How To Explore the New Windows 11 Build 26200.5641: Start Menu Redesign and Gaming Keyboard Features

New Start Menu Redesign

So, Windows 11 insider build 26200.5641 dropped, and yeah, the Start Menu got a pretty noticeable overhaul. Instead of the old separate ‘All Apps’ popup, Microsoft smushed it together with the main menu, trying to make things flow a bit more. The trick is that now you can click on that ‘Show All’ button (looks like a little arrow, or sometimes just a text label) to expand pinned apps without diving into a dropdown. Kinda makes your app launcher more streamlined, though not everyone appreciates the change—especially if you’re used to the old setup.

On one setup it worked fine, but on another machine, the layout bugged out temporarily—sometimes the expanded view wouldn’t load properly until a reboot, which is kind of annoying. Anyway, if you hate the recommendations section (those suggested files or apps), you can turn it off in Settings > Personalization > Start > Show recently added apps / Show suggestions. This seems to hide clutter if you prefer a clean look. Also, you can switch between grid or list view, for those who like a bit more order or just want something simpler.

Why bother? Well, this helps folks who want quick access but without the clutter. If you’re often hunting for apps or want the Start Menu to be less Nosy Nancy, this toggle is handy.

Phone Link Sidebar Integration

This one’s kinda slick—Microsoft integrated the Phone Link sidebar into the Start Menu. So, if you’re into syncing your phone with your PC, this makes it stupidly easier. You can view your phone screen, messages, and calls right from that sidebar—no jumping between apps or menus. Just a click, and it’s there. Pretty useful if you’re constantly swapping between your devices for quick messaging or photo sharing, especially if you don’t want to mess with constant app switching.

To get this working, you need the latest Phone Link app from Microsoft Store, and ensure your phone is linked via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. You might need to fiddle with permissions, but once set up, it’s smooth sailing.

Personalization and Lock Screen

Microsoft keeps tweaking how much personalization you get. Now, you can pick which widgets appear on the lock screen—more control over weather, calendar, or news feeds. It seems minor, but for folks who want just the essentials staring them in the face, this helps cut down on info overload.

Plus, the new options are buried under Settings > Personalization > Lock Screen. Expect the usual tweak-fest, but on this build, it’s a bit more flexible, which is nice.

accessibility improvements with Narrator

A noteworthy upgrade. The Narrator has gotten some love, particularly with the ‘screen curtain’ feature. It blacks out your display when activated—kind of weird but super useful for privacy or when you’re trying to keep sensitive info under wraps while the Narrator reads things aloud. The setup process now guides new users better, so it’s less frustrating to figure out how to turn things on or use certain features.

This feels like Microsoft’s attempt to make accessibility tools friendlier, especially for users who rely heavily on screen reading. The screen curtain kind of feels like a hidden gem—because of course, Windows has to make it a little complicated to turn on the first time.

Search Overhaul

The search panel got a refresh too—less clutter, more control. Permissions and settings are now in one place, under Settings > Privacy & Security > Search permissions. No more hunting through menus for a toggle or two. The idea is to give you a more consolidated way to tweak what Windows searches, especially on local files versus cloud. For power users, this means less messing around and quicker results.

On some machines, the search bar feels snappier too—no more weird delays or lag, which is always a plus. Not sure why it works, but one less thing to annoy you.

Gaming Changes: New Gamepad Keyboard

Good news if you’re into gaming. This update has a fresh gamepad keyboard layout, which basically speeds up quick PIN sign-ins from the lock screen. There are some control shortcuts baked in, making it easier to navigate and get into your game faster. It’s not super flashy, but for those who game regularly, it’s a welcome tweak.

To enable or see this, you might need to go into Settings > Gaming > Game Bar or check out the new keyboard layout when you plug in a gamepad. Honestly, it’s a small change but feels more native, especially if you like quick starts after your machine boots.

Undocumented Changes & Fixes

Microsoft is sneaking in little improvements, like better storage info in Settings (looks cleaner) and more details in language & region options. Nothing huge, but makes life easier when managing multiple storage drives or locales.

General Fixes

Lots of bugs from earlier builds are finally fixed—search typing is smooth, taskbar icons resize correctly, and the Settings app doesn’t crash as often. Honestly, stability feels improved, even if it’s not perfect.

Known Issues

Still some rough edges, especially around touch navigation—the new Start Menu doesn’t always play nicely on tablets or touchscreen laptops. Drag-and-drop might be hit or miss, and a few display bugs are floating around. Microsoft says they’re aware and working on it, so don’t be surprised if you see patches soon.

Overall, this build aims at polish and adding features, but it’s still a work in progress. Expect some quirks, but also some meaningful changes.