How to Force Enable the New Windows 11 Start Menu Layouts: The Ultimate Guide

Windows 11 continues to evolve, and Microsoft is preparing a significant overhaul to its iconic Start menu. This update promises to bring unprecedented customization options, enhanced app organization, and deeper integration with mobile devices — features that have been eagerly awaited by power users and everyday Windows enthusiasts alike.

Background: The Evolution of the Windows Start Menu

The Start menu has been the gateway to Windows since its inception in Windows 95, guiding users to applications, files, and system settings. Over the years, it has undergone several transformations — from the classic list in Windows 7 to the controversial full-screen tiles in Windows 8, followed by a refined, centered look in Windows 11. Despite these changes, criticism remained about limited customization options and cluttered interfaces, especially concerning the "Recommended" section that many users found intrusive.

What’s New in the Windows 11 Start Menu Redesign?

The redesign introduces several key improvements focused on user choice and adaptability:

  • Multiple Start Menu Layouts: Users can toggle between three distinct app views:
    • Traditional List View: A familiar alphabetical list of apps.
    • Grid View: A tiled, visually neat layout reminiscent of mobile launchers.
    • Category View: Apps automatically grouped into folders by type or use, inspired by mobile platforms like iOS.
  • Unified, Scrollable Interface: The Start menu now consolidates pinned apps and the full app list into a single, vertically scrollable page, minimizing the need to jump between different panes.
  • Pinned Apps Flexibility: The menu allows for up to eight pinned apps per row and supports expanding or collapsing the pinned app area, catering to both minimalists and power users.
  • Option to Disable the Recommended Section: After years of user requests, the new Start menu offers a toggle to remove the "Recommended" feed, freeing up screen space and reducing distractions.
  • Phone Link Integration: A collapsible panel embedded on the Start menu’s right side displays connected smartphone data such as battery status, recent photos, and messages, making cross-device workflows seamless.
  • Taskbar Icon Scaling: Testing is underway for scaling taskbar icons to suit high-resolution or multi-monitor setups.

How to Force Enable the New Start Menu Layouts?

Currently, these new layouts are available as part of experimental insider previews. Power users and enthusiasts can unlock them by following the steps below:

  1. Join the Windows Insider Program: You must be enrolled in the program to receive preview builds containing the new Start menu features.
  2. Update to the Correct Insider Build: Install the Windows 11 24H2 insider build or later where these changes are available.
  3. Install ViVeTool: This third-party utility allows enabling experimental Windows features by toggling feature IDs.
  4. Enable Feature IDs: Launch Command Prompt as an administrator and run the following commands (substitute for exact feature IDs based on the latest insider instructions):
CODEBLOCK0

Sometimes, enabling feature ID INLINECODE0 first may be required before the others.

  1. Restart Your PC: A reboot applies the changes.
  2. Customize Your Start Menu: Open Settings > Personalization > Start to explore the new layout options — toggle the Recommended section visibility, switch between app views, and manage pinned app display.

Implications and Impact

This redesign reflects Microsoft's shift toward a user-centric approach. By incorporating flexible layouts and allowing users to tailor the Start menu extensively, Microsoft addresses longstanding complaints among Windows users about rigidness and clutter. Moreover, embedding Phone Link integration directly into the Start menu signals the growing importance of seamless PC-mobile workflows.

From a productivity standpoint, the unified, scrollable Start menu simplifies app discovery and launch, reducing friction from the previous two-pane approach. The new Category View is particularly beneficial for users managing a broad set of applications, offering effortless categorization and cleaner organization.

For IT professionals, these changes may mean more tailored user experiences and potentially reduced reliance on third-party customization tools. However, early adoption should be balanced with caution due to the experimental nature and inherent instability risks of beta features.

Technical Details

  • The feature toggle relies on ViVeTool, a command-line utility used to manipulate Windows feature flags.
  • The new Start menu consolidates pinned apps and all installed apps in a single scrollable container.
  • The Recommended section can now be toggled on or off in Settings, something previously unavailable.
  • Phone Link panel integration supports Android and iOS devices, displaying battery status, recent photos, and messages.
  • Users can select views — Alphabetical, Grid, or Categorized — to suit their workflow.

Cautions

  • These features are currently in beta and available through the Insider program; users should avoid enabling them on mission-critical systems.
  • Stability may vary; feedback to Microsoft through the Insider Hub helps improve the experience.

Conclusion

The new Windows 11 Start menu represents a thoughtful redesign blending familiarity with modern needs. Its flexible layouts, decluttering options, and deeper device integration mark a positive evolution. For power users eager to experiment, enabling these features with ViVeTool offers an early glimpse at what could soon become a mainstream Windows experience.