As long as Microsoft doesn’t have any crazy ideas, it’s probably here to stay for many, many more years. The Start menu is iconic, and it’s the identity of Windows. Microsoft has tried a variety of different Start menus over the years, but the Windows 10 version is the best combination of the modern ideas the company has attempted and the classic menu. It didn’t take long for Microsoft to reverse course: the Start menu was brought back to life with Windows 10. The Start menu became so intertwined with the identity of Windows that users freaked out when it disappeared in Windows 8. It quickly became the go-to menu to find everything you needed from your PC, and it changed very little until the blue-and-green theme of Windows XP. Microsoft’s Start menu made its first appearance with Windows 95. Whether it’s launching apps, searching for documents, or simply shutting down your PC, you probably use the Start menu more than you think. It started off as a way to make Windows easier to use, and now it’s the center of how we interact with Windows on a daily basis. The simple Start menu has existed for more than 20 years now. It’s the first thing many people think of when they think of Windows, or even Microsoft.
