Start Menu
The latest Start Menu coverage — news, analysis, and updates from the WindowsNews.AI desk.
Windows 11 Beta Build 26220.8925: Start Menu Sections Become Optional, Sizes Go Small or Large, and File Explorer Drops the Kilobyte Obsession
Microsoft delivered a Windows 11 Beta build this week that gives users something they’ve been asking for since October 2021: genuine control over what the Start menu shows, how big it is, and...
Windows 11’s Start Menu Can Finally Be Resized—and That’s Just the Start
Microsoft shipped two Windows 11 Beta builds on July 20, 2026, and the marquee addition is a Start menu you can shrink, enlarge, or let Windows size automatically. Build 26220.8925 doesn’t stop...
Microsoft Delivers Long-Awaited Start Menu Pin Controls for Windows 11 24H2
Microsoft has quietly given IT administrators two powerful new levers for taming the Windows 11 Start menu. With preview updates rolled out in July and October 2025, organizations can now decide...
Windows 11 2026 Update Preview: Movable Taskbar Returns Alongside Revamped Feedback Hub and Admin Tools
Microsoft is giving Windows 11 users exactly what they’ve been asking for: a movable taskbar, richer personalization controls, and a Feedback Hub rebuilt for clarity and speed, all previewed as...
Windows 11’s 2026 Update to Restore Movable Taskbar, Start Menu Resizing, and More Privacy
Microsoft is planning a significant reversal of its controversial Windows 11 design decisions, with 2026 updates expected to restore long-requested taskbar and Start menu customization options,...
Windows 11 26H2 Lands on Insiders with Movable Taskbar, Bing Start Controls, and a Lighter Footprint
Microsoft has officially shipped Windows 11 version 26H2 to the Insider Dev Channel, confirming a June 19, 2026 flight and marking the start of public testing for this year’s annual feature update....
Windows 11 Start Menu Evolves into a Full-Fledged Dashboard with Deeper Phone Link Integration
Microsoft has been quietly transforming the Windows 11 Start menu from a simple launcher into a comprehensive command center, packing in pinned apps, personalized recommendations, an integrated...
Insiders get reorderable File Explorer tabs, unified updates, and faster search in Build 26300.8687
Microsoft rolled out Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26300.8687 to the Experimental channel on June 12, 2026, delivering a trio of long-awaited improvements. File Explorer tabs get a much-needed...
Windows 11 2026 Update Unlocks Movable Taskbar, Compact Start & Privacy Boost
Microsoft is preparing the most significant rework of Windows 11’s core interface since the OS launched, with a 2026 feature update set to deliver a completely flexible taskbar, a genuinely compact...
Windows 11 Search Testing Native Toggle to Remove Bing and Store Results
Microsoft is reportedly preparing a long-awaited search toggle for Windows 11 that would allow users to disable Bing web results and Microsoft Store suggestions directly from the Settings app. The...
WinUI Takes Over as Windows Long-Term Native Shell, Start Menu Redesigned for Performance
At Build 2026, Microsoft dropped a bombshell for Windows developers: WinUI is now the official long-term native user interface layer for all Windows applications, replacing the aging Win32 and WPF...
Dell XPS 13 Drops to $799 as Microsoft Gives Start Menu Real User Controls
Dell dropped the starting price of its iconic XPS 13 laptop to $799 on June 2, 2026 — a move that puts premium build quality into the hands of students and budget-conscious buyers. Hours later,...