If you’ve been hesitant to upgrade to Windows 11 due to dissatisfaction with the Start menu, there might be some promising changes on the horizon.
Recent discoveries by eagle-eyed developers exploring Windows betas have revealed a new “category” view within the Start menu. This feature organizes apps into categories that resemble the layout of the old Windows 10 Start menu. While the category view isn’t fully customizable—you can’t create a personalized category like “favorite apps”—it does automatically sort apps into predefined categories such as “entertainment,” “music,” and others.
The discovery was made by Twitter/X user @phantomofearth, who found the new feature hidden in the latest Windows 11 beta, Build 22635.4082, within the Beta Channel. The appearance of these features in the Beta Channel suggests that they could eventually become a standard part of the Windows 11 experience.
However, there’s a catch. For now, the category view isn’t officially available; it can only be activated through specific tools that modify hidden registry entries. Microsoft hasn’t formally acknowledged this feature yet, as noted by Neowin. One of the major criticisms of the Windows 11 Start menu has been its rigidity, preventing users from organizing apps to their liking. The introduction of categories could be a step in the right direction.
Additionally, the latest beta includes another convenient feature: media controls on the lock screen. This allows users without a Windows Hello camera to access media controls without unlocking their PC. (Of course, if you do have a Windows Hello camera, it will likely recognize you and unlock the PC automatically.)
As Windows 11 moves closer to the release of the 24H2 update, expected later this fall, it’s possible that the Start menu’s Categories feature could be included in the final version.
