Developer Alex Fazio has highlighted an unusual issue with the Start menu in Windows 11. Posting on social platform X, Fazio revealed that the Start menu uses an inefficient implementation method that leads to significant CPU spikes each time it is opened. Other users have since reported similar behavior.
According to Fazio, the Windows 11 Start menu is built using the React Native frameworkâa development tool that allows developers to build user interfaces with JavaScript and web technologies, which are then packaged into native apps (such as an .EXE file for Windows).
While this approach streamlines development, it introduces performance trade-offs. Because these applications are layered and not truly native, they can be slower and less efficient. As a result, when the Start menu is launched, it can cause CPU usage to spike between 30% and 70%, even without any heavy background processes running.
This claim was backed up by other users in the comments on the original post. Several noted that high CPU usage occurs in about half of all Start menu activations, particularly when the Recommended apps section is in use.
As of now, Microsoft has not issued any official response to the reports.