After several years of criticism, the Windows 11 Start menu can finally become more unobtrusive. Microsoft is introducing an option to reduce its size, but it isn’t yet available to all users.
Since the redesign of Windows 11, the Start menu has taken up a significant amount of screen space—sometimes disproportionate to the number of apps displayed. Microsoft finally seems to have heeded user feedback. That said, as was the case a few days ago with the new taskbar, this new Start menu isn’t necessarily available to everyone. Fortunately, the website Clubic.com provides a detailed look at the issue and, most importantly, how to get around the limitation.
Clubic shows us the new Start menu and, most importantly, how to get it. © Clubic
As Clubic.com explains, the optional update KB5120998, released in August, introduces a new setting that lets you choose between three sizes for the Start menu: automatic, small, or large. The “small” mode thus frees up some of the space occupied by the menu. This new feature comes with more advanced customization options. Users can now choose separately whether to display pinned apps, recent items, or the full list of apps. It’s also possible to hide the name and photo associated with the account. But be aware: Microsoft is rolling out these features gradually for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2. Their absence after installing the update does not necessarily mean there is a problem with the computer.
For users who want to take advantage of this new menu right away, however, there is a solution. Clubic reports that it’s possible to force the activation of these features using ViVeTool, a third-party utility that enables certain experimental or gradually rolling-out Windows features. This process requires entering a few commands in the Command Prompt and restarting the PC. However, caution is advised: ViVeTool modifies features that Microsoft has not yet enabled for everyone. For users who are less comfortable with this type of procedure, it’s best to wait until the option is officially available on their machine.
