Microsoft is testing a redesigned Run menu for Windows 11, giving one of the operating system’s oldest tools a cleaner and more modern look.
The new version is now rolling out to Windows 11 Insiders in the new Experimental Channel.
The updated Run menu brings a faster interface and support for dark mode, making it feel more in line with the rest of Windows 11. Microsoft says the redesign was created using code from Command Palette, a PowerToys utility that lets users quickly run commands, open websites, search files, and perform other actions.
One major change is the removal of the “Browse” button. Microsoft says it decided to drop the button after finding that very few people actually used it. To replace part of that function, the company has added support for a new “~\” command, which takes users directly to their user directory.
Windows 11 Insiders can try the new Run menu by going to Settings, then System, then Advanced, and turning on the option from there. Microsoft had already started testing an early version of the redesigned Run menu in preview builds last year, but the latest update gives a clearer look at the direction the company is taking.
Microsoft says it worked with teams across the Windows platform to make the new interface load quickly. The company also claims that the improvements made for the Run menu should help make the wider operating system more efficient.
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The Run menu has long been a simple but useful Windows feature, especially for users who rely on quick commands. With this redesign, Microsoft appears to be modernizing the tool without changing its core purpose.
