsoft is preparing to hand Windows 11 users the customization keys they've demanded since launch: the ability to freely resize the Start menu and eliminate the contentious Recommended section. Internal planning documents and recent leaks point to a major Start menu overhaul arriving in a feature update slated for 2026, finally addressing years of complaints about a rigid design that prioritized Microsoft's content over user preference.

The Long-Awaited Fix: Microsoft's Plans

Two specific enhancements are at the center of the upcoming changes. First, users will gain controls to resize the Start menu—not just the current three preset heights, but a fluid, drag-and-adjust mechanism similar to classic Windows versions. Second, and perhaps more significantly, the Recommended section will become fully optional. A new toggle in Personalization settings will allow users to disable the entire area, reclaiming that space for pinned apps or simply leaving it blank.

This isn't merely a cosmetic tweak. For many, the Recommended area has been an immovable billboard for recently opened files and suggested apps, often surfacing clutter rather than useful shortcuts. Since Windows 11 launched in October 2021, feedback channels have overflowed with demands to kill the section. Microsoft's own Feedback Hub lists thousands of upvotes for the request, and third-party tools like Start11 and ExplorerPatcher gained popularity almost entirely because they could restore a classic, customizable Start layout.

A Start Menu Frozen in Time

To understand the weight of this shift, you have to look at the Start menu Microsoft shipped with Windows 11. It abandoned Live Tiles from Windows 10 but introduced a bifurcated layout: a top (or left, in vertical orientation) Pinned section for user-chosen apps, and a bottom Recommended area that stubbornly occupied half the menu no matter how many items you pinned. The menu's dimensions were locked to three static heights, with no way to adjust width. Users who pinned more than 18 apps faced a cramped, cluttered grid while a largely useless Recommended section hogged prime real estate.

Worse, even when users cleared all recent files and turned off suggestions, the Recommended heading and background remained, a persistent ghost of Microsoft's forced hand. Enterprise administrators, power users, and even casual consumers vented on places like Windowsforum, Reddit, and the Feedback Hub. Phrases like "blatant disregard for user choice" and "why can't I have my 3-column classic Start back?" became routine.

What's Actually Changing

According to details shared by a reliable Microsoft leaker known as PhantomOfEarth and corroborated by internal API artifacts, the 2026 update will introduce:

  • Resizable Start Menu: Users can click a resize handle on the menu's border and drag to adjust both width and height freely. The Pinned grid scales intelligently, adding columns as you widen the menu. You'll no longer be locked to one row of six icons; expect configurable grids reminiscent of Windows 7's granular control.
  • Recommended Section Toggle: A new "Show Recommended" switch in Settings > Personalization > Start will completely hide the section when turned off. No more ghost headings, no more wasted space. The Pinned area will expand to fill the vacated area automatically.
  • Potential Folders and Groups: Early hints suggest Microsoft is also experimenting with the ability to group pinned apps into folders directly within the Start menu, a feature missing since the Windows 10 1909 era. If this ships alongside resize, the Start menu would rival third-party alternatives in flexibility.

Microsoft hasn't publicly commented on these specifics, but the changes align with broader Windows shell improvements tested in Canary and Dev channels. In December 2024, a hidden build flag briefly appeared in Insider builds referencing "StartMenuExperiencesWithResize" and "DisableRecommendedSectionPolicy." Those strings, though quickly removed, leave little doubt about the direction.

The Leak That Sparked Hope

The discussion ignited on Windowsforum when a member posted a screenshot of an internal Microsoft presentation slide. The slide, reportedly from a Windows Insider planning session, showed a mockup of the redesigned Start menu with arrows indicating draggable borders and a conspicuous absence of the Recommended section. The post, titled "Is Microsoft finally letting us kill the Recommended crap?", amassed over 800 replies in 48 hours. Community reaction split between euphoric relief and weary skepticism.

One user, "SolarisGamma," commented: "If this is real, I might actually stop using StartAllBack. The only reason I installed it was to get rid of the mandatory recommended section." Others pointed to the late 2026 timeline as a frustration: "Why does it take five years to add a feature that was standard in Windows 95?" A few cautioned that similar promises had surfaced before, only to be watered down—like the Windows 10 Insider build that briefly allowed hiding the Recommended section before it was pulled.

The original source of the leak, an article on Windows Central, added that an unnamed Microsoft engineer confirmed the team is "actively working on giving users more agency over the Start experience," citing internal telemetry showing that over 60% of Windows 11 users never interact with the Recommended section beyond the initial onboarding period.

Community Reaction: Relief and Skepticism

Across platforms, the sentiment echoes: this is good, but it should have shipped day one. The Windowsforum thread highlighted several pain points that users hope Microsoft addresses alongside the headline features.

"What about the All Apps list?" asked user "TechieTeacher." "If I hide Recommended, does All Apps still open on the left, or can I finally pin that view as default?" The current All Apps list is a separate scrollable pane that lacks customization; users want the ability to make it the primary view, similar to the Windows 10 Start grid.

Another frequent request is for a "compact mode" that reduces padding and icon sizes, enabling more pins without taking over the entire screen. With the resizable menu, a compact density option could turn the Start experience into a powerful launcher even on smaller displays.

IT professionals in the thread emphasized manageability. "I need to deploy a consistent Start layout across 2,000 devices," wrote an administrator. "Right now we use XML templates, but with resizing and the removal of Recommended, those templates will likely break. Please tell me there's a new policy framework coming." Leaks suggest Microsoft is building Intune and Group Policy controls specifically for the new options, though details remain thin.

Why It Took So Long

Microsoft's design philosophy for Windows 11 heavily emphasized simplicity and visual consistency, sometimes at the expense of power-user features. The Start menu redesign was also partly engineered for the Windows on Arm push, where the centered, simplified layout worked better on tablet-first devices. Removing the Recommended section threatened Microsoft's ability to surface Microsoft 365 documents, Store app suggestions, and Edge activity—all revenue-adjacent touchpoints.

Internally, the Start menu team reportedly faced conflict between the "widgets and recommendations" vision pushed by the Windows Experiences group and the "classic productivity" stance from the Enterprise & Security unit. The 2026 overhaul signals that user feedback and enterprise demands won the debate.

Additionally, the Windows 10 end-of-support ticking clock is forcing Microsoft's hand. With over 60% of users still on Windows 10 as of mid-2025, according to StatCounter, Redmond needs compelling reasons to migrate them before October 14, 2025, when free security updates cease. A flexible, familiar Start menu could be one of the most effective conversion tools.

What This Means for Windows 11 Adoption

Windows 11's market share has grown steadily but slowly, hindered by hardware compatibility checks (TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, CPU list) and vocal discontent over UI regressions. Allowing users to resize and declutter the Start menu removes a significant barrier for Windows 10 holdouts who rely on densely packed Start layouts for productivity.

Enterprise customers, in particular, have long cited the Recommended section as a dealbreaker. "It's a non-starter for regulated environments where every inch of the UI needs a business justification," a healthcare IT manager noted on Windowsforum. "If I can turn off Recommended and deploy a grid of 30+ apps, then Windows 11 becomes viable for our clinical workstations."

On the consumer side, the changes could defang a major complaint in online reviews and word-of-mouth. A resizable Start menu that feels expansive rather than restrictive might finally convince users that Windows 11 respects their workflow—not just Microsoft's.

The End of Windows 10 and the Upgrade Push

The 2026 timeline places this overhaul firmly after the Windows 10 end-of-support cliff. That may seem counterintuitive, but Microsoft appears to be sequencing its carrots and sticks: first, the stick of no more security updates in late 2025; then, a series of UI and functional carrots across 2026 to win over laggards. The Start menu revamp could be joined by a redesigned File Explorer, enhanced Copilot integration, and better virtual desktop management—all aimed at making Windows 11 unmistakably better than its predecessor.

Windows 11 version 25H2 (expected in the second half of 2025) will lay the groundwork with under-the-hood improvements and perhaps a preview of the resize capability locked behind a velocity flag. The full suite of controls, including the Recommended toggle, is currently penciled for version 26H1 or 26H2, likely around April or September 2026. Insiders in the Canary channel may get early builds as soon as Q1 2025, giving the community time to test and push for refinements.

Looking Ahead

A Start menu that users can shape to their liking isn't a groundbreaking innovation—it's a return to Windows' roots. But in the context of Windows 11's journey, it's a milestone that signals a more receptive Microsoft. Combined with ongoing improvements in performance, Arm compatibility, and AI features, the 2026 update could stand as the moment Windows 11 truly finds its footing.

For now, the community watches Insider builds with renewed interest. Each new string, every registry toggle discovered by leakers, feeds anticipation—and a cautious hope that this time, the feature won't evaporate before release. As one Windowsforum veteran put it: "I've been burned by hidden Start menu flags before. But if this one sticks, I'll finally delete Start11 and wave goodbye to the Recommended section forever."

That sentiment captures the stakes perfectly. Microsoft's track record with Start menu customization has been inconsistent, but the pressure of Windows 10's sunset and years of relentless feedback have converged. The 2026 overhaul may not make everyone happy, but it promises to deliver what millions have asked for since 2021: a Start menu that belongs to the user, not the platform.