Windows News
How to Remove the Recommended Section from Windows 11 Start Menu
Windows 11, Microsoft's latest operating system, introduced a visually fresh and functionally reimagined Start menu that immediately attracted attention for its centered layout and new design elements. Among its features, the Start menu prominently includes a "Recommended" section—a dynamic area displaying recently used apps, edited files, and OneDrive content. Although useful for some, many users consider this section intrusive or cluttering, leading to a surge in requests for easier ways to customize or remove this part of the interface.
This article offers an in-depth exploration of the evolving Windows 11 Start menu landscape, focusing on how users can remove or disable the Recommended section. It also discusses Microsoft's recent redesign efforts to respond to user feedback, providing broader context and technical insights that inform the best approaches to customization and system performance.
Background: The Windows Start Menu Evolution
Since its debut in Windows 95, the Start menu has been a foundational element in Windows operating systems—an essential gateway for users to launch applications, access settings, and find files. However, it has continuously evolved, reflecting broader shifts in design philosophy and user needs.
- Windows 95 to Windows 8: Early versions featured straightforward, hierarchical text menus, which evolved to tile-based interfaces with Windows 8, aiming to optimize for touch devices.
- Windows 10: Hybrid approach combining tiles and lists, balancing legacy users' habits and modern UI demands.
- Windows 11: Introduced a centered layout with a cleaner visual style, dividing the Start menu into pinned apps and a Recommended section.
The Recommended section automatically aggregates recent activity—applications, documents, and cloud items—with the goal of boosting productivity. Yet this feature has been polarizing; some users appreciate the quick access it provides, while others find it distracting or unnecessarily space-consuming.
What’s New: Redesigned Windows 11 Start Menu and Removing the Recommended Section
Microsoft has taken note of community feedback and is actively redesigning the Windows 11 Start menu to address common user concerns. The most anticipated changes include:
Unified, Scrollable Experience
The new Start menu evolves from a dual-section design to a unified, scrollable single page. This places pinned apps, the All Apps list, and optional categories in one vertically scrollable pane, reducing clicks and visual clutter.
Ability to Disable the Recommended Section
A significant update is the introduction of a toggle allowing users to completely remove the Recommended section from their Start menu. This offers a cleaner interface focused on pinned apps and organized application lists without dynamic content suggestions.
Enhanced Customization
- Users can now expand or collapse pinned apps with a new “Show less”/“Show more” toggle, giving greater control over Start menu real estate.
- The All Apps section supports multiple sorting schemes—alphabetical, grid layout, or categories inspired by mobile operating systems like iOS.
- Additional layout flexibility caters to both minimalists and power users.
Integration with File Explorer
Notably, turning off recommendations in the Start menu also affects the “Recent” tab in File Explorer by hiding recent items there. This linkage aims at a coherent user experience across Windows but may be adjusted in future releases based on user feedback.
How to Remove the Recommended Section in Current Windows 11 Versions
For users wanting to immediately disable recommendations, you can do so through simple settings adjustments:
- Open Settings: Press INLINECODE0 .
- Navigate to Personalization > Start.
- Toggle Off the option that reads: “Show recommendations for tips, app promotions, and more.”
Disabling this setting will remove recommended recent apps and files from the Start menu, yielding a streamlined launcher focused on pinned and all installed apps. It also disables recent items in File Explorer’s Recent tab due to the current system linkage.
Additional methods for customization or blocking ads and suggestions in Windows involve registry edits, Group Policy changes for enterprise users, or PowerShell scripts, but these steps are more advanced and generally suited for IT professionals.
Implications and Impact
For Users
- Reduced Clutter: Removing the Recommended section results in a cleaner UI and fewer distractions.
- Increased Productivity: Users can focus solely on pinned apps and their complete app list without dynamic interruptions.
- Enhanced Control: Customization empowers users to tailor the Start menu to individual workflows.
For Microsoft
This redesign represents a shift toward user-centric design ideals. Microsoft is addressing long-standing criticisms about Windows 11’s UX by restoring control and simplicity without sacrificing modern visual appeal or functionality.
For IT Administrators
- Reducing user complaints about interface clutter decreases support tickets.
- A standardized Start menu experience is easier to replicate in enterprise environments.
- Enhanced customization reduces the need for third-party utilities or complex registry hacks.
Technical Details: Experimental Features and Insider Builds
The newest Start menu redesign is being tested in Windows 11 Insider Preview builds, particularly from the 24H2 development cycle onward (Build 26200.5518 and later). Enthusiasts and testers can activate new Start menu features with third-party tools like ViVeTool by enabling feature flags with specific commands.
This experimental version offers:
- Single unified scrollable Start menu page.
- Expanded pinned app management.
- Removal of the recommended section toggle.
- Customizable sorting views for all apps.
- Potential for future grouping by category (similar to the iOS App Library concept).
While promising, these features remain in testing and may carry minor bugs or stability issues, so caution is advised when using on production systems.
User and Expert Perspectives
Veteran Windows users and tech insiders have welcomed the new flexibility with enthusiasm, seeing it as a long-overdue improvement. Popular community voices, such as prominent Windows Insider contributors, emphasize that the redesign tackles real user pain points, especially around clutter and forced content.
IT professionals note that the ability to simplify the Start menu without third-party modifications is a substantial win for enterprise management and end-user satisfaction.
Summary
Windows 11’s Start menu is undergoing meaningful refinement driven by user feedback. Microsoft’s move to allow disabling the Recommended section offers a cleaner, more efficient experience that puts user control front and center. The unified, scrollable layout combined with enhanced customization options signal a well-judged balance between aesthetics and usability.
For those seeking an immediate decluttering fix, toggling off recommendations in Windows Settings is straightforward. Users eager for the latest refinements can explore Insider builds to test upcoming features.
This evolution not only respects the history of the Start menu but also modernizes it to fit today’s diverse user workflows and expectations.