Towards the end of 2025, about a year ago, Microsoft introduced a redesigned single-page Start menu in Windows 11. The new Start menu shows all apps list right on the home page of the Start menu and is more customizable. Additionally, the new Start menu is considerably larger than the old Start menu.
The problem with the large Start menu is that it takes up a lot of screen real estate, and users with small screens find it too large. Many users are unhappy with the large Start menu because it doesn’t offer an option to resize it.
The team responsible for Windows 11 development has finally listened to feedback and added an option to resize the Start menu. While you cannot select a custom size by dragging the Start menu edges, you can at least reduce the size of the Start menu now.
The Start menu settings page now offers Automatic, large, and small options. The default Automatic option automatically selects the Start menu size between large and small based on your screen size and resolution. If you would like to manually select a size, you can choose between large and small.
This guide shows you how to make the Windows 11 Start menu smaller using the new built-in option.
Make the Windows 11 Start menu small or large
Step 1: Open the Start menu. Right-click an empty spot, then click Start settings to open the Start menu settings and options page in Windows 11 Settings. Alternatively, you may open the Windows 11 Settings app and then navigate to Personalization > Start page.
Step 2: Here, you should see the Start menu size drop-down. If not, it’s likely because the feature is not yet available on your PC, as it’s a gradual rollout.
If present, select the Small option from the drop-down to make the Windows 11 Start menu smaller immediately. By default, the Automatic option is selected, which automatically decides the correct size (between Small & Large) for your screen and screen resolution. Select the Large option to make the Start menu large again.
This feature was added to Windows 11 with the KB5120998 update. So, if the feature is missing, make sure the update mentioned above is installed. And if the feature does not show up even after installing the update, wait for a few weeks as it’s a gradual rollout.
Our how to restore the power button from Windows 11 Start menu guide might also interest you.
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