Microsoft now documents new Windows 11 Start menu layout controls: where available, you can choose a Small, Large, or Automatic menu, show or hide its Pinned, Recommended (or Recent), and All sections, and hide your account name and profile picture. The controls were announced for Insider testing and listed in preview update notes, so their presence depends on your Windows build and rollout.
Can I change the Windows 11 Start menu layout?
Yes. Microsoft’s September 22, 2026 preview notes document several ways to adjust the menu’s size, sections, and account details. The size setting is listed at Settings > Personalize > Start > Start menu size. Microsoft places the account identity control under Settings > Personalize > Start and describes section visibility controls on the redesigned Start menu settings page.
These are documented options, not a guarantee that every Windows 11 PC already displays them. If a control is missing, check your Windows version and build in Settings and check Start settings again after updates; rollout and availability vary by device.
Choose a size
Where the control is available, select Small, Large, or Automatic (default). Small is suited to a compact menu; Large gives Start more room. Automatic retains the default sizing behavior.
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Choose which sections appear
The redesigned settings let you independently show or hide Pinned, Recommended (renamed Recent in the updated experience), and All. This makes it possible to keep only the parts of Start you use, rather than treating the menu as one all-or-nothing layout.
Hide account details
The update notes also list an option to hide your name and profile picture in Start. Find it under Settings > Personalize > Start if it has reached your build.
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How do I make the Windows 11 Start menu smaller?
- Open Settings.
- Select Personalize, then Start.
- Open Start menu size and choose Small.
If you do not see Start menu size, the option may not yet be available on your device. Microsoft first announced the controls for Insider testing on May 15, 2026, and listed them in Windows 11 26H1 preview notes on September 22. Windows Central reported that Windows 11 version 26H2 became generally available on September 29 as an enablement package for features delivered in prior servicing updates, with rollout in waves. That does not establish that every device has received each Start control.
Can I turn off Recommended or hide my name in Start?
Yes, where the redesigned controls are available. Use the section visibility settings to turn off Recommended or its renamed Recent section, and use the identity option under Settings > Personalize > Start to hide your name and profile picture. The exact displayed labels can vary with the version and rollout.
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What else can I customize without a new layout control?
Microsoft Support’s Customize the Windows Start Menu guide covers existing built-in choices, including pinning apps and folders, creating a folder by dragging one pinned item over another, changing how the All section is viewed, and aligning the taskbar so Start sits to the side. These built-in options can help tidy Start even if the newer size and section controls have not appeared on your PC.
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When did Microsoft announce the new Start options?
- April 17, 2026: Windows Central reported that Microsoft was working on size selection, section toggles, and performance changes, citing unnamed sources familiar with the plans. Those performance comments were reports of plans, not measured results or a guarantee.
- May 15, 2026: Microsoft’s Windows Insider Blog described section controls, separate file recommendations, Small/Large sizing, and hiding account identity as features coming to Insiders in the Experimental channel over the following weeks. Microsoft wrote: “There is a unique Start for everyone, whether you want a minimal experience with just your pinned apps, quick access to recent files, everything in one place, or something in between.” (Windows Insider Blog)
- September 22, 2026: Microsoft’s Windows 11 26H1 preview update notes listed the size selector, section controls, the Recent label, and the identity-hiding option. (KB5124006, OS Build 28000.3086 Preview)
- September 29, 2026: Windows Central reported that Windows 11 26H2 was generally available as an enablement package activating features delivered through earlier monthly updates, with rollout in waves. (Windows Central’s 26H2 availability report)
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