Windows 11s rumored Start menu redesign could mean it eats up a huge chunk of desktop space for some users although it can be tamed

Date:
Mon, 07 Apr 2025 14:23:33 +0000

Description:
Microsoft seems to be giving Windows 11 users what they want, namely more control over the Start menu.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Microsof t looks to be mulling a redesign for the Start menu We saw that last week, hidden in testing, and now weve caught a glimpse of what it looks like with the Phone Link side panel enabled This configuration of the Start menu takes up most of the desktop, but theres a switch you can flick to change this

If you saw the major revamp that could be in the works for Windows 11s Start menu though note its still only hidden in testing weve caught another look at it, this time with the Phone Link side panel active .

As a quick refresher, Phone Link is Microsofts app that hooks up your Android smartphone so you can use the device for various functions (texts, notifications, or even some apps) on the Windows 11 desktop. The mentioned side panel puts all the relevant details relating to your phone in a box, floating off to the right of the Start menu.

As you can see below, known leaker PhantomOfEarth on X has shown us what the Start menu redesign will look like with that side panel active (as
highlighted by Windows Latest ). New Start menu, follow up: here's how Companions look, Phone Link one used for the demo. The companion panel is a bit wider, and you can now quickly hide/show companions with a button at the top, next to the search box. pic.twitter.com/hMS7E56KIu April 4, 2025

The key point to remember here is that Microsofts proposed redesign makes the Start menu wider, which is part of a move to condense the layout from two separate sections to one, and accommodate this (all of this is in theory, of course).

Not only is the Start menu wider, as PhantomOfEarth makes clear, but the
Phone Link panel is also a bit wider here, meaning that 75% (maybe even slightly more) of the desktop is obscured by this configuration of the Start menu. Thats pretty much the entire screen eaten up, in other words.

However, as PhantomOfEarth also points out in the above post (watch the video clip), theres a button you can click to hide (or show) the companion panel. Meaning it only takes a click to retract this additional piece of the interface, and trim down the Start menu (although its still notably more expansive than it was before). (Image credit: George Dolgikh / Shutterstock) Analysis: Windows 8 flashbacks aside, the overall direction Microsoft is heading in feels positive

Does this bother me at all? No, in a word. As noted, you dont need to have
the side panel for the Phone Link app active. And, of course, there are a
good deal more folks who dont use this Android smartphone hookup than the people who do use it actually, Id like to know what kind of percentage usage Phone Link has. I dont have this app set up for now, but Im mulling it over and will likely take the plunge in the future.

Still, for those who are in this scenario where the Start menu unfurls to cover most of the desktop, is that even a problem? Again, not for me. I guess the unfortunate aspect here is that it sort of feels like a full-screen Start menu in some ways, and that might give some users flashbacks to the days of Windows 8 (which had an actual full-screen Start menu well, technically it was a Start screen, one that nobody really used or liked ).

But again, you can just disable the Phone Link panel if the new layout bugs you that much. Besides, I must underline (strongly, in bold red pen) that
this work on the Start menu redesign which also comes with a huge, red tick, in the form of an option to turn off Microsofts recommendations is not even in testing yet. Its hidden in the background of preview builds, so nothing
may happen with all these concepts. Or, if they are realized, Microsoft might implement them differently from what we see here.

All that said, the changes happening hidden away in the background do seem to be relatively polished given their totally unofficial status and this is
one to keep an eye on.

Rest assured, though, that the idea very much appears to be to give Windows
11 users more control over what they see in their Start menu , including taming it from any excesses of expanding across the whole desktop in certain scenarios. And that has to get a big thumbs-up, surely? You may also like... Windows 11 is getting a very handy change to the taskbar, as Microsoft takes
a leaf from Apples Mac playbook Microsoft looks to be making a big change to how you install and log in to Windows 11 and Im not happy about it at all Windows 11s latest patch declares war on BIOS updates for some Lenovo
laptops, blocking them as a security risk in a bizarre turn of events



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/windows-11s-rumored-start-menu-red esign-could-mean-it-eats-up-a-huge-chunk-of-desktop-space-for-some-users-altho ugh-it-can-be-tamed


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