Windows 11 introduces the new Category view for app managing

Windows 11 Beta users recently got a sneak peek at a new Start menu Category view, the newest feature discovered for a while now. This feature, inspired by the simplicity of iOS’s app launcher, allows users to arrange their installed apps into categories.

The feature is currently hidden in the latest Beta build, but you can uncover it using a third-party app, such as ViveTool.

According to the popular Windows Insider, update your device to Windows 11 build 22635.4010. Get ViveTool from GitHub, unpack it, use some command prompts, and then restart to explore the new Category view in Windows 11. But don’t be surprised if your pinned apps don’t disappear; this view gives you another way to sort through your app collection.

Plus, it seems that the Redmond-based tech giant will enhance Windows 11’s Category View with the ability to display the apps’ names on hover. According to the Windows enthusiast @phantomofearth, this ability was added to the latest Build to the Beta channel, which looks like this.

It seems like Windows puts apps into a JSON file to satisfy those wondering how this magic takes place. But still, the most crucial question is: How will this feature work with all kinds of apps not in the Microsoft Store? This is a puzzle we all want to see solved. Hopefully, Microsoft will spill the beans soon.

This update might show an image of a more structured and easy-to-use Start menu for the daring who enjoy playing around and discovering new things. However, remember that beta always has its share of minor difficulties.