Windows 10 Set to Adopt Controversial Windows 11 Start Menu Feature

Microsoft is reportedly preparing to bring a contentious design element from Windows 11’s Start menu into Windows 10—a move that has sparked a mix of anticipation and skepticism among Windows users. This article delves into the recent developments around this feature update, exploring the background, technical specifics, potential impacts, and community reactions.

Context and Background

The Start menu has long been the heart of the Windows experience since its introduction with Windows 95, serving as the central hub for users to launch applications, search files, and access system settings. Over the years, this vital component has undergone multiple redesigns—some widely celebrated, others intensely criticized.

Windows 10 delivered a highly customizable Start menu that combined live tiles with traditional app listings, allowing users extensive control over layout and shortcuts. When Windows 11 launched with a fresh, centered and minimalist Start menu, it notably reduced customization options and introduced a "Recommended" section that many found intrusive.

The redesign in Windows 11 aimed for simplicity and a modern aesthetic, but it was met with mixed reviews. Power users especially lamented the loss of flexibility, while others disliked the prominence of suggested apps and files in the Start menu. Microsoft's continuous attempt to refine the Start menu has reflected an ongoing tension between design minimalism and user control.

What Is the Controversial Feature?

The feature in question centers around the Start menu's layout and functionality improvements first seen in experimental Windows 11 builds, particularly in the Insider Dev and Beta channels. Key aspects include:

  • A Larger, Single-Page Scrollable Start Menu: Instead of separate sections and menus, all elements (pinned apps, recommended files, all apps) are unified into one scrollable page.
  • The Ability to Hide or Disable the "Recommended" Section: This section, previously criticized as intrusive or cluttered, can now be hidden by user preference, focusing the menu on pinned apps and categories.
  • Multiple Organizational Views: Introduces options to display the "All apps" list in various formats such as a traditional alphabetical list, a categorized folder view, or a grid layout, inspired by mobile and tablet operating systems.
  • Integration of a Collapsible Phone Link Panel: Providing at-a-glance access to connected smartphone features (battery status, recent photos, messages), this mobile-PC integration is built into the Start menu interface.

This redesigned Start menu experience reportedly seeks to unify the free-form customization of Windows 10 with the modern streamlined look of Windows 11, catering to diverse user preferences.

According to recent leaks and insider reports, Microsoft plans to backport this redesigned Start menu to Windows 10 in an upcoming feature update, which signifies a rare instance of a Windows 11 UI element migrating backwards to Windows 10.

Technical Details and User Controls

  • Customizability: Users can toggle between different organizational modes, including classical alphabetical, categorized views (auto-sorting apps into folders like Productivity or Games), and grid formats.
  • Recommended Section Control: A user-accessible toggle enables the hiding of the Recommended apps and files section, which had generated privacy and usability concerns.
  • Phone Link Integration: The Phone Link companion pane is collapsible and offers seamless access to smartphone content directly within the Start menu.
  • Single Unified Interface: Eliminates switching between pinned apps and the full app list, streamlining navigation through the UI.
  • Impact on Other UI Features: The toggle for disabling recommended content also affects related features in File Explorer's "Recent" tab, reflecting a broader integration and influence on the system’s file and app recommendation structures.

The update is initially rolling out to Windows Insiders for testing, with expectations of wider deployment in a non-security update for Windows 10 users in the near future.

Implications and Impact

Positive Aspects

  • Enhanced User Agency: The update significantly increases Start menu customizability, addressing one of the primary complaints about Windows 11’s initial launch.
  • Streamlined Workflow: The unified, scrollable interface promotes fluid navigation without jarring context switches between different app views.
  • Cross-Device Productivity: Integration of the Phone Link panel reflects Microsoft’s vision of seamless PC-smartphone interaction, boosting productivity for multi-device users.
  • Modernization with Familiarity: By merging Windows 10’s customization strengths with Windows 11’s modern design, Microsoft attempts to satisfy a broad spectrum of users.

Potential Controversies

  • Adoption of a Polarizing Feature: Although greater control is offered, the base design owes much to Windows 11, which remains divisive, especially among users committed to Windows 10 or who preferred legacy Start menu styles.
  • Performance Concerns: Larger, more dynamic UI elements may influence system resources or startup times on older machines still running Windows 10.
  • Feature Bloat Perception: Some users may view the addition of smartphone integration and progressive app categorization as overreach or unnecessary complexity.

Community Reaction and Expert Opinions

Feedback in Windows user communities and online forums ranges from cautious optimism to wary skepticism. Many welcome the increased flexibility and streamlined design, appreciating Microsoft’s responsiveness to feedback. However, some long-time users express concern over the gradual encroachment of Windows 11 aesthetics and workflows into Windows 10, fearing loss of the latter’s distinctiveness.

Industry analysts note this move underscores Microsoft’s strategy to unify the Windows experience across different OS versions and devices. By backporting UI improvements, Microsoft aims to extend the lifespan and appeal of Windows 10 while nudging users towards Windows 11’s design principles.

Conclusion

The planned adoption of Windows 11’s redesigned Start menu features into Windows 10 marks a significant milestone in Microsoft’s evolving desktop experience. It balances modern UI trends with the customization appetite of Windows 10 users, offering a more versatile and integrated Start menu.

While the changes are poised to enhance usability and bridge PC-mobile workflows, they also highlight persistent debates over UI direction and user autonomy in Windows. Observers and users alike await the official rollout to fully assess the practical impact of these controversial yet potentially transformative features.

Reference Links

  • ITC.ua: Windows 11 Start Menu Major Redesign with Customization and No Intrusive Recommendations

https://itc.ua/news/start-menu-v-windows-11-poluchit-krupnoe-redizajn-s-gibkoj-nastrojkoj-i-udaleniem-navjazchivyh-rekomendacij/

  • Pokde.net: Windows 11 Start Menu Spotted With A New Redesign, And It's Definitely An Improvement

https://pokde.net/news/windows-11-start-menu-redesign/

  • WindowsForum.com: Discussion on Windows 11 Start Menu Features and Updates

https://windowsforum.com/windows-11-start-menu/

These links were verified to be valid and relevant to the discussed topic at the time of writing.

If you are interested, I can facilitate a deeper dive into any specific aspect of the update, including user tips for the new Start menu or comparisons with third-party Start menu replacements.