🔵Microsoft is developing a major Start menu update for Windows 11, part of the "Windows K2" project aimed at restoring user trust and improving the OS. The design will largely match the current layout but Settings will include expanded personalization controls, letting users choose a compact or expanded Start menu and disable sections such as Recommended, pinned icons or All Apps.

The Start menu will be rebuilt on WinUI 3, replacing the current React-based implementation (which has performance issues), with a focus on speed and responsiveness. Developers aim for instant opening even under high CPU load and improved search behavior so users can begin typing immediately without losing initial characters. These changes target usability and performance for power users and everyday workflows, along with "native apps" replacing Calendar agenda, Widgets, and maybe File Explorer - all are parts of "Windows K2".

🔵Here are some internal details on the "Windows K2" initiative. Launched in late 2025, it targets performance, attention to detail, and stability to restore user confidence in Windows 11. Microsoft acknowledged that aggressive AI feature additions and rapid release cadence harmed core performance and stability, including degraded game performance, slower File Explorer operations, and UI responsiveness issues.

* Microsoft plans optimizations to narrow the performance gap with SteamOS on identical hardware, improve File Explorer navigation and in-app search, and reduce background RAM usage and overall OS size to benefit low-end and high-end systems. In some tests, Windows 10 still outperforms Windows 11; Microsoft intends to address that gap.
* Windows Update should require reboots less frequently, with drivers updated primarily during reboots.
* The company will accelerate WinUI 3 adoption, develop a System Composer to lower UI latency and memory use, and rebuild the Start menu for greater speed and personalization. The taskbar will be resizable.
* Microsoft is improving WinUI 3 performance to make native interface elements faster and more reliable, enabling modern controls to replace legacy elements such as the Run dialog box and Control Panel.

The project also targets internal team workflows: not just fixing Windows 11 based on feedback, but changing how developers write and deploy code. A major cultural shift is reportedly underway within Microsoft that is driving the K2 initiative.

Previously, the Windows team prioritized development speed. Teams released new features quickly and frequently, but that came at the cost of quality and stability. With each release, users grew more disillusioned. Teams now prioritize quality over rapid feature development. New features are not permitted in public test builds until they pass rigorous internal review. The quality bar remains but is now higher.

Windows K2 has no specific end date. It is an ongoing initiative intended to set higher standards for Windows development. The goal is to clean up Windows 11, restore user confidence and maintain that standard consistently. Early changes appear in Windows 11 test builds, with more arriving through the summer.