Start Menu Tiles on Windows 11: What Happened

Updated 7 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Windows 11 removed the live tiles that were a signature part of the Start menu in Windows 8, 8.1, and 10. Instead of a grid of animated, resizable tiles, Windows 11 uses a simplified layout with a static grid of app icons and a separate “Pinned” section. You cannot bring back the old live tiles through any official Windows setting, but you can still pin apps, organize them into folders, and use third-party tools to recreate a tile-like appearance.

Background: Why Tiles Existed and Why They Left

Live tiles debuted with Windows 8 in 2012, designed for touchscreens and tablets. They showed real-time information—weather, email previews, news headlines—without opening the app. Windows 10 kept them but made the Start menu a hybrid: a traditional list of apps on the left, live tiles on the right.

Microsoft’s design direction for Windows 11, announced in 2021, emphasized simplicity, centered layouts, and a cleaner desktop. The company stated that live tiles were replaced by “Widgets,” a separate panel that shows dynamic content like weather, calendar, and news. The Start menu itself became a static launcher, prioritizing quick access over information display.

What the Windows 11 Start Menu Looks Like Now

The Windows 11 Start menu has two main areas:

Pinned: A grid of app icons (up to 18 by default, expandable to more via Settings). You can rearrange them, but they are static—no live updates.
Recommended: A list of recently opened files and apps, which you can hide entirely if you prefer.

There is no “tile” concept anymore. Icons are square with rounded corners, and you cannot resize them individually. You can, however, group them into folders by dragging one icon onto another, similar to how you organize apps on a smartphone.

How to Pin, Unpin, and Organize Apps

Pinning apps works the same as in Windows 10, but without the tile options:

Click the Start button (or press the Windows key).
Click All apps in the top-right corner.
Right-click any app and select Pin to Start.
To remove a pinned icon, right-click it and choose Unpin from Start.
To create a folder, drag one icon onto another. The folder will appear as a small group; click it to expand.

You can also resize the entire Pinned grid:

Go to Settings > Personalization > Start.
Choose More pins or Default to show more or fewer icons.

Can You Get Live Tiles Back on Windows 11?

Officially, no. Microsoft removed live tiles from the operating system and has not provided a toggle to restore them. The Widgets panel is the intended replacement, but it is a separate flyout, not part of the Start menu.

Third-party utilities can simulate tiles. For example, Start11 and StartAllBack are paid apps that let you customize the Start menu with tile-like layouts, including larger icons and custom colors. They do not provide live updates from apps—they are static grids—but they offer a closer visual match to Windows 10. Free alternatives like Open-Shell (formerly Classic Shell) can restore a Windows 7-style menu, but not live tiles.

If you specifically want live information on your desktop, you can pin the Widgets panel to the taskbar (it is there by default) or use desktop gadgets from third-party sources. Those are separate from the Start menu.

Common Problems and Workarounds

Problem: Pinned icons disappear after an update.
Windows updates occasionally reset the Start layout. To back up your layout, go to Settings > Personalization & Start and look for “Layout” options (if available). For a more permanent solution, you can export the Start layout using group policy (only in Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise).

Problem: The Recommended section shows sensitive files.
Right-click the Start menu and select Settings, then turn off “Show recently opened items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer.” You can also clear the current list by clicking the three-dot menu next to “Recommended” and choosing “Clear all.”

Problem: You want more than 18 pinned apps.
Enable “More pins” in Start settings. This increases the grid to roughly 30 icons, but it also takes up more screen space.

Comparisons: Windows 10 Tiles vs. Windows 11 Icons

The table below summarizes the key differences:

Live updates: Windows 10 tiles could show weather, news, and email counts. Windows 11 icons are static—no dynamic content.
Resizing: Windows 10 tiles had four sizes (small, medium, wide, large). Windows 11 icons have no size options.
Grouping: Windows 10 allowed named tile groups. Windows 11 folders have no custom names—they are just a stack of icons.
Touch support: Both work with touch, but Windows 11’s larger icons are easier to tap.
Customization: Windows 10 had more options via third-party tools. Windows 11 is more locked down, though third-party tools still work.

Alternatives to Tiles for Quick Information

If you miss seeing live data at a glance, consider these built-in options:

Widgets panel: Press Win + W to open it. You can add weather, calendar, news, and other widgets. It is not the Start menu, but it serves a similar purpose.
Taskbar icons: Some apps (like Mail and Calendar) show badges with unread counts on the taskbar icon. Right-click the taskbar, select “Taskbar settings,” and enable “Badges” if available.
Desktop shortcuts: You can create a desktop shortcut to a website or app and use a widget tool like Rainmeter (free) to display live info on the desktop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make the Start menu look like Windows 10?
Yes, with third-party tools like StartAllBack or Open-Shell. These let you change the layout, size, and position of the Start menu. They are not official Microsoft products, so they may break after major Windows updates, but they are widely used.

Will Microsoft bring back live tiles in a future update?
As of now, there is no official announcement. The company has moved toward a simplified Start menu and a separate Widgets panel. It is unlikely that live tiles will return in the same form, but Microsoft could evolve Widgets to be more tile-like.

Why did Microsoft remove live tiles?
Microsoft stated that live tiles were not widely used and that the new Start menu is faster and more straightforward. The company also wanted to reduce complexity and make the OS feel more modern and less cluttered.

How do I add a website to the Start menu?
Open the site in Edge, click the three-dot menu, select “More tools,” then “Pin to Start.” Alternatively, create a shortcut to the site on your desktop, then right-click the shortcut and choose “Pin to Start.”

Do the icons in the Start menu show notifications?
No, not in the Start menu itself. Some apps show a small red badge on the taskbar icon when there are unread notifications, but the Start menu icons do not display badges.

Can I remove the Recommended section completely?
Yes. Go to Settings > Personalization > Start and toggle off “Show recently added apps,” “Show most used apps,” and “Show recently opened items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer.” The Recommended section will then be empty, and you can collapse it by clicking the arrow at its top.

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