Start Menu
The latest Start Menu coverage — news, analysis, and updates from the WindowsNews.AI desk.
How to Disable Windows 11 Web Search in Start Menu: Complete Guide
Microsoft's integration of web search results directly into the Windows 11 Start menu has been one of the most debated features since the operating system's launch. While some users appreciate the...
Windows 11 Start Menu Battle: Open Shell vs Paid Replacements & Microsoft's Redesign
The Windows Start Menu has evolved from a simple hierarchical launcher in Windows 95 to a complex, touch-aware interface in Windows 11, but Microsoft's design choices continue to clash with user...
Start menu overhaul introduces three view modes and scrollable All apps list
Microsoft has quietly rebuilt the Windows 11 Start menu into a significantly more flexible and functional interface, transforming it from a static grid into a single, vertically scrollable launcher...
Windows 11 Start Menu Redesign in KB5068861: User Backlash & IT Implications
Microsoft's November 2023 cumulative update KB5068861 for Windows 11 quietly introduced a significant redesign of the Start menu, replacing the compact, two-panel layout with a single-panel design...
Microsoft confirms KB5072911 and KB5072910 break Windows 11 Start, Taskbar, and Explorer
Microsoft has officially confirmed a significant servicing regression in its July 2025 cumulative updates for Windows 11 that can leave core shell components completely non-functional. According to...
Windows 11 Start Menu & Shell Broken: Microsoft Confirms Provisioning Bug
Microsoft has officially acknowledged a significant provisioning-time regression in Windows 11 that can completely disable core desktop components, leaving users with a broken Start menu,...
Windows 11's New Start Menu Is Too Big? Here’s How to Shrink It and Regain Control
Microsoft’s November 2025 update has landed with a Start menu redesign that users immediately noticed—not for its features, but its size. Early testing shows the new single-pane launcher occupies...
Microsoft’s July 2025 Updates Can Break Windows 11’s Start Menu and Taskbar — Here’s How to Fix It Now
If you manage Windows 11 machines, a pair of cumulative updates from July 2025 can trigger a catastrophic failure in the user interface after provisioning, leaving the Start menu, Taskbar, File...
Open Shell Revives Windows 7 Start Menu on Windows 11 Despite Update Risks
For many Windows users, the transition from Windows 7 to Windows 10 and now Windows 11 has been marked by one consistent complaint: the disappearance of the classic Start Menu. The familiar,...
Windows Can Look Cleaner Than macOS: 4 Desktop UI Tweaks for Productivity
Windows can look cleaner than macOS — sometimes far cleaner — with a handful of deliberate visual decisions and a small set of community tools that tidy the interface without breaking...
Windows 11 Productivity Boost: 5 Practical Fixes Microsoft Should Prioritize
Windows 11 stands at a critical juncture where Microsoft's development priorities could significantly impact millions of users' daily workflow efficiency. While the company continues to invest...
Windows 11 24H2 Provisioning Bug Crashes Start Menu and Settings - Microsoft Confirms
Microsoft has officially acknowledged a critical provisioning regression in Windows 11 24H2 that's causing widespread Start Menu and Settings app crashes for affected users. The company's engineering...