More spacious and better organized, the Windows 11 Start menu will include a panel dedicated to your smartphone.
In a blog post published on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, Microsoft confirmed the redesign of the Windows 11 Start menu, spotted in early April by a user in a preview build of Windows 24H2. This update, which will initially be available to members of the Windows Insider program, will also introduce several AI-powered features to Microsoft’s new PC lineup. Its rollout in Europe is expected later this year.
New look, new features for the Windows 11 Start menu
Often criticized for its lack of consistency, ergonomics, or customization, the Windows 11 Start menu has been redesigned to “become more personal,” according to Microsoft. More spacious and now adapted for large-screen viewing (see cover image), this revamped version will bring more customization options. The All apps view, now sorted by category (productivity, games, social networks, etc.), will be more easily accessible and will automatically classify your applications “according to those you use the most,” the firm specifies.
Perhaps the biggest new feature is the arrival of a new panel dedicated to your iOS or Android smartphone, provided it’s synced with your PC. Integrated into the top right corner of the Start menu, it will provide access to your contacts, messages, calls, as well as information like your phone’s battery level, as shown in the video below.
Microsoft continues to integrate AI-boosted features
Alongside this overhaul, Microsoft continues to gradually integrate AI-powered features into its operating system. Although these are, for now, exclusively reserved for Copilot+ PCs, it’s new line of desktop and laptop computers optimized for artificial intelligence. Here’s a look at the main new features unveiled by the Redmond-based company:
- An AI agent integrated into settings: Microsoft announces that it will be possible to invoke an intelligent agent “to find, modify settings, or resolve problems on your PC .” The user will be able to describe their problem, and the AI agent will be able to adjust the settings autonomously.
- A Perfect Screenshot tool: particularly promising, as shown in the video below, this feature will be able to “automatically detect the main content on the screen” and adjust the capture area. The user will have the option, if they wish, to manually crop the screenshot or extract text from it.
- New tools for Paint and Photos: Paint gets a sticker generator and an object selection tool that lets you isolate, delete, or modify a visual element, while Photos gets an option called Relight, which lets you “reposition up to three light sources on an image, set their color, and adjust their intensity,” according to Microsoft.
