Set a customizable initial Start menu layout with an enhanced policy

Starting with the September 2025 security update, IT admins can configure an initial Start menu layout that users can later customize. If you’ve used the Configure Start Pins policy previously, it would revert user personalization to the IT-set configuration after a restart. The enhanced policy allows user changes to persist. This new capability is available to you through configuration service providers (CSP) today, and the Group Policy (GPO) will follow in October.    When will this happen:  September 2025 security update: The enhanced CSP policy is available to configure using Microsoft Intune or other mobile device management (MDM) tools.  October 2025: The GPO policy will be available for commercial use. The GPO will also support a locked down layout experience (bringing parity to current CSP policy).  How this will affect your organization:  The enhanced Configure Start Pins policy CSP now improves IT and user experience. It allows you to set the initial Start menu layout only once, without reapplying after device restarts. User personalization of their Start menu by pinning and unpinning items persists after device restarts.    What you need to do to prepare:  No preparation is needed. The newly enhanced Start policy CSP is optionally available for use.    Additional information:  Customize the Start layout for managed Windows devices  Configure Start Pins CSP