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Is Windows 11’s New Start Menu Actually Worse Than the Old One?
Windows 11’s latest Start menu update brings exciting changes, but it also introduces some frustrating limitations that affect how you organize your applications.
What’s New in Windows 11 24H2’s Start Menu
The redesigned Start menu represents a significant departure from the traditional layout. Instead of the familiar three-section design with Pinned apps, All Apps button, and Recommended feed, you now get a unified scrollable interface that consolidates everything onto one page.
This streamlined approach eliminates the need to navigate to separate screens just to find your installed applications. The new Category view automatically sorts your apps into predefined groups, making it easier to locate specific programs without endless scrolling.
Key improvements include:
- Single-page design that maximizes screen real estate
- Automatic app categorization system
- Option to remove the Recommended feed entirely
- Integrated All Apps view within the main interface
How the Category System Works
The automatic categorization relies on an on-device JSON file that Microsoft maintains locally. This means your app data stays on your computer rather than being transmitted to external servers or AI systems.
Default categories include:
- Utilities and Tools – Houses essential system applications like Windows Settings, Clock, Calendar, and Calculator
- Productivity – Contains browsers (Edge, Chrome), AI applications (Copilot, ChatGPT), plus core tools like Outlook, File Explorer, and Notepad
- Games – Features the Xbox app, your installed games, and built-in entertainment like Solitaire
- Social – Groups communication apps such as Telegram, Signal, and WhatsApp
- Entertainment – Includes media applications like Windows Media Player, Netflix, Prime Video, and Apple Music
- Creativity – Organizes creative tools including Paint, Camera, and Photos
- Information & Reading – Contains reference apps like Weather, MSN, and Maps
- Other – Serves as the catch-all category for unclassified applications
The Major Limitation: No Custom Categories
Here’s where things get disappointing. Microsoft has confirmed that users cannot create their own custom categories beyond the predefined options. This restriction significantly limits personalization options for users who prefer specific organizational systems.
The “Other” category becomes problematic when Windows cannot determine appropriate placement for certain applications. Apps that don’t fit neatly into existing categories automatically get dumped into this generic bucket, potentially creating organizational chaos.
Additional constraints include:
- Categories require minimum three apps to appear
- Removing apps can cause entire categories to disappear
- Limited control over app placement within categories
Real-World Impact on User Experience
Consider this scenario: You have only Paint installed after removing Photos and other creativity apps. The Creativity category vanishes entirely, and Paint gets relegated to the “Other” category alongside unrelated applications.
This behavior becomes particularly problematic for users with minimal app installations. Everything might end up clustered in the “Other” category, defeating the purpose of organized categorization.
The local JSON file approach, while privacy-friendly, creates inflexibility. Users cannot override Microsoft’s categorization decisions or create specialized groupings that match their workflow preferences.
Future Outlook and Potential Improvements
Microsoft will likely address these limitations in future updates. The company has historically responded to user feedback regarding Start menu functionality, and custom category creation seems like a logical next step.
The feature might evolve similarly to how folder creation works in the current Start menu, giving users granular control over app organization while maintaining the automatic categorization as a foundation.
Windows 11 24H2 will introduce this new Start menu, with Windows 11 25H2 shipping it as the default experience for all users.
The new Start menu offers visual improvements and better screen utilization, but the lack of customization options represents a step backward in user control. While automatic categorization works well for basic organization, power users will find the restrictions limiting until Microsoft addresses these concerns in future updates.