- Microsoft seems to be modifying a redesign for the start menu
- We saw that last week, hidden in the tests, and now we have seen how you see the side panel of the enabled phone link
- This starting menu configuration takes most of the desktop, but there is a switch that can move to change this
If you saw the main renewal that could be in operation for the Windows 11 start menu, even if you take into account that it is still hidden in the tests, we have caught another look, this time with the side panel of the active telephone link.
As a rapid update, the phone link is the Microsoft application that connects your Android smartphone so you can use the device for various functions (texts, notifications or even some applications) on the Windows desktop 11. The mentioned side panel places all the relevant details related to your phone in a box, floating to the right of the start menu.
As you can see below, the fantomofearth known in X has shown us how the redesign of the start menu will be seen with that active side panel (as Windows highlights later).
New start menu, follow -up: This is how the partners are seen, telephone link one used for demonstration. The complementary panel is a bit wider, and can now hide quickly/show partners with a button at the top, next to the search box. pic.twitter.com/hms7e56kiuApril 4, 2025
The key point to remember here is that the redesign proposed by Microsoft makes the start menu broader, which is part of a movement to condense the design of two sections separate to one, and accommodate this (all this is in theory, of course).
The starting menu is not only wider, such as Phantomofearth, it makes it clear, but the telephone link panel is also a bit broader here, which means that 75% (maybe even a little more) of the desktop is obscured by this configuration of the start menu. That is more or less the entire screen that is eaten, in other words.
However, as Phantomofearth also points out in the previous publication (look at the video clip), there is a button that can click to hide (or show) the complementary panel. Which means that it only clicks to retract this additional interface piece and cut the start menu (although it is still remarkably more expansive than it was before).
Analysis: leaving aside the Windows 8 flashbacks, the general direction in which Microsoft is directed
Does this bother me at all? No, in a word. As noted, you don’t need to have the side panel for the active telephone link application. And, of course, there are much more people who do not use this Android smartphone connection than the people who use it; Actually, I would like to know what percentage telephone link type. I do not have this application configured for now, but I am reflecting it and I will probably take the step in the future.
Even so, for those who are in this scenario where the start menu is deployed to cover most of the desk, is that a problem? Again, not for me. I suppose the unfortunate aspect here is that it feels like a full -screen start menu in some way, and that could give some flashback users to the Windows 8 days (which had a current Full screen start menu: Well, technically it was a home screen, one that nobody really used or liked).
But again, you can disable the telephone link panel if the new design bothers it so much. In addition, I must underline (strongly, bold in the red pen) that this work in the redesign of the start menu, which also comes with a large red brand, in the form of an option to disable Microsoft’s recommendations, is not yet in the tests. It is hidden at the bottom of prior views, so nothing can happen with all these concepts. Or, if done, Microsoft could implement them differently than what we see here.
Said all this, the changes that happen hidden in the background seem to be relatively polished, given their completely unofficial status, and this is one to monitor.
However, be sure that the idea seems to be to give Windows 11 users more control over what they see in their start menu, including domesticating it with any excess of expansion throughout the desktop in certain scenarios. And that has to get a big thumb up, surely?
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