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Microsoft. - Friday, May 24, 2019 at 12:00 PM
These are the changes to the Start menu in the Windows 10 May 2019 Update
[https://www.windowscentral.com/sites/wpcentral.com/files/styles/large/public/field/image/2019/05/start-menu-windows-10-may-2019-update-1903_.jpg?itok=376cs6hp]
Alongside many new changes and features, the Windows 10 May 2019 Update
(version 1903)<https://www.windowscentral.com/windows-10-may-2019-update/home>
adds a few subtle but welcome improvements to the Start menu to make the
experience more consistent and useful.
For example, beginning with the first semi-annual feature update, the Start
menu becomes a separate app, gets proper light-mode support and receives
several visual tweaks.
More on the May Update
[https://www.windowscentral.com/sites/wpcentral.com/files/field/image/2018/06/cloudwallpaper-dark.jpg]
<https://www.windowscentral.com/e?link=https%3A%2F%2Fmicrosoft.msafflnk.net%2Fc%2F159229%2F433017%2F7593%3FsubId1%3DUUwpUdUtUmay2019resourcesbox%26subId2%3Ddwp%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.microsoft.com%252Fen-us%252Fstore%252Fb%252Fwindows&token=rsQP5OyP>
Windows 10 May 2019
Update<https://www.windowscentral.com/e?link=https%3A%2F%2Fmicrosoft.msafflnk.net%2Fc%2F159229%2F433017%2F7593%3FsubId1%3DUUwpUdUtUmay2019resourcesbox%26subId2%3Ddwp%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.microsoft.com%252Fen-us%252Fstore%252Fb%252Fwindows&token=rsQP5OyP>
In this Windows 10 guide<https://www.windowscentral.com/windows-10-help>, we
dive into the improvements with the Start menu shipping with the May 2019
Update.
Start menu improvements with the May 2019 Update
These are the new improvements you'll find in the Start menu after upgrading to
the May 2019 Update.
Start menu process
In previous versions, the Start menu was part of the Shell experience
(ShellExperienceHost.exe), which is an essential process that also handles
graphical elements and several other components. Starting with the May 2019
Update, the Start menu is an entirely separate app that runs in its own process
(StartMenuExperienceHost.exe), even though it'll feel like it's part of the
Shell.
[https://www.windowscentral.com/sites/wpcentral.com/files/styles/large/public/field/image/2019/05/windows-10-startmenuexperiencehost.jpg?itok=cHyZGdxX]
Using this new approach brings some unique benefits. For instance, now that the
Start menu is a separate app, it'll reduce the number of issues. It'll make the
experience more stable, faster to open, and it'll simplify debugging for
developers.
Simplified layout
The updated version of the menu also ships with a new simplified default tile
layout that reduces the number of columns from two to one, with top-level tiles
for a cleaner look and feel.
[https://www.windowscentral.com/sites/wpcentral.com/files/styles/large/public/field/image/2019/05/startmenu-windows-10-may-2019-update-layout.jpg?itok=1zFw_ao6]
In the new layout, you'll now only find two groups of tiles, including
Productivity and Explore, each one with only six medium tiles. Also, each group
features a folder with links to the online version of the Office
apps<https://products.office.com/en-us/compare-all-microsoft-office-products?activetab=tab%3aprimaryr1>,
and another folder with links to download games from the Microsoft Store.
[https://www.windowscentral.com/sites/wpcentral.com/files/styles/large/public/field/image/2019/05/start-menu-office-folder-1903.jpg?itok=anwmeKJ0]
Although Windows 10 isn't reducing the number of default apps, with the new
version, you'll be able to uninstall even more inbox apps (such as 3D Viewer,
Calendar, Calculator, Paint 3D, Snip & Sketch, and others) directly from the
Start menu or using the Settings app.
If you're upgrading from a previous version, Windows 10 won't change your
current layout. Instead, the new default layout will be available on new
devices after performing a clean
installation<https://www.windowscentral.com/how-do-clean-installation-windows-10>
and creating a new user
account<https://www.windowscentral.com/how-manage-user-accounts-settings-windows-10#add_multiple_account_windows10>.
Pinning changes
Although you've been able to pin and unpin tiles for a long time, it hasn't
been possible to do the same for groups and folders. Instead of having to empty
a folder or group to remove it, starting with the May 2019 Update, you can
simply right-click a folder or group to find a new option to unpin from Start.
[https://www.windowscentral.com/sites/wpcentral.com/files/styles/large/public/field/image/2019/05/unpin-group-folder-start-menu-may-2019-update.jpg?itok=Qv0Xnqqi]
Left navigation pane
In addition, the May 2019 Update also updates the left navigation pane of the
Start menu. For example, now the left pane expands automatically as you hover
over any of the buttons, revealing their labels, which makes it easier to
identify their actions.
Also, clicking the power button, you'll find new icons for Sleep, Shut down,
and Restart, and if there's an update pending, the power button will now
include an orange dot indicating that a restart is pending. (The indicator will
also appear in the Windows Update icon in the notification area of the taskbar.)
[https://www.windowscentral.com/sites/wpcentral.com/files/styles/large/public/field/image/2019/05/power-button-orange-update-reboot.jpg?itok=dUtzitst]
Finally, opening the profile menu, you'll notice that each option (Sign out,
Lock, and Change account settings) now has a new icon for a more consistent
experience.
Light mode support
While in the past, you were able to use a system Light mode, it was very
inconsistent, as elements like the Start menu didn't use any kind of light
colors. Starting with the May 2019 Update, Windows 10 introduces a proper Light
mode, and when enabled, the color scheme will expand across all the visual
elements, including on Start and its context menu.
[https://www.windowscentral.com/sites/wpcentral.com/files/styles/large/public/field/image/2019/05/light-mode-start-menu-win10.jpg?itok=BwQIWUvt]
More Windows 10 resources
For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about
Windows 10, visit the following resources:
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This IKEA cable management kit is your ticket to a clean setup. It's simple and
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This clever little accessory has powerful magnets on the rear to make it stick
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This post may contain affiliate links. See our disclosure
policy<https://www.mobilenations.com/external-links> for more details.
https://www.windowscentral.com/whats-new-start-menu-windows-10-may-2019-update
David Goldfield
Assistive Technology Specialist
Feel free to visit my Web site
WWW.DavidGoldfield.info<http://WWW.DavidGoldfield.info>
