Start

The Windows 11 Start menu is significantly different than that in Windows 10 and previous Windows versions. As with the Taskbar, Start is now centered onscreen by default, and for the first time, it is a floating window, and not a menu or a full-screen experience.

As with previous Windows versions, you can open Start by selecting the Start button on the Taskbar or by typing WINKEY or CTRL + ESC.
Get to know Start
Start now offers a simplified user experience with two main sections---Pinned and Recommended---plus a Search box at the top and User account and Power menus at the bottom. As a result, it looks and works differently than before. And some features you knew from the past are hidden or no longer available in Windows 11.

Where did it go?
The Windows 10 Start menu was quite different, with a navigation pane, an All apps list, and a live tiles area. But only some of these elements are available in Windows 11.

Navigation pane. Two of the items from Windows 10 Start’s navigation pane---the User account and Power menus---are available at the bottom of the new Start menu. The other links you previously used to access Settings, File Explorer, and various folders can be added to the Windows 11 Start menu by customizing it as described below.

All apps. The All apps list is available by selecting the All apps button at the top right of the Pinned section.

Live tiles. Microsoft no longer supports live tiles in Windows 11. It's the end of an era.
By default, the Pinned and Recommended areas each take up the same amount of space, though this can be configured as described in the section Customize Start, below.
Pinned
Microsoft and your PC maker populate the Pinned area with a collection of useful and promotional app icon shortcuts. And this area can scroll in place if the number of icons it contains is too large to display all at once in the available space. You can scroll between its various pages by using the little controls on the right, or by using your touchpad, mouse, or keyboard.

All apps
To access your complete list of installed apps, select the All apps button. All apps takes over the Start menu display and looks and works much like the All apps list in the Windows 10 Start menu.

Recommended
By default, the Recommended area displays two different types of items: Recently-installed apps and recently accessed documents, images, and other files.

More recommended
To access a longer list of recent documents and files and recently installed applications, select the More button next to Recommended. Recommended takes over the Start menu display and provides a much longer list of that content.

Search
A browser-like Search box appears at the top of Start so that search results appear below your search, much as they do in web-based search engines. As with the Start-based search functionality in Windows 10, search in Windows 11 helps you find and launch installed applications, documents and other files, s...