Guide to Disabling the ‘Recommended’ Section in the Start Menu on Windows 11

How to Hide the Recommended Section from the Windows 11 Start Menu

The Windows 11 Start menu includes a “Recommended”section that showcases recently accessed files, frequently visited websites, and newly installed applications. While some users find this feature beneficial, others prefer a cleaner interface without these suggestions. Fortunately, users can customize their experience based on their version of Windows 11. Below, we explore various methods to disable or hide the Recommended section.

Understanding Recommendations in Windows 11

The “Recommended” feature is designed to provide quick access to items you may need. However, starting with Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2, users have the option to completely remove this section from view. For those utilizing version 23H2, the recommendations can be minimized but not entirely eliminated. Here’s how to manage settings across different versions:

Remove Recommendations in Windows 11 (new versions: 25H2, 24H2)
Disable Recommendations in Windows 11 (previous versions: 23H2)
Frequently Asked Questions about Hiding Recommendations

Completely Hide Recommendations in Windows 11 (Versions 25H2 and 24H2)

For users on the latest versions, follow these steps to completely hide the “Recommended” section:

Open Settings.
Select Personalization.
Click on the Start tab.
Disable the Show recently added apps toggle.
Disable the Show recommended files in Start, recent files in File Explorer, and items in Jump Lists toggle.
Disable the Show websites from your browsing history toggle.

By completing these steps, you will successfully eliminate the Recommended section from the Start menu.

Disable Recommendations in Windows 11 (Version 23H2 and Earlier)

If your device is running version 23H2 or an older version, you can minimize recommendations by following this modified process:

Open Settings.
Select Personalization.
Click on the Start tab.
Disable the Show recently added apps toggle.
Turn off Show recently opened items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer.
[Optional] Choose the More pins layout to add an additional row of pinned items.

Once you complete these steps, the Start menu will no longer show any recommendations and will instead display additional pinned applications.

You can also remove individual items by right-clicking on them and selecting Remove from list.

Frequently Asked Questions about Hiding the Recommended Section

Can I completely remove the Recommended section on Windows 11?

Yes, in versions 25H2 and 24H2, you can achieve this by disabling all related settings within the personalization options.

Why is there no option to hide the Recommended section?

Rather than a dedicated toggle, the system automatically removes the Recommended section once all related settings are disabled.

What’s the distinction in recommendations between versions 25H2 and 23H2?

In versions 25H2 and 24H2, the Recommended section disappears completely, whereas in version 23H2 and older, it remains persistent but can be rendered empty.

Does turning off the Recommended section also remove recent files from File Explorer?

Yes, disabling the recommended files setting will prevent Windows from tracking and displaying recently opened items across various interfaces.

Can I restore the Recommended section later?

Absolutely! You can re-enable the recommendations by toggling the related options back on in the Start settings.

How can I display more pinned apps after disabling the Recommended section?

For version 23H2 users, select the More pins option in the Start layout settings to increase the number of visible pinned apps.

Will disabling the Recommended section impact web suggestions?

Yes, disabling the browsing history toggle will stop Windows from showing relevant websites in the Recommended section of the Start menu.

Update October 30, 2025: This content has been revised to reflect the latest procedural updates.

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