Rumor: Microsoft wants to stop Windows 10’s Live Tiles start menu

Microsoft reportedly wants to discontinue the Windows 10 colorful ’tiles’ Start menu. Instead, the Start menu would have a similar design to Windows 10X, including app icons.

The rumor comes from Windows Latest, which is relying on information from people familiar with the plans. Based on the information, the site expects the Live Tiles to likely disappear sometime in 2021. According to the sources, it would be after the release of the Windows 10 20H2 update in the second half of this year. This would also be a modest update with virtually no new features.

The start menu would look similar to Windows 10X, but optimized for the desktop. Windows 10X shows a launcher with recently opened items and icons for apps. Microsoft is giving those icons for its own apps new visual representations this year.

Microsoft introduced Live Tiles with Windows Phone 7. After that, the start menu also came to Windows 8 and here the interface had to facilitate the use of the OS with a touchscreen. Microsoft then continued to tinker with the Live Tiles, eventually integrating them into a more traditional start menu. Live Tiles has seen few changes in recent years.