This browser is no longer supported.
Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.
My Start Menu isn't showing Categories even though I'm on Windows 11 25H2. How can I get them to appear in the Start Menu?
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(118.4, 43%, 21%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EJK%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
How do you disable it in 25H2? I don't want it and it just looks ugly, same as the recommended portion that just never truly goes away.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(204.8, 25%, 29%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3ESS%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The new Category View finally appeared on my start menu! Although, I would like to point out that this change didn't happen until I get the Security Update (KB5074109) (26200.7623).
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(80, 68%, 17%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3ER%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Any idea how to disable this feature? I had only pinned apps on my start menu but after update this 'category' thing appeared and it looks very ugly. I looked in menu start settings but couldnt find anything.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(182.40000000000003, 36%, 27%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EPG%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Hi,
This feature is being rolled out gradually, so not all users will get it immediately even after updating to version 25H2. I also haven’t received the redesigned Start menu yet, so you’re not alone. But if you want to force enable it, you can check this. Disclaimer: This is a non-Microsoft site. The information seems reliable, but be careful with ads. Research any product before downloading.
Thanks, I thought this feature was already available on Windows 11 25H2.
I don't want to use the third party tool. I hope I get the new start menu by the end of the year. I have the same build no. as the OP.
I do not like this change and the lack of customization options. I prefer to have a longer list of recently used files and icons for a bunch of apps I don't use regularly or at all. If this is a replacement for not being able to view a list of apps easily on the M365 home page anymore cuz Copliot has taken it over, this isn't a useful alternative.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(92.8, 23%, 18%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3ESS%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Categories won’t appear automatically; but could be enabled through Start Menu customization or policy configuration.
Categories only appear when there are ≥3 apps in a category, you can try installing a few apps of the same type-like, Edge, Chrome etc
There are third part tools available which are not officially supported by Microsoft and I can't comment on them either.
Settings → Windows Update
Enable “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available”
Click Check for updates and install any pending ones
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(144, 0%, 23%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EJY%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Regedit
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FeatureManagement\Overrides\4
Create New Key: 3036241548
Create Value "EnableState" (DWORD32) and set it to 1
Create Value "EnableStateOptions" (DWORD32) and set it to 1
Restart the PC. (or just restart explorer.exe in the Task Manager) This will restore the View options (Category, Grid, or List) in the start menu and allow you to change the layout just like you were able to in 24H2.
Then if you want to force a certain layout modify the registry as follows:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Start
AllAppsViewMode - (0)=Category (1)=Grid (2)=List
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(188.79999999999998, 67%, 28%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EMD%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
I’m using a personal PC running Windows 11 Pro, version 25H2, build 26200.8973. The new Start menu “category view” feature that was announced for rollout around November 2025 is not available on my device. My Windows Update shows that I’m fully up to date (including the July 25H2 update), I’ve checked all Start menu and Personalization settings, and this PC is not managed by any work or school organization. Can you confirm whether this Start menu category view is enabled for my region and account on this build, and if there’s anything else I can do to get it?
