Windows 11 users may soon find navigating their apps much easier thanks to a potential overhaul of the Start menu. While Microsoft has been pushing advertisements in recent updates, it seems they are also working on improving the functionality of the Start menu. The current list format in the “All Apps” section of the Start menu can be cumbersome, requiring users to scroll through a long list to find the desired app. However, new developments suggest a significant change is in the works.
Microsoft has been testing a grid layout for apps as an alternative to the current list format, and more recently, a new category view has emerged. This category view, currently in the preview stage, has progressed beyond its initial implementation and is now showing actual application icons. The category view organizes apps into groups, such as “entertainment” or “navigation and maps”, displaying four apps at a time. If a category contains more than four apps, four mini-icons can be used in place of one, allowing up to 16 apps to be highlighted within a single category.
While Microsoft hasn’t confirmed if this new implementation will make it to a public preview build, let alone the final release, it’s definitely worth keeping an eye on. This category view, along with the grid layout, presents a more user-friendly and organized approach to managing apps, making it easier for users to quickly locate the apps they need.
