The new “Start menu size” option lives in Settings > Personalization > Start, where you choose Automatic, Small, or Large. If you don’t see it, Microsoft is still rolling it out gradually, so a missing option on a fully updated PC usually means the feature hasn’t reached your device yet. It doesn’t mean your PC is broken.
What Changed in the Windows 11 Start Menu
The new size and section controls
Windows 11 now has a built-in Start menu size control with three presets:
- Automatic – Windows picks the size for you. Reporting commonly ties it to your display resolution and scaling, although Microsoft hasn’t published the exact rules. This is the default where the feature is present.
- Small – A compact Start menu that shows less content at once.
- Large – A bigger Start menu that shows more pinned apps and files without scrolling.
The same Settings page also has toggles to show or hide the Pinned, Recent, and All apps sections. Microsoft renamed the Recommended section to Recent, so PCs that haven’t picked up the change may still show the older name.
This is not the Windows 10 style of resizing, where you could drag the edges of the Start menu to any size. In the Windows 11 builds that have the feature so far, you pick from fixed presets rather than dragging an edge.
Timeline so far
Most dates below come from tech news reports. Microsoft announced the Start menu size controls through its official Windows Update channel with KB5120998 on August 27, 2026. According to Microsoft’s KB5120998 documentation, this update applies to Windows 11, version 24H2 and version 25H2. Windows 11 26H2 and current Insider preview builds are on different servicing tracks, so the feature’s availability and the update needed to get it may differ on those versions — check Microsoft’s current documentation for 26H2 or your specific Insider channel rather than assuming KB5120998 applies there too.
- June 2025: Windows Latest reported that the redesigned Windows 11 24H2 Start menu changed size automatically based on screen resolution. Users still had no manual control.
- May 2026: Microsoft began testing Small and Large Start menu options with Windows Insiders. Insider builds 26300.8553 (26H2 channel) and 28120.3302 (26H1 Experimental) were reported to include the sizes and section toggles.
- July 2026: Windows Latest reported that the redesigned Start menu began reaching a broader set of users ahead of the next major update, according to the outlet’s reporting.
- August 2026: On August 27, Microsoft released KB5120998, an optional non-security preview cumulative update for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2. The Start menu size controls in it reach PCs through a gradual rollout, so installing the update doesn’t by itself switch the feature on.
- September 2026: Windows Latest reported that regular Windows 11 users can now shrink the Start menu on some PCs. Enthusiast sites have linked the rollout to optional update KB5120998 (builds 26200.9278 on 25H2 and 26100.9278 on 24H2). These build numbers come from third-party reporting, not an official Microsoft changelog, so treat them as subject to change.
Microsoft’s own Customize the Windows Start Menu support page covers the general Start menu layout. In the sources reviewed for this article, it didn’t yet document the new size controls.
Before You Begin
- A PC running Windows 11, version 24H2 or 25H2 — the versions Microsoft’s KB5120998 documentation currently covers. (If you’re on Windows 11 26H2 or a current Windows Insider preview build, the feature may arrive through a different update; check Microsoft’s latest documentation for your version before assuming these steps apply exactly.)
- The latest Windows updates installed, including KB5120998 or a later cumulative update (you don’t need every optional update, such as drivers)
- Permission to install updates (an administrator may need to approve updates on managed or work devices)
- Patience: even after installing every available update, Microsoft’s staged rollout — not the update process alone — decides when your PC gets the feature
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Device | Any Windows 11 PC |
| OS version | Windows 11 24H2 or 25H2 (covered by KB5120998 documentation). 26H2 and Insider builds may use different servicing — verify against current Microsoft documentation. |
| Cost | Free (included with Windows 11) |
| Availability | Staged rollout, not guaranteed on every PC yet |
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Check your Windows version and build
- Press
Win + Ito open Settings. - Go to System > About.
- Scroll to Windows specifications and read the Version and OS build fields.
You can also press Win + R, type winver, and press Enter to see the same details in a small window.
Expected result: The Version field shows 24H2 or 25H2 — the versions covered by KB5120998 at the time of writing. If your PC shows 26H2 or a current Insider build number, the feature may be delivered through a different update, so check Microsoft’s current documentation for that version instead of assuming these steps match exactly. If your PC is on an older version than 24H2, install the latest available feature update for your device first.
Step 2: Install all available updates
- Go to Settings > Windows Update.
- Click Check for updates.
- Click Download & install all (or Install on each update) when updates appear.
- Restart your PC when Windows prompts you.
Expected result: Windows Update says “You’re up to date” after the restart.
Step 3: Install optional updates
New Start menu features often arrive first in optional, non-security preview updates. On current Windows 11 versions, a preview cumulative update is usually offered right on the Windows Update page with its own Download & install link.
- On Settings > Windows Update, look for a cumulative update preview such as KB5120998 (or a later cumulative update). If one is listed, click Download & install.
- To see what else is offered, go to Advanced options and, under Additional options, click Optional updates.
- This page mostly lists driver updates. They aren’t needed for the Start menu feature, so leave them unchecked unless you’re fixing a specific hardware problem.
- Restart when Windows prompts you.
Expected result: The preview update installs and your OS build number goes up. Repeat Step 1 to confirm.
Step 4: Open the Start settings page
- Open Settings.
- Click Personalization in the left sidebar.
- Click Start.
Expected result: If the feature has reached your PC, you’ll see a Start menu size option near the top of the page. If you only see the older layout options (such as toggles for recently added apps and recommendations), the rollout hasn’t reached your device yet. Skip to the troubleshooting section below.
Step 5: Choose a Start menu size
- On Settings > Personalization > Start, find Start menu size.
- Open the drop-down and choose Automatic, Small, or Large.
- Press the
Winkey to open the Start menu and check the new size.
Expected result: Open the Start menu again to see the new size applied.
Step 6: Show or hide Start menu sections
- Stay on Settings > Personalization > Start.
- Turn the Pinned toggle on or off to show or hide your pinned apps grid.
- Turn the Recent toggle (labeled Recommended on some builds) on or off to show or hide recent files and apps.
- Turn the All toggle on or off to show or hide the full alphabetical app list.
- Press
Winto open Start and check the layout.
Expected result: Hidden sections disappear from the Start menu immediately.
Note: Some preview builds also show a Customize sections option when you right-click inside the Start menu. It doesn’t appear on every PC that has the feature, so use the Settings page as your reliable method.
Configuration: Picking the Right Settings
| Setting | Default | What it does | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start menu size: Automatic | On (default) | Sizes Start based on resolution and scaling | Laptops and most single-monitor setups |
| Start menu size: Small | Off | Compact menu with less content | Small screens, or anyone who found Start too big |
| Start menu size: Large | Off | Shows more apps and files without scrolling | A 4K monitor or ultrawide monitor |
| Pinned | On | Grid of pinned apps, folders, and sites | Keep on for most people |
| Recent / Recommended | On | Recently opened files and apps | Turn off for a cleaner menu |
| All | On | Full app list | Keep on unless you only use pinned apps |
| Account name/photo | Shown | Displays your account in Start | Hide it on a shared office PC |
A few setups that work well:
- Clean and minimal: Choose Small, keep Pinned on, and turn Recent off.
- Big-screen power user: If your laptop sits on a docking station connected to a large external monitor, choose Large so more pinned apps fit on one screen.
- Shared PC: Where your build has the account visibility toggle, use it to hide your name and profile picture from the Start menu.
Tips and Troubleshooting
Fix #1: Restart and check Settings again
- Save your work and restart the PC. Use Restart, not Shut down, so pending updates finish installing.
- Go back to Settings > Personalization > Start and look for Start menu size.
Fix #2: Install every pending and optional update
Installing every available update does not guarantee that the option appears immediately — Microsoft’s staged rollout, not the update process alone, decides when your PC gets the feature.
- Repeat Step 2 and Step 3 above.
- Restart once more and check the Start settings page.
If the option is still missing after that, the staged rollout hasn’t reached your PC. Microsoft turns features on gradually, so two PCs with the same build can show different Start menus. There’s no official way to speed this up. Unofficial tools such as ViVeTool exist, but see the FAQ below for why we don’t recommend them.
Fix #3: Check whether your PC is managed by work or school
- Go to Settings > Accounts > Access work or school.
- If you see a connected organization, your IT department may control updates or the Start layout. Ask them whether updates are deferred on your device.
Fix #4: Switch to Small if Start still looks huge
Automatic adjusts to your resolution and scaling, so it can still look large on big or high-DPI screens.
- Go to Settings > Personalization > Start.
- Set Start menu size to Small.
Fix #5: Switch to Large if you see too few apps
- Set Start menu size to Large.
- If content still looks cramped, check scaling under Settings > System > Display > Scale.
Labels don’t match screenshots
Recent and Recommended are the same section. The name depends on your build. Insider builds may also move or rename controls before a wider release. Go by what your own Start settings page shows.
If the Start menu won’t open at all, that’s a different problem. See our guide to fixing the “Critical Error: Your Start Menu Isn’t Working” message in Windows 11.
FAQ
Is this the same as Windows 10’s resizable Start menu?
No. In Windows 10, you could drag the edges of the Start menu to any size. Windows 11 only offers three presets: Automatic, Small, and Large.
Can I revert to the old Start menu layout?
You can undo your changes by setting Start menu size back to Automatic and turning all section toggles back on. Microsoft doesn’t offer a built-in way to switch back to the Start menu layout used before this redesign.
Should I use ViVeTool or other tricks to force the feature on?
For most people, no. Some enthusiast sites publish ViVeTool feature IDs to unlock the controls early. These IDs are typically tied to preview builds and aren’t part of Microsoft’s official rollout process, so their stability and continued availability aren’t guaranteed. Waiting for the official rollout is the safer choice.
Are there third-party tools that offer more Start menu control?
Yes. Open-Shell and StartAllBack are two well-known Start menu replacement tools that offer classic-style menu options. Pricing and licensing details can change, so check each tool’s current website before deciding.
Also check each tool’s current compatibility with Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 before you install it, because Windows updates can break these tools. Our roundup of the best Windows 11 Start menu alternatives compares the options.
Wrapping Up
If the Start menu size option is on your PC, Small is the setting most people want, since the main complaint about the Windows 11 Start menu was that it felt too big. If the option is missing even after you’ve installed every update and optional update, wait for Microsoft’s rollout instead of forcing it with ViVeTool. The risk of an unstable PC outweighs a preset you’ll get for free eventually. If Start crashes, freezes, or behaves strangely after updating, treat that as a separate issue worth troubleshooting on its own, unrelated to whether you have the new feature.
| Step | Action | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Check version in Settings > System > About | All Windows 11 PCs |
| 2–3 | Install updates and optional updates | 24H2 / 25H2 |
| 4–5 | Choose Automatic, Small, or Large | PCs that have received the rollout |
| 6 | Toggle Pinned, Recent/Recommended, All | PCs that have received the rollout |
Resources
- Customize the Windows Start Menu (Microsoft Support)
- Windows Latest: Microsoft now lets you shrink the Start menu (September 2026)
- Pureinfotech: Build 26300.8553 for Windows 11 26H2