Windows 11 Beta Enhances User Experience with New App Sorting Feature

Microsoft has introduced a significant update to the Windows 11 Beta, enhancing the user experience by adding a highly anticipated app sorting feature. This improvement aims to better organize applications within the Start menu, making it easier for users to find and manage their apps. Released under build 22635.4010 for Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel, this feature represents a thoughtful evolution of Windows 11’s user interface and app management capabilities.

Context and Analysis: Why App Sorting Matters

Over the years, Windows users have experienced a steady increase in the number of applications installed on their devices. This growth has made navigating the Start menu cumbersome, especially when the traditional list of apps grows unmanageable. The new app sorting feature addresses this challenge by enabling apps to be grouped into categories based on their type or usage.

This categorization mirrors organizational principles familiar to users from other operating systems, such as iOS, which uses similar grouping to streamline app access. By adopting this approach, Microsoft enhances efficiency and usability, reducing the time users spend searching through an endless list of applications.

Unlike the pinned apps section in the Start menu, this new categorization acts as an additional layer of organization within the All apps list, helping users rapidly identify apps based on productivity, entertainment, utilities, gaming, and other functional groupings.

Background: Evolution of Windows Start Menu and App Management

The Start menu has been a fundamental part of Windows since Windows 95. It has evolved through various versions:

  • Windows 95-7: Focused on providing quick access to programs and files.
  • Windows 8-8.1: Removed the Start menu in favor of a full-screen tile interface, which was met with criticism.
  • Windows 10: Reintroduced the Start menu with a blend of traditional folders and dynamic Live Tiles.
  • Windows 11: Redesigned the Start menu to a simpler, more modern look, but initially with limited options for app organization or sorting.

With the many apps users install nowadays, the limited sorting options in Windows 11’s Start menu sometimes lead to clutter and inefficiency. Microsoft's latest beta update is a clear response to ongoing user feedback, aiming to improve continuity between desktop and mobile-like app organization.

Technical Details of the New App Sorting Feature

The new feature utilizes an automatic categorization system to group apps into predefined categories visible in the All apps section of the Start menu. Users can activate this feature by updating to Windows build 22635.4010 in the Beta Channel.

Currently, enabling the feature requires some technical steps involving a third-party utility called ViveTool:

  1. Update Windows 11 to build 22635.4010.
  2. Download ViveTool from GitHub and extract it.
  3. Open Windows Terminal as an administrator and switch to Command Prompt mode.
  4. Navigate to the ViveTool folder using the INLINECODE0 command.
  5. Run the command to enable app categories:
INLINECODE1
  1. Restart the PC to apply the changes.

This approach is currently geared towards enthusiasts and beta testers comfortable with command-line tools. The categorization itself is managed through a JSON file structure within Windows, which organizes apps by category and subcategory.

However, there have been some reports and concerns from users about how apps not sourced from the Microsoft Store are categorized, with some being placed into less functional or smaller subcategories. This remains an area for improvement as the feature matures.

User Experience Improvements and Implications

The immediate impact of this feature is a more organized Start menu that significantly improves navigation, especially for users with a large number of installed applications. Productivity users and professionals stand to benefit the most, as they often rely on quick access to a diverse set of apps.

  • Cleaner interface: Reduces cognitive load by segmenting apps into meaningful categories.
  • Increased efficiency: Saves time by minimizing the need to scroll through a long, alphabetical list.
  • Customizable navigation: Users can manage apps based on their workflow and priorities.
  • Improved productivity: Easier app discovery can lead to better time management during work and leisure.

Additionally, the new app sorting feature is part of a larger trend where Microsoft prioritizes user-centric design improvements in Windows 11, including updates to the Start menu such as disabling the "Recommended" section and increasing interface customizability.

Broader Development Context and Future Outlook

Microsoft's rollout of this feature as part of the Beta Channel reflects its iterative approach to Windows development, relying heavily on Feedback from the Windows Insider Program to refine features before general availability.

Lessons from past versions, including the mixed reception of Windows 8 and the transition pains with Windows 10’s Start menu, show Microsoft's cautious navigation between innovation and user familiarity.

The app sorting and category feature may become part of a major Windows 11 update (potentially the 24H2 update later this year), incorporating further refinements based on beta feedback.

Looking ahead, Microsoft might extend categorization to support notification badges on app icons and improve how non-Microsoft Store apps integrate with the system. These enhancements could give users a richer, more interactive Start menu experience reminiscent in part of Windows 10’s Live Tiles but in a modernized form.

Conclusion

The introduction of the app sorting feature in Windows 11 Beta build 22635.4010 marks a noteworthy advancement in Microsoft's efforts to enhance the operating system's user experience and productivity. By allowing applications to be sorted into intuitive categories within the Start menu, Microsoft tackles a long-standing issue of app clutter and navigation inefficiency.

While still under beta testing with some rough edges, this feature promises to make app management on Windows 11 more efficient, customizable, and satisfying for a broad spectrum of users—from casual to power users.

Microsoft’s commitment to iterative improvements, user feedback integration, and modern UI principles indicates that Windows 11’s Start menu is evolving towards a more streamlined and user-friendly future.

Reference Links

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This article provides a comprehensive view of the new app sorting feature in Windows 11 Beta, elaborating on its functionality, background, user impact, and future potential. For users interested in trying this feature, careful following of the technical enablement process is recommended within the Beta or Insider environment.