Hands-On Windows 169: Windows 11’s New Start Menu

Host: Paul Thurrott
Release Date: December 11, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Hands-On Windows is centered on the rollout of the new Start menu in Windows 11 (25H2 and 24H2 updates). Host Paul Thurrott walks listeners through the major visual and functional changes, highlights what's improved, and candidly shares his opinions and usage patterns. This episode is especially relevant for Windows users eager to understand what’s different in their daily experience and how to customize it.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Windows 11 Versioning and Update Landscape

• Paul emphasizes that the significance of specific Windows versions (“24H2,” “25H2,” etc.) is fading; features now roll out broadly and often asynchronously depending on your device ([02:09]).
  • Quote:

  “Windows versions kind of don't matter anymore. So 24H2 is still fully supported. 25H2 is the latest version. They've already announced 26H1 is happening... But 24H2 and 25H2 are functionally identical.”
  — Paul Thurrott [02:15]

• Not all devices may receive the new Start menu at the same time; some features appear gradually.

2. The Old Start Menu Recap

• Paul describes the previous layout as a baseline:
  • Standard sections: pinned apps, "Recommended," the “All apps” button.
  • The right “slab” for Phone Link integration.
  • The “Recommended” section started showing web history and more personalized suggestions.
  • Layout options for balancing more pins vs. more recommendations ([03:05-05:00]).

3. What’s New in the Start Menu?

(Full demo and discussion begins at [09:51])

a. Visual Customs and Modes

• The new Start menu doesn’t look drastically different on the surface, but has subtle and important differences.
• Enhanced support for both light and dark modes; demo is in dark mode since “I just don't want the light shining in my face as I look at this thing.”
  — Paul Thurrott [09:52]

b. Search Bar & AI Integration

• Search bar remains as before
• On Copilot+ PCs: colored sparkly accents represent advanced AI-powered search features ([09:55]).

c. Toggle for Mobile Device Sidebar ("Slab")

• New ability to instantly hide or show the Phone Link sidebar right from the Start menu (no more deep-diving into Settings).
• Offers flexibility for users who may wish to declutter ([10:18]).
  • Quote:

  “This is a way to hide or display this mobile device slice or slab or whatever you want to call it... You can just do it on the fly.”
  — Paul Thurrott [10:18]

d. Responsive Scalability

• The Start menu now more intelligently resizes on large/higher-DPI screens, displaying more icons and maximized layouts ([10:41]).
  • Quote:

  “This will scale really nicely to high-DPI or high-resolution displays or large displays ... this thing will actually spread out and take up more room and that will give you more icons for each of the different sections.”
  — Paul Thurrott [10:41]

e. “All Apps” Moved to the Main Start Page

• No longer a separate “All apps” screen; now it's an integral third section on the Start menu home.
• Three new views for browsing all your installed apps:
  • Category View: Groups apps automatically (like iPhone’s App Library; can’t be manually customized).
    • Quote:

    “If you have an iPhone, you might recognize this. It looks very much like the app library view that Apple uses... it’s automatic and there's nothing you can do here.”
    — Paul Thurrott [11:35]

  • List View: Classic alphabetical list, just like the old “All apps.”
    • Semantic zoom (jump to a letter by clicking).
    • Retains your chosen view for future use.
  • Grid View: Alphabetical groups, but apps are shown as icons side-by-side to reduce scrolling.
    • Paul’s preference leans toward grid for efficiency, but category “looks nice.”
    • Downsides of category view:

      “You have to say, well, you're like, I'm looking for an app. So you're like, okay, entertainment apps, is it a utility or... I don't know, you have to kind of do some work to get into your app.”
      — Paul Thurrott [12:52]

f. More Customization & Retention

• Expanded pin/recommendation sections with “show more” toggles, and Start menu remembers your preferences ([10:58], [11:22]).

g. Recommended Section Updated

• Still shows recently installed/accessed items and web browsing history ([11:11]).
• Slightly more space for recommendations.

h. “Most Used Apps” Option

• Only appears in List or Grid view, not Category.
  • Quote:

  “Most used apps...not new...available in the old version...if you want that on, you're going to want to use one of the other views.”
  — Paul Thurrott [13:27]

i. Settings Shortcuts (“Folders” Section)

• Option to add system folders (Settings, File Explorer, Downloads, etc.) to the Start menu for quick access ([14:23]).
  • Paul:

  “I always leave the Settings app up there actually...also File Explorer, as it turns out, but you know, good to have or good to know about.”
  — Paul Thurrott [14:34]

j. Account Related Notifications

• Paul disables account-related notifications within the Start menu (e.g., “It’s time to back up,” “Buy more OneDrive storage”) ([14:06]).
  • Advice:

  “Always turn that off because they're always terrible.” — Paul Thurrott [14:07]

k. Overall Impression

• The update isn’t a dramatic shift, but “the type of change most people are going to note.”
  • Quote:

  “Is this a big, big deal? I mean, in the scope of things? No. I mean, it's the same basic interface we've had since Windows 11 debuted. A lot of the options are the same. There's clutter in here you can turn off, which is good.”
  — Paul Thurrott [15:07]

4. Personal Workflow and Alternatives

• Paul rarely uses the Start menu since his most-used apps are pinned to the taskbar or launched via PowerToys Run / Command Palette.
  • Quote:

  “I have all my apps that I use the most pinned to the taskbar...I tend to only go to Start for secondary reasons. In fact, I don't really even look at Start. And so I'll go to Start and just start typing.”
  — Paul Thurrott [16:14]

• Wishes for an option to replace Start with a more advanced launcher.
• Acknowledges that others will experience the menu very differently depending on their habits.

Notable Quotes & Standout Moments

• “Windows versions kind of don't matter anymore...24H2 and 25H2 are functionally identical.” ([02:15])
• “This is a way to hide or display this mobile device slice or slab or whatever you want to call it... You can just do it on the fly.” ([10:18])
• “If you have an iPhone, you might recognize this. It looks very much like the app library view that Apple uses... it’s automatic and there's nothing you can do here.” ([11:35])
• “You have to say, well, you're like, I'm looking for an app. So you're like, okay, entertainment apps, is it a utility or... I don't know, you have to kind of do some work to get into your app.” ([12:52])
• “Is this a big, big deal? I mean, in the scope of things? No. I mean, it's the same basic interface we've had since Windows 11 debuted. A lot of the options are the same. There's clutter in here you can turn off, which is good.” ([15:07])
• “I have all my apps that I use the most pinned to the taskbar...I tend to only go to Start for secondary reasons.” ([16:14])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:09 — Windows version numbering and what truly matters now
• 03:05-05:00 — Reviewing the old Start menu and recent tweaks
• 09:51 — New Start menu deep dive begins
• 10:18 — Sidebar (“slab”) visibility toggle
• 10:41 — Scalability on larger screens
• 11:35 — App browsing views: Category, List, and Grid
• 13:27 — “Most used apps” and view interactions
• 14:06 — How to disable annoying notifications
• 14:23 — Adding common folders to the Start menu
• 15:07 — General assessment: small but noticeable change
• 16:14 — Paul’s personal workflow and Start menu alternatives

Conclusion

Paul Thurrott provides a practical, straightforward tour of Windows 11’s new Start menu, blending hands-on advice with personal perspective. The new Start menu is more visually flexible, more customizable, and integrates app access in ways reminiscent of both old and new platforms. For most users, this will be a noticeable (if not fundamental) change—one largely aimed at improving daily navigation and surface-level customization.

For listeners:
If you’re a heavy Start menu user, you’ll especially benefit from exploring the new layouts and toggles. If, like Paul, you’re more attached to pinned taskbar items or alternative launchers, the update remains a visible but not life-changing shift—one you’ll still notice the first time you click Start.

Next episode: Coming soon — a full recap of the biggest Windows 11 features of the year!