Microsoft changes Windows 11s Start menu for the better (gasp) while introducing nifty new file sharing options

Date:
Mon, 24 Feb 2025 10:47:59 +0000

Description:
Windows 11 appears to be getting a Start menu change that I like (shock, horror).

FULL STORY ======================================================================Windows 11 has a new preview build with some smart additions One of those is a fresh piece of the interface to make file sharing easier The other is a couple of neat new layouts for one part of the Start menu

Windows 11 should be getting some useful changes to its interface, one of which makes sharing files easier, and the other introduces nifty new layout options for the Start menu .

These moves are in testing right now, to be precise in Windows 11s build 22635.4950 which is in the Beta channel.

The new file sharing menu appears at the top of the screen whenever youre dragging a file out of a folder on the desktop, and it features an array of icons, such as WhatsApp, My Phone, Microsoft Teams, and so on. Dropping a
file on any icon will instantly share it via that medium.

As for the Start menu, that change is for the All apps page which as the name suggests lists all your apps, with the new options here being the grid and category views.

The grid view sticks to an alphabetical ordering of your apps, as in the standard list view, except with the grid layout, you can fit more apps on
with the layout extended out to the side, so theres less scrolling to do (see the image below). (Image credit: Microsoft)

Or a more different alternative is the category view where your apps are grouped into various categories and ordered by usage levels. So, for example, there are social apps, or productivity, or entertainment apps, a whole bunch of categories you can dive into, with your most-used apps highlighted in a
box featuring their icons (again, see the pic below). (Image credit: Microsoft)

This feature is still rolling out, so not every tester will see it yet (and its coming to the Dev builds, as well as the Beta channel).

Thats pretty much it for this preview build, although theres one more
addition on the accessibility front with File Explorer which is being graced with improved support for text size scaling with File Open or Save dialog boxes (and also with Wizard dialog boxes).

Oh, and Microsoft has applied a number of bug fixes too, while there are some acknowledged issues, which are all listed in the usual blog post outlining
the content of build 22635.4950. Analysis: Almost through testing now

Of course, all this is just in testing, and if trialling any given element doesnt work out, that feature may be dropped. Id imagine thats unlikely, though, as both these fresh introductions are useful and welcome touches.

Easier file sharing has got to be good, and I cant see anyone arguing with more choice in the Start menu layouts. After all, if you dont want to have
the All apps panel look any different to the default list, you dont need to
go near the alternatives.

Its also worth bearing in mind that having reached the Beta channel, these features are not far from release now. Theres only one more step final testing in the Release Preview channel before this functionality is ready to be deployed to the finished version of Windows 11.

Indeed, the move with the Start menu layouts was previously discovered by digging around in test builds in the past , so its good to see that coming to fruition (the above mentioned caveats taken into consideration). You may also like... Windows 11 fully streamlined in just two clicks? Talon utility promises to rip all the bloatware out of Microsofts OS in a hassle-free way Are you unable to get security updates for Windows 11 24H2? Heres the likely reason why, and the fix to get your PC safe and secure again If Microsoft's Windows 11 24H2 issues continue like this, I'll fully convert to SteamOS for gaming



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsoft-changes-windows-11s-star t-menu-for-the-better-gasp-while-introducing-nifty-new-file-sharing-options


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