This guide explains Microsoft’s redesigned Windows 11 start menu that removes the secondary All‑apps list in favor of a grid view, compares it with the list view, shows how to enable the feature via ViveTool, and discusses its usability pros and cons.
Microsoft is testing a new Windows 11 Start menu in build 22635.4805 that removes the recommendation section, flattens hierarchy, and presents all apps alphabetically, while also offering alternative sorting modes such as category grids, though some elements like Phone Link remain and the changes may appear at Build 2025.
On June 21, 2024, Microsoft released Insider Beta build 22635.3790, adding a floating panel to the Start menu that showcases the Phone Link feature, enabling Android users to view battery status, handle calls, messages, and photos directly from Windows, while also introducing adaptive‑card widgets that can be created via JSON.
