After receiving negative feedback over a recent change to the Windows 11 Start menu, Microsoft reverses course in new preview build
Microsoft has just released a new update for Windows 11 that is being tested. This update brings with it a number of useful improvements, including a change to the Start menu and lock screen, as well as a new file sharing button.
The new features are currently being tested out by testers in the Windows 11 Release Preview Channel (builds 23H2 and 22H2), which is the final round of user testing that preview builds go through before the final release. This means we can expect to see these features soon.
I’m glad to see Microsoft revisiting one of the recent changes to the Start menu, namely the new Microsoft account settings.
You may remember that the introduction of the new account manager section in the Start menu caused controversy because it buried a useful option under another layer of the menu. This was the sign out option, which was moved from being directly in the Start menu’s profile panel to being hidden behind the three-dot menu (top right) in the new account manager panel (which replaced the previous profile UI).
The good news is that Microsoft listened to those who complained about not being forced to click again to sign out of their account, so in this preview build, the option is back where it was, with no additional clicking required to get to it. Microsoft also notes that you can switch user profiles by clicking the three-dot icon and choosing one from the menu that appears.
Another part of Windows 11 that has been changed is the lock screen. The media controls are now located at the bottom of the screen when media is playing on the PC.
Soon, you’ll also be able to share files stored on your device when they appear in Windows search results, via a new Share button.
These aren’t the only changes to the menu here, and you can check out the full list of additions with more detail at Blog post from Microsoft’s Windows Insider.
A small update, yes – but a useful one nonetheless
While this isn’t the most dynamic update, it does include a number of useful tweaks and bug fixes that should make the Windows 11 experience a little smoother. As mentioned, I’m really happy with the change to the Start menu.
As for the new file sharing feature in Windows Search, it could be more useful if Microsoft spent some time further improving and refining the core of the search experience – the process and the results. Let’s hope for some more work in that regard.
The features mentioned here are also being tested for Windows 11 24H2, ahead of its launch which should happen soon.