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There is hope that Windows 11 is about to get a useful change to the Start Menu, which will help users identify which are the main apps for the operating system.
PhantomOfEarth flagged the change, which is hidden in Preview Build 23493 and was uncovered using ViVeTool (a Windows configuration utility used for digging into the OS to find upcoming features like this).
Build 23493 updated the System App Labels feature to all apps first added to Start > Build 23481 (hidden/disabled). Specific apps like Settings and File Explorer are now labeled ‘Microsoft=System’ instead of ‘vivetool /enable /id:44571814,44573982 pic.twitter.com/ZTWSbce91c4 July 2023
So what’s the big idea here? Microsoft is labeling its default apps — the company’s own programs for Windows 11 that come preinstalled with the OS — so that users can clearly see which are which.
Previously, we were told that these were given the ‘Microsoft’ badge to denote that they are first-party apps for Windows 11, but now, that label has been changed to ‘System’, which means Stock apps that come with the system.
These are apps like Settings, Tips, Windows Security, Xbox Game Bar, Calculator, etc.
Analysis: A smooth touch for the less tech-savvy
You’ll likely never use some of those apps, but even so, it can be useful to have an indication of which apps in the Start menu are first-party efforts by Microsoft included by default with Windows 11 installations.
Those who are familiar with Windows will undoubtedly recognize bits of Microsoft’s software in many cases, as they’ve used them over the years. But for newcomers to the computer world and Windows 11 novices, it’s handy to have labels so they know what’s in the list of apps on the Start menu.
It’s worth noting that the feature is still in its early stages – hence why it hasn’t been enabled in preview builds yet – and some system apps aren’t labeled as such (whereas they should be). This will, of course, change, assuming this change makes the cut for inclusion in the test (which seems likely).
Another hidden feature recently discovered in Build 23493 is Microsoft’s continued work on Snap Layout, making this much-disloved part of the UI easier to use and more intuitive, allowing more Windows 11 users to engage with it. Should attract for (or this is undoubtedly the idea) .
