How to Remove ‘Recommended Section’ from Windows 11 Start Menu?

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In This Guide

TRY IT NOW: A Few Quick Ways to Remove the “Recommended” Section in the Windows Start Menu

4 Easy Methods to Remove the “Recommended” Section in the Windows 11 Start Menu

Solution 1. Do It Via the Settings App

Solution 2. Modify Group Policy

Solution 3. Utilize Registry Editor

Solution 4. Use Software from Third Parties

Final Words

Speed up your PC

The “Recommended” section in the Windows 11 Start menu is designed to help users easily find recently used apps and files. Some users may find this feature useful, but many others think it is unnecessary and cluttering.
Positioned below pinned apps, it displays a personalized list based on recent activity.

For users who regularly use specific apps or files, it provides a convenient shortcut, simplifying task-switching and reducing the need for manual searches but if you find the ‘Recommended’ section unnecessary, you can easily remove or hide it using methods outlined in this guide. This lets you customize your Start menu to your liking, making it simpler and more tailored to your needs.

And if you like uncluttered Windows, you might find it useful to remove Copilot from your Win or even Recycle Bin icon as well.

TRY IT NOW: A Few Quick Ways to Remove the
“Recommended” Section in the Windows Start Menu

Here’s a quick overview of the methods you can use to hide the Recommended Section: 

• By changing the personalization settings in the settings app, you can disable the “Recommended” section.
• Configure the Group Policy to customize settings.
• Edit the Windows Registry to hide the “Recommended” section.
• Install third-party software like Start10 or StartIsBack to customize the Start menu

4 Easy Methods to Remove the
“Recommended” Section in the Windows 11 Start Menu

Removing the “Recommended” section from the Windows Start menu is easy. Here are the simple methods with easy steps that anyone can follow.

Solution 1. Do It Via the Settings App

The Recommended section of the Start menu can be easily hidden or shown using the Settings app. Follow these simple steps:

• Press ‘Win + I’ shortcut to open “Settings”.
• Choose “Personalization”.
• Depending on the Windows version, look for “Start” option from the menu.

• Turn off the toggle for the below:
  • Show recently added apps
  • Show most used apps
  • Show recently opened items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer 
  • Show recommendations for tips, shortcuts, new apps, and more
  • Show account-related notifications occasionally in Start

Solution 2. Modify Group Policy

You can customize your Windows operating system’s settings with the Group Policy Editor, including deleting the “Recommended” area from the Start menu.

• To launch the “Group Policy Editor”, type “Group Policy” into ‘Windows search’ and hit ‘Enter’.
• Go to “Computer Configuration” > “Administrative Templates” > “Start Menu and Taskbar”.
• Click twice on “Remove Recommended section from  Start Menu”. This action will prompt a new window to open.

• Choose “Enabled”, click “Apply”, and then “OK”.

If you want to show the Recommended section in the Start menu later, follow these steps:

• Select the “Not Configured” option for the same Group Policy setting.
• Click the “Apply” button.
• Click the “OK” button to save the setting.

Note that only Windows 11 Education/SE editions support this method. The Home and Pro versions of Windows 11 do not support it. 

Solution 3. Utilize Registry Editor

The Recommended section of the Start menu can be precisely removed from the computer using the Registry Editor. Make sure you first create a registry backup.

• Press ‘Enter’ after typing “regedit” into ‘Windows search’ to launch the “Registry Editor”.

• Navigate to the address shown below:
  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
• In the right pane, right-click and choose “New” > “DWORD (32-bit) Value”.

• Assign the name “Start_Recommendations” to the new value.
• Double-click “Start_Recommendations”, then change the data value to “0”.
• Click “OK” and exit “Registry Editor”.

• Restart your PC.

Solution 4. Use Software from Third Parties

In order to personalize your Windows Start menu, you can remove the “Recommended” area using a number of third-party software programs.

• Get a reliable third-party customization tool such as “Start10” or “StartAllBack” and install it.

• Launch the program, then select “Start menu customization options”.
• Locate the “Recommended” section and choose to “disable” or “remove” it.
• After making the necessary adjustments, restart your PC if needed.

Final Words

That’s how easily you can customize your Start menu using the steps outlined above. Whether you choose to use the Settings app or adjust the Registry, now you can modify the Start menu to suit your needs. We hope this guide has been helpful to you.