Windows 11’s newly revamped Start menu design is annoyingly large | usagoldmines.com

With Windows 11’s November 2025 Update (update KB5068861), Microsoft fixed some bugs but also introduced some new issues. The biggest news item, however, was the introduction of a completely new and significantly larger Start menu.

The new Windows 11 Start menu is almost twice as tall as it used to be, and though it has some good aspects to it, it’s also got some drawbacks. The revamped Start menu is being rolled out to all users gradually, so if you don’t see it yet despite having already installed KB5068861, don’t worry. It’s not a bug. You’ll get it eventually.

According to Windows Latest, tests show that the new Start menu covers 90 percent of the screen height compared to the 50 or 60 percent covered previously. When the Phone Link app is also enabled, the new Start menu fills the entire screen. The Start menu now also contains a single page with the complete app list on it.

Microsoft claims the new Start menu adapts to different screen sizes, but Windows Latest reports that it takes up a lot of space even on 1080p screens. On lower-resolution screens, it almost reaches the top edge, while it looks somewhat more reasonable on 4K screens.

A brief overview of the new Start menu

Windows Latest

The redesigned Start menu is one of the most noticeable changes in Windows 11 25H2. It displays pinned apps at the top, a section in the middle with recommended content (such as recently used documents or programs), and the complete app list below that.

The complete app list can be displayed in three modes: as a category view, as a compact grid, or as a classic list. Users can dynamically control the size of the list using buttons such as “Show all” or “Show less.”

New personalization settings allow users to display more pinned apps by default or hide recommendations entirely. Frequently used and recently installed apps can also be optionally shown or hidden. Businesses benefit from the largely unchanged basic structure, as adjustments to documentation and training materials are minimal.

But not everyone loves the new design, especially those on smaller screens with less screen real estate. Perhaps most annoying, though, is that Microsoft offers no way for users to keep using the old Start menu in case they prefer it. Don’t like it? Tough.