Is the Start menu in Windows actually useful? Do we even need it?

A few days ago, I shared my viewpoint regarding how Microsoft hasn't been able to convince me to migrate to Windows 11 as my sole daily driver, despite the OS being available for roughly four years. Within that piece, I highlighted the fact that even though the Start menu has been completely revamped in the latest version of Windows, it's not something that I use regularly.

And that got me thinking: is the Start menu really a crucial piece of my Windows experience? I get it, I know that the Start menu is an iconic Windows element that has existed in the operating system for as long as many of us can remember. And yet, I can't really tell you about the last time I actually used the Start menu.

The reason for italicizing the word "used" above is that while the Start menu can be launched when you click on the Windows icon in the Taskbar or the Windows key, I am not counting that as actual usage for the purpose of this piece. This is because I do launch the Start menu several times a day, I actually use it to get to Windows Search. I don't actually use the list of apps, app folders, and recently opened files. I simply tap the Windows key and start typing the search query for the item that I am looking for.

For example, if I want to open Power BI, I don't open the Start menu and find the pinned app. I just tap on the Windows key and start typing "Po..." and quickly hit Enter as soon as the right option comes up, which is usually after a couple of keystrokes. Similarly, if I want to open "Gifts.xlsx", I don't open Excel from the Start menu or even peruse my list of recently opened files, I just start typing "Gi..." and press Enter.

I feel like this is a much faster experience and you don't need to rely on muscle memory to find the item that you are looking for. And as your list of installed software grows, it only becomes more tedious to keep track of where you pinned an app or the folder that you kept it in. Windows Search gets rid of that problem completely.

Additionally, the Start menu detracts me from whatever else I may be focusing on in parallel. If I am using Word and now want to open PowerPoint, I would probably get distracted by the Start menu as I launch it and try to locate the PowerPoint icon. Instead, I can just get to PowerPoint within a few keystrokes without even realizing the effort involved.

I'd also like to highlight that I am not inherently against the idea of pinning stuff that you use frequently or recently, but I do think that the Taskbar and Desktop view already solves that problem to some extent. Right now, my Taskbar contains my most used software, while my desktop contains other secondary software and files. I understand that people have their fair share of complaints against Windows Search, but it works quite well for my use-cases.

As it currently stands, my actual usage of the Start menu is nil. And although this popular Windows UX is always the subject of debate each time Microsoft makes even a minor change to it, I simply couldn't care less. That said, while the Start menu in its traditional use is dead to me, I am not sure how many people actively utilize this UX. Any evidence I have is purely anecdotal, but I would be very interested in seeing the telemetry that Microsoft tracks regarding its usage.

Seeing how frequently Microsoft makes changes to the Start menu and the ensuing debate that follows, I feel like I am in the minority. But I just can't imagine opening the Start menu and then relying on muscle memory or a fixed grid of icons to get to the app I need, when I can do more with a couple of keystrokes.

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