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Windows 11 Revamps Start Menu App Organization

Although a new Windows operating system is not expected until at least 2026, the current Windows 11 is getting an upgrade. A new feature will automatically reorganize the main menu, grouping applications into categories.

Automatic App Categorization

Instead of relying on AI, Microsoft is using a 15 MB JSON file that contains information regarding which applications should be grouped together. As Windows Latest reports, almost every application in the Microsoft Store is assigned a number; for example, 0 designates productivity apps, 1 for social apps, and 2 for creative apps, etc.

How It Works

The new start menu will automatically group apps once there are at least three apps belonging to the same category. It seems users will have to accept this new format, since the order of categories depends on frequency of use.

With nearly 1.5 billion Windows users worldwide, efficient app organization is crucial for user experience. (Microsoft, 2024)