Windows 10: New Windows 11 Start Menu will merge pinned and recommended sections for easy access

Microsoft is revamping the Start Menu on Windows 11 to streamlining the user interface. It will merge the pinned and recommended sections into a combined section.

The change has been spotted in the latest Insider Preview build and is expected to enhance usability, potentially drawing back users from Windows 10, which offers a more intuitive Start menu experience.

Microsoft's new design features a wider layout, which will give users more space to pin their favorite apps to the Start Menu for quick access. It also has an option to display all pinned apps without the need to expand the view, this is a notable improvement from the current setup that requires users to navigate through multiple clicks.



Users will be able to remove the Recommended section, which lists recent apps and files that they had accessed or installed, something which had been requested by users for a long time. The option will be available under the Settings app > Personalization > Start section.

Ever since its launch, critics have pointed out that Windows 11 Start Menu lacks options to customize the experience, which made it one of the more frequently criticized aspects of the operating system, and has led to users opting for third-party Start Menu replacements like Start11. Previously, users had to access the apps list separately on Windows 11 Start Menu, creating a disjointed experience. By consolidating these features, Microsoft aims to significantly enhance the overall functionality and user experience.

This update is expected to be officially announced in the coming weeks. But it may take a while before the new Start Menu comes to all Windows users.

Source: Windows Central

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Recommended section in the start menu is blank

Hello, thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Community. I am here to help and provide assistance with any questions or concerns you may have.

I believe you should see recommended apps, recently used files, etc. Let's try some steps to address this problem:

1. Open the Settings app by pressing Win + I.

2. Navigate to Personalization on the left, and then select Start on the right.

3. Under Layout, choose More pins to reduce the size of the Recommended section.

4. Disable Show recently added apps.

5. Disable Show recently opened items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer. This will clear your recent items list and halt the display of recently opened items in Jump Lists and File Explorer > Home > Recent.

6. Turn off Show websites from your browsing history.

7. Turn off Show recommendations for tips, shortcuts, new apps, and more.

This will clear the Recommended section in your Start menu. After you do this, restart your computer, and follow the steps again to enable everything again.

 

Recommended section in the start menu is blank

I can suggest a couple of additional steps for you to attempt and check if it resolves the problem:

- Check "Folders" under Personalization > Start: Make sure the desired folders like Downloads or Documents are enabled under "Folders" to populate the list with recently accessed files.

- Turn off "Focus Assist" while checking for recommendations: Focus Assist might prevent the system from learning your usage patterns and populating recommendations.

- Disable Group Policy settings: Check if any Group Policy settings related to Start menu and recommendations are enabled. You can access Group Policy Editor by pressing Win + R and typing "gpedit.msc".

 

How can I get rid of the silly "Recommended" section on the Start Menu of Windows 11 ? It is driving me crazy, and clutters up my Start Menu.

Any news on how to remove the Recommended section from start?

This new menu system is MUCH worse than the old start menu - its too small and i cant see enough of my pinned apps - especially with the Recommended section in the way.

Its a step back from windows 10 in terms of user experience.