Microsoft has started rolling out a significant Start menu overhaul to Windows 11 Insider Preview builds in the Dev Channel, introducing granular section-level controls that let users manage what appears in the Pinned apps area, the newly renamed Recent section, and a space-saving Compact layout option. The changes, first spotted in build 26100.712 on May 28, 2026, mark the most substantial rethinking of the Windows 11 Start menu since the operating system launched in 2021.

The new controls arrive as part of a broader effort to address long-standing user feedback. Since Windows 11 debuted, the Start menu has been criticized for its rigidity—forcing a top section of pinned apps and a bottom “Recommended” area that many users found cluttered with unwanted file suggestions. The latest Insider build gives Windows enthusiasts the tools to finally tailor the Start menu to their workflow.

What’s New in This Insider Build

Three major changes define the updated Start menu:

  • Pinned section toggles: Users can now show or hide the entire pinned apps grid.
  • Recent section rebranding: The controversial “Recommended” label is gone, replaced by a cleaner “Recent” section that only surfaces files and apps you actually use.
  • Compact layout: A new density option reduces vertical spacing between items, showing more content without increasing the menu’s footprint.

These tweaks are not mere cosmetic changes. They represent a philosophical shift toward user agency, allowing Windows 11 users to decide what their Start menu contains and how it is organized.

Pinned Apps: Full Control Over the Grid

In the current public release, the pinned apps section is always present, even if you delete every single shortcut. The layout stubbornly retains a placeholder grid that cannot be removed. That changes with this Insider build. A toggle in Settings > Personalization > Start now includes a switch labeled “Show pinned apps.” Flipping it off instantly removes the entire pinned area, collapsing the Start menu into a simpler panel focused on the newly renamed Recent section and the all-apps list.

For those who keep pins, the build adds another long-requested feature: the ability to resize the pinned grid from three rows (the default) to four or two rows, giving users fine control over how many icons appear at a glance. This is especially useful on smaller screens or for users who prefer a minimalist launcher.

Perhaps the most welcomed change is the rebranding of the Recommended area. Since its introduction, the Recommended section has drawn ire for displaying recently opened files and newly installed apps in a way that felt intrusive and often irrelevant. Microsoft acknowledged this by renaming it to “Recent” and making it fully collapsible. A new toggle lets users turn off the Recent section entirely, while a dropdown allows them to choose what content appears—files only, apps only, or both.

The revamped section also respects a stricter privacy boundary. By default, it only shows files you’ve personally opened, excluding system suggestions or promotional app tips. The “More recommendations” hyperlink that used to extend the list into a promotional space has been removed, replaced by a plain “Show all” link that simply expands the list of recent items.

Compact Layout: Density for Power Users

Windows 11’s Start menu has always favored a spacious, touch-friendly design with generous padding around each icon. That works well on tablets but wastes screen real estate on desktop monitors. The new Compact density option tightens the spacing, reducing the padding between rows and columns by roughly 30%. The change allows the Start menu to display up to 24 pinned apps in the same vertical space that previously held 18, and shows three additional Recent items.

Compact mode can be enabled independently of the other toggles, so a user could, for example, hide the Recent section but keep the pinned grid in Compact layout for a dense app launcher. The setting lives in the same Personalization page under a “Layout” dropdown with options for Default and Compact.

Customization Deep Dive: How It Works

The redesign puts all these controls into a single new section within the Windows Settings app. Navigate to Settings > Personalization > Start and you’ll find a cohesive interface that replaces the scattered toggles of previous versions. The page includes:

  • A live preview of the Start menu that reflects changes in real time.
  • Independent toggles for Pinned apps, Recent, and All apps list visibility.
  • A slider to adjust the number of pinned rows (2, 3, or 4).
  • The layout density selector (Default or Compact).
  • A “Content” dropdown for the Recent section to filter between files, apps, or both.

These settings are also exposed via Group Policy and MDM, which will please IT administrators. Policies like “Start Layout” can now force a specific combination of these options, ensuring consistent deployment across managed devices.

Context Menu Integration

Beyond the Settings app, Microsoft has added right-click context menus directly within the Start menu itself. Right-clicking on any blank area inside the Start menu now shows options to:

  • Toggle the Recent section on or off.
  • Switch between default and compact density.
  • Enter “edit mode” for the pinned grid, where apps can be dragged more freely and resized (for supported widgets).

This reduces the friction of hopping in and out of Settings every time you want to adjust the layout.

The Road to This Release

The journey to these controls began in early 2026 when Microsoft started A/B testing smaller Start menu tweaks with a limited set of Dev Channel Insiders. Telemetry indicated that users who could hide the Recommended section had significantly higher satisfaction scores and spent more time in the Start menu. Those experiments evolved into the comprehensive set of controls now being flighted to all Dev Channel testers.

The renaming from “Recommended” to “Recent” was reportedly a direct result of user feedback gathered through the Feedback Hub. Many Insiders argued that the word “Recommended” implied Microsoft was suggesting content, whereas the section mostly showed recently accessed files—which users already knew about. The simpler “Recent” label more accurately describes the feature’s purpose.

What Insiders Are Saying

Early feedback on the Windows Insiders subreddit and the official Feedback Hub has been overwhelmingly positive. Users are particularly pleased with the ability to remove the pinned grid entirely, turning the Start menu into a minimalist launcher that focuses on search and the all-apps list.

One common thread in discussions is appreciation for the consistency. “This finally feels like a Start menu that belongs to me, not to Microsoft’s design team,” wrote one Dev Channel tester. Others have noted that the Compact layout makes Windows 11 feel more like a traditional desktop OS, bridging the gap between the modern aesthetic and power-user density.

However, some Insiders have reported minor glitches. A few users mention that the live preview in Settings doesn’t always update immediately when toggling the Pinned section off, requiring a Start menu restart (which can be triggered by a button in the same settings page). Microsoft acknowledged the issue in the build’s release notes and promised a fix in an upcoming cumulative update.

How to Try the New Start Menu

The features are currently exclusive to the Windows 11 Insider Preview Dev Channel. To enroll:

  1. Go to Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program.
  2. Choose “Dev Channel” and follow the prompts.
  3. After enrollment, check for updates and install build 26100.712 or higher.

Keep in mind that Dev Channel builds can be unstable and may contain bugs. It is not recommended for production machines. However, for those eager to customize their Start menu, the risk may be worth the reward.

What’s Still Missing

While the new controls are a significant step forward, the Start menu isn’t completely open-ended yet. Users cannot, for example, resize the entire menu panel or place pinned apps into custom groups like in Windows 10. Live tiles remain a thing of the past, though third-party tools like Start11 and StartAllBack continue to fill that gap. Microsoft has indicated these limitations are intentional, prioritizing simplicity and performance.

There is also no option to increase the number of pinned apps beyond the grid capacity—you’re limited to what fits in the chosen number of rows. Widgets still live exclusively in the Widgets board, and there’s no integration between the Start menu and third-party launchers. But given the pace of recent changes, further enhancements seem likely.

A Win for User Choice

The new Start menu controls represent a maturation of Windows 11. Three years after its launch, Microsoft is finally giving users the keys to a core part of the shell. It’s a move that acknowledges the diversity of Windows users—from the tablet-touching casual to the keyboard-only power user. By providing toggles instead of rigid layouts, Microsoft is betting that flexibility won’t compromise the clean, modern identity that Windows 11 brought to the table.

The changes are expected to graduate from the Dev Channel to the Beta Channel later this summer and could reach all Windows 11 users in the annual feature update, codenamed Hudson Valley, currently slated for October 2026. Between now and then, Insiders will shape the final form of the Start menu, and their feedback will determine whether these controls expand further.

For now, the message is clear: Start is no longer a one-size-fits-all affair. It’s your menu, your way.