If your version of Windows 11 includes the new Start menu controls, open Settings > Personalization > Start, select Start menu size, and choose Small. Microsoft is rolling out this feature gradually, so the setting may not yet appear on every Windows 11 PC, even after updates are installed.
Change the Start menu size in Settings
The built-in size control is the simplest way to make Start take up less screen space. It avoids registry edits and third-party Start menu replacements.
- Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
- Select Personalization.
- Select Start.
- Find Start menu size.
- Select Small.
- Open the Start menu to check the new layout.
The change should apply immediately; a restart is not normally required. The available choices are:
- Small: Uses a more compact Start menu layout and is the appropriate choice when Start occupies too much of a laptop or smaller display.
- Large: Uses a roomier layout that can show more content at once.
- Automatic: The default setting. Windows chooses a Start menu size based on the device and display conditions.
These are preset layouts, not free-form resizing controls. Microsoft does not document a way to drag a Start menu edge to set an exact custom height or width in Windows 11.
Start menu size is separate from display scaling. The setting at Settings > System > Display > Scale changes the apparent size of text, apps and much of the Windows interface. Lowering the scale can make Start appear smaller, but it affects everything else as well. Use Start menu size when the Start menu is the only item you want to reduce.
Why the Start menu size setting may be missing
Microsoft began rolling out the Small, Large and Automatic Start menu choices in 2026 updates. The company identifies the change as a gradual rollout, which means availability can differ between devices that otherwise have the same Windows 11 version and update level.
Check for Windows updates
First, install the updates currently offered to your PC:
- Open Settings > Windows Update.
- Select Check for updates.
- Download and install any available updates.
- Restart if Windows asks you to do so.
- Return to Settings > Personalization > Start and check for Start menu size.
A message that Windows is up to date means that your device has the updates currently approved for it. It does not guarantee that every feature in a controlled rollout has been enabled on that device.
Choose earlier access to eligible feature updates
Windows 11 has a switch at Settings > Windows Update called Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available. Turning it on prioritizes your device for eligible non-security updates, fixes, improvements and features when Microsoft offers them to your device.
After turning on the switch, select Check for updates again. This can help you receive eligible changes sooner, but it does not guarantee immediate access to a particular feature. Microsoft may still delay a feature because of compatibility safeguards or its rollout schedule.
You will continue to receive regular security updates whether this switch is on or off. Leave it off if you prefer to receive optional non-security changes later in the rollout.
Wait for the rollout if necessary
Some Windows features are delivered through a controlled feature rollout rather than activated for every PC on one date. As a result, two computers can have the same general Windows 11 release but show different personalization settings.
If no further updates are available and the option remains absent, check again after later Windows updates. Avoid unofficial tools that claim to enable hidden features early. They can change unsupported configurations and complicate later troubleshooting.
Check whether your PC is managed
On a work or school PC, an administrator can use device-management settings or Group Policy to restrict Start and taskbar changes. A Start setting that is missing or unavailable may therefore be managed by the organization.
This is most common on company-owned devices, school computers and personal PCs enrolled in workplace management. Contact the organization’s information technology team instead of trying to bypass the restriction.
If this is your personal computer but it was previously connected to an employer or school, review Settings > Accounts > Access work or school. Do not disconnect an active organizational account unless you understand how that will affect work apps, files and services.
Hide Start menu sections to reduce clutter
The redesigned Start settings page also lets you control sections within Start. Microsoft is changing the former Recommended section to Recent; depending on your Windows update stage, the menu and Settings page may use either term. The section-level controls can independently show or hide Pinned, Recommended or Recent, and All.
- Hide Pinned if you do not use the grid of manually pinned apps.
- Hide Recommended or Recent if you do not want recent files or suggested content in Start.
- Hide All if you usually open apps through Windows Search rather than browsing the app list.
These controls change the content inside Start rather than replacing the size setting. They can make the menu cleaner and reduce the amount of information shown at once, while Small controls its overall compact layout.
You can also enable Hide your name and profile picture on Start on the same Settings page. This is useful when sharing a screen or presenting, although it does not substantially change the menu size.
What to do if Small is still too large
Small is the most compact built-in Start menu choice currently documented by Microsoft. For a cleaner native setup, select Small, hide sections you do not use and, if appropriate, hide your name and profile picture.
If Start menu size is not yet available, keep Windows updated and allow time for the rollout. Changing display scale or installing a replacement Start menu is a broader change that may not be necessary once Microsoft enables the built-in control on your device.
