Table of Contents
Summary
- The Start menu will have an updated design with an “All [apps]” section at the top and new category and grid views.
- New policies will provide more control over the Start menu appearance and behavior, including the ability to hide the category view.
- The ConfigureStartPins policy allows the pinned layout to remain stable even after routine policy refreshes.
- The changes will impact how devices display and interact with the Start menu, affecting user experience and customization.
- Administrators should review the new policies and adjust configurations accordingly.
Admin Impact: Low
User Impact: Medium
Release Start: 01 Apr 2026
Release End: 01 Jun 2026
Services: Windows
Category: Stay informed
Tags: Admin Action
History
2/17/2026 Item Added to Message Center
Microsoft Message
The updated Start menu is gradually rolling out. It brings the “All \
apps\
” section to the top level of the Start menu with new views (category and grid). The size of the Start menu is dynamic to the user’s device. Additionally, updated policies now make it easier for you to configure Start.
When will this happen
Start menu began gradual rollout in October 2025 to general audiences. The rollout of Start menu to organizations will begin in the second quarter of the calendar year 2026.
How this will affect your organization
Devices will begin updating to show the new Start menu. In addition to the existing policies, the following policies give you more control:
HideCategoryView: This is a net new policy that can be applied to the updated Start menu design. Turn off the new category view in the “All \
apps\
” section, so devices show the grid view by default. Note: If you already have HideAppList enabled, you don’t need to enable HideCategoryView since devices won’t have the “All \
apps\
” section.
ConfigureStartPins: This policy can be applied to all versions of Start and only includes an update. When the optional applyOnce flag is set, the pinned layout is applied only during initial provisioning. After that, users can customize their Start menu without those changes being reset during routine policy refreshes. This addresses a previous issue where users’ pinned sections could be unexpectedly refreshed.
What you need to do to prepare
Review the new policies above and make changes accordingly. See additional information.
Additional information
- Review policies in Start Policy CSP.
- Learn more at Start policy settings.
- Learn more about HideCategoryView Start Policy CSP.
- Learn more about ConfigureStartPins Start Policy CSP.