Windows 11 25H2 New Start Menu Look.

Question

Windows 11 25H2 New Start Menu Look.

Gavin Mathos 50

To,
Microsoft Community

I am using the latest Microsoft Windows 11 25H2 OS (OS Build: 26200.6725).

Microsoft recently launched the Windows 11 25H2 OS. I also upgraded to it. On Youtube I saw Start Menu Look in Windows 11 25H2 OS has changed (As shown in below Image right side). But on My Laptop I am not able to get New Look of Windows 11 Start Menu as it still has older look (As shown in below Image left side). I tried disabling the 1. Show recent added apps 2. show most used apps 3. Show recommended files in Start, File explorer 4. Show Websites from your Browser History & much more. But that did't work.

Would like to know how can I get New Start Menu Look on My Windows 11 25H2 OS Laptop. Please check & let me know.

**** Left Side Old Start Menu on My Laptop & right Side New Start Menu shared by Youtuber ****
Win11

Matthew Huck 20 Reputation points

2025-11-11T20:59:01.65+00:00

How do you turn it back to how it was? This update just hit me and I don't like the new start menu layout.
Chris Francy 15 Reputation points

2025-11-12T18:49:28.53+00:00

Really wish I could disable it. I have pinned my stuff for a reason, and this update hid a row of my pins, and decreased the font and icon size of my existing pins.
Gregory Phillips 1 Reputation point

2026-01-09T10:30:09.0366667+00:00

I run open shell so my menu remains constant no matter what MS does.
Anonymous

2026-01-09T14:18:11.4566667+00:00

I'm not a fan of the Category or Grid format, but if you want to deploy a reg key to make them default to "List" you can use:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Start\
DWORD = AllAppsViewMode = 1
Josh the Happy 0 Reputation points

2026-01-14T19:20:56.02+00:00

This is awful, I just wanna remove all that terrible bloat from beneath my curated icons and reduce the width back.

Please sent my hate mail to whoever designed and approved this.
Deleted

This comment has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The comment was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.

5 answers

Your answer

Matthew Huck 20 Reputation points

2025-11-11T20:59:01.65+00:00

How do you turn it back to how it was? This update just hit me and I don't like the new start menu layout.
Chris Francy 15 Reputation points

2025-11-12T18:49:28.53+00:00

Really wish I could disable it. I have pinned my stuff for a reason, and this update hid a row of my pins, and decreased the font and icon size of my existing pins.
Gregory Phillips 1 Reputation point

2026-01-09T10:30:09.0366667+00:00

I run open shell so my menu remains constant no matter what MS does.
Anonymous

2026-01-09T14:18:11.4566667+00:00

I'm not a fan of the Category or Grid format, but if you want to deploy a reg key to make them default to "List" you can use:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Start\
DWORD = AllAppsViewMode = 1
Josh the Happy 0 Reputation points

2026-01-14T19:20:56.02+00:00

This is awful, I just wanna remove all that terrible bloat from beneath my curated icons and reduce the width back.

Please sent my hate mail to whoever designed and approved this.
Deleted

This comment has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The comment was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.

Answer 1

Paulo GM 72,225 Independent Advisor

Hi Gavin,

Even though you have the 25H2, the feature will not be activated immediately as it is still in A/B testing. This means Microsoft is rolling out this feature to some while still retaining the old one to others to measure which performs better. If you want to activate it manually, you can check this method but I recommend you create a system restore point as backup.

Disclaimer: This is a non-Microsoft site. The information seems reliable, but be careful with ads. Research any product before downloading.

YAHYA MAREI 0 Reputation points

2026-01-10T17:21:15.72+00:00

I do not want to download 3 party ; there is always risk.

Answer 2

John Rogers 5

I'm on the Dev Channel updates, so it's been on my machine for a while. It's terrible, so fortunately you can disable it.

Maybe y'all should concentrate on the random-program-opens-when-you-click-on-a-program-in-the-start-menu thing before you worry about the loveliness of the UI.

0 comments

Answer 3

Cyber Trash 0

Hello Gavin,

I'm a user like you, so no expert, but I feel you will find your OS Build is the root of your problem - research OS Build when the later start menu was introduced.

0 comments

Answer 4

John Rogers 5

You can select the "View:" drop-down to the right side of "All" and choose another format.

Chris Francy 15 Reputation points

2025-11-12T18:51:49.4466667+00:00

The options on the view drop down (grid, list, category) are not very useful.

Answer 5

CP 0

I see both of those as about the same. They feel like a cork board where you just pin the shortcuts you want. It doesn't feel like a start menu should.

0 comments