How to Enable the New Start Menu in Windows 11 (2026 Update)

First, verify you're running a compatible Windows 11 version. The new Start menu requires Windows 11 24H2 or 25H2 with the January 2026 cumulative update KB5074109.

Open Settings by pressing Windows + I, then navigate to System > About. Look for the Windows specifications section.

# Check version via PowerShell
Get-ComputerInfo | Select-Object WindowsProductName, WindowsVersion, WindowsBuildLabEx

You should see Windows 11 with build number 22631 (24H2) or higher. If you're on an older version, you'll need to update first.

Navigate to Settings > Windows Update and click Check for updates. This is the official method to receive the new Start menu functionality.

Enable the option Get the latest updates as soon as they're available to join the preview channel for faster access to new features.

# Alternative: Check updates via Command Prompt
usoclient StartScan
usoclient StartDownload
usoclient StartInstall

Look specifically for KB5074109 in your update history. This cumulative update contains the new Start menu components.

After installing updates, perform a full system restart. The new Start menu should activate automatically if your device is eligible in Microsoft's rollout.

Click the Start button or press the Windows key. The new interface features enhanced categorization with sections like Productivity, Creativity, and Entertainment, plus improved grid and list view options.

# Force restart via PowerShell if needed
Restart-Computer -Force

If you don't see the new Start menu immediately, wait 24-48 hours as Microsoft's servers may need time to recognize your device's eligibility.

Once activated, customize your new Start menu experience. Right-click anywhere on the Start menu and select Start settings to access configuration options.

You'll find three main layout options:

• Category view: Apps grouped by function (Productivity, Creativity, Entertainment)
• Grid view: Traditional tile-based layout
• List view: Alphabetical list format

# Registry location for Start menu settings (view only)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

Toggle between layouts using the view switcher in the top-right corner of the Start menu, or access it through the Start settings panel.

You can also hide the mobile device icon and adjust which apps appear in the pinned section.

Unlike previous versions, the new Start menu doesn't have a built-in resize option. Instead, adjust the overall interface size through Windows display scaling.

Navigate to Settings > System > Display and modify the Scale setting. Options typically range from 100% to 175% depending on your monitor resolution.

# Check current display scaling
Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_VideoController | Select-Object CurrentHorizontalResolution, CurrentVerticalResolution

For users who find the new Start menu too large, reducing the scale to 100% or 125% can help. Higher DPI monitors may benefit from 150% or 175% scaling.

If the new Start menu doesn't appear after following the official steps, try these troubleshooting methods. First, clear the Start menu cache using PowerShell.

# Reset Start menu cache (run as Administrator)
Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost | Reset-AppxPackage
Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost | Reset-AppxPackage

Restart Windows Explorer to refresh the shell components:

# Restart Explorer via Command Prompt
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
start explorer.exe

Check if third-party Start menu replacements are interfering. Disable applications like Start11, StartIsBack, or Open-Shell temporarily.

For IT administrators managing multiple devices, deploy the new Start menu through Microsoft Intune or other MDM solutions. Ensure all target devices receive KB5074109.

Create a deployment ring in Intune to control the rollout pace:

{
  "displayName": "Windows 11 Start Menu Update",
  "description": "Deploy KB5074109 for new Start menu",
  "deploymentSettings": {
    "updateRings": "Pilot",
    "deferralPeriod": "0 days"
  }
}

Monitor deployment status through the Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin center. Check compliance reports to ensure devices receive the update successfully.

Avoid using registry modifications or Group Policy overrides, as Microsoft doesn't support forcing the feature activation manually in enterprise environments.