

The new Start menu will emphasize the Fluent Design language seen throughout the modern areas of the operating system. As you can see, Microsoft has also removed the backgrounds of the icons on the recent apps list for a cleaner overall look. The above screenshot compares the default look of the Start menu. The new experience is called “theme-aware tiles” that removes the colour backplates behind the app icons and either use a transparent light, dark or accent backplate. The Live Tiles are still part of the operating system, but the static tiles will now carry the same colour background for an appearance that matches light or dark theme. Start Menu is being altered to remove hotchpotch of different colours for a more uniform appearance. In future, you can expect subtle changes to the Action Center, taskbar, and even File Explorer.

Microsoft is not planning a radical design overhaul for the operating system.
