How to Clear and Manage the Recommended Section in Windows 11 Start Menu

Clearing the Recommended section in the Windows 11 Start menu has become a frequent request for users prioritizing privacy, minimalism, or a more curated interface for work and leisure. The Recommended area, which showcases recently opened files, new apps, and specific suggestions, offers both convenience and, for some, unnecessary distractions or privacy concerns. While Microsoft designed this feature to enhance productivity, not everyone appreciates the frequent surfacing of personal activity. Fortunately, Windows 11 provides several mechanisms for customizing, clearing, or even disabling the Recommended section, allowing users to strike the right balance between efficiency and discretion.

Understanding the Recommended Section​

The Recommended area appears in the lower half of the Windows 11 Start menu and is deeply integrated with Microsoft’s vision for streamlined workflows. It dynamically presents files, applications, and activities, updating in real time as users interact with their devices. According to Microsoft, this feature uses recent cloud activity, local document access, and program usage patterns to populate its suggestions. The intent is to accelerate productivity by surfacing items users are likely to need next.
However, this persistent snapshot of recent activity can sometimes create friction. Windows power users and privacy advocates have voiced concerns about sensitive files, work-in-progress documents, or personal materials surfacing in plain view—especially on shared or professional devices. The mass of items can also clutter the Start menu, undermining its role as a quick-launch pad.

Successfully Clearing the Recommended Section: Step-by-Step​

Removing Individual Items​

Perhaps the least disruptive but most precise approach is removing individual entries. This is ideal for users who generally appreciate the recommendations but wish to hide select items.

• Right-click the item in question: Hover over a file or application tile shown under the Recommended heading.
• Select “Remove from list”: This instantly deletes the entry from the Start menu, with no impact on the underlying file or application. The process is seamless, requiring no confirmation dialogs or additional steps.
• Repeat as needed: Each unwanted item can be removed this way, allowing you to retain convenience for the files you want, while leaving no digital trace of those you do not.

This method preserves the utility of the Recommended area for those who want it both personalized and sanitized.

Disabling the Recommended Section Entirely​

For those who prefer a clean Start menu or need to ensure strict privacy, Windows 11 also offers the ability to hide the Recommended content. As of recent updates—verified through Windows documentation and trusted tech outlets—this is possible via system settings:

• Open Settings (Win + I): Navigate to the Personalization category on the left sidebar.
• Click on Start: In this panel, you’ll see toggles that control which elements appear in the Start menu.
• Toggle off “Show recently added apps” and “Show recently opened items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer”: Turning both settings off will remove most, if not all, content from the Recommended panel.

It is important to note that, at the time of writing, even when fully disabled, the Start menu may still show some placeholder or hardcoded recommendations (for system tips or newly installed core apps). Microsoft could revisit this in future releases, so ongoing feedback from users remains crucial.

Emptying the Recommended Section: What’s Possible?​

While users can clear items or disable suggestions, Windows 11 does not currently provide a one-click “Clear All” button for the Recommended list. Each item must be removed individually, or the feature disabled as described above. Some registry edits and group policy tweaks have circulated online, claiming to further restrict or erase the Recommended section, but such measures carry risks. Microsoft neither documents nor supports these, and improper registry edits can have adverse side effects.

Critical Analysis: Strengths and Weaknesses​

Strengths of Windows 11’s Approach​

• User Control: By enabling users to remove individual items, Windows affords granular control, allowing for curation without wholesale erasure of productivity features.
• Simple Interface: The right-click-to-remove paradigm is consistent with UI patterns across Windows, making it immediately familiar.
• Comprehensive Settings: The ability to globally disable recommendations means privacy-conscious individuals and organizations can lock down devices with relatively little effort.
• No Impact on Files: Removing an item from Recommended never deletes or changes the file itself, ensuring actions are non-destructive.

Potential Risks and Persistent Frustrations​

• No Full “Clear All” Option: Users managing large volumes of files or shared devices may find it tedious to manually remove dozens of entries—an oversight for those who demand swift workflow changes.
• Surface-level Privacy: Disabling recommendations does not erase underlying usage data or recently opened item histories elsewhere in the OS, such as in Jump Lists or File Explorer.
• Lack of Advanced Customization: Power users may wish for rules-based filtering (e.g., never show items from specified folders), which is currently unavailable without resorting to unsupported tweaks.
• Inconsistent Experience Across Devices: Organizational policies, Active Directory settings, and consumer versions of Windows 11 may differ in how much Recommended behavior can be controlled.

Privacy Considerations for Home and Enterprise​

For families and shared household PCs, the Recommended list can reveal personal work, school, or recreational activities. While the right-click menu covers quick removals, shared laptops or presentations present real privacy risks—especially if settings are forgotten or overlooked. Enterprise users, meanwhile, encounter more robust group policies that can disable recommendations for all endpoints, but these are not universally accessible in home editions of Windows 11.
IT administrators should note: Disabling the “Show recently opened items” setting not only affects the Start menu but also impacts Jump Lists, potentially altering user expectations across the OS. Documentation on this interdependence is clear but easily missed by non-technical users.

Comparing Windows 11 With Previous Windows Start Menus​

Windows 10 included a less prominent “Recently Added” section, but the push towards AI-powered recommendations and smart surfacing is stronger in Windows 11. The shift has put a premium on contextually aware features. While many praise the smarter Start menu, the loss of some legacy Start menu customizations frustrates longtime power users—among them, the inability to fully dictate what appears where.
Third-party Start menu replacements have grown in popularity specifically due to these limitations. Popular options like StartIsBack and Start11 explicitly offer the ability to hide all traces of recently used items, returning users to a classic Windows 7 layout. These solutions provide alternatives for those unsatisfied with baked-in options.

Troubleshooting Common Issues​

Despite the simplicity of the recommended item removal process, a few glitches occasionally surface:

• Greyed-Out Options: If “Remove from list” is disabled or missing, it may be due to pending updates, corruption of user profiles, or managed policies in effect.
• Items Returning After Removal: Sometimes, certain recommendations persist even after removal. Logging out and back in, or manually clearing recent items in Settings > Privacy & Security > Activity History, may resolve this.
• Failure to Save Preferences: On some devices, the Start menu resets settings after major system updates or profile migrations. Backing up group policies or local settings before updates is recommended.

If issues persist, Microsoft’s troubleshooting guides[1] and the Windows Forum community offer tailored steps for resolving stubborn cases.

Expert Tips and Workarounds​

For users seeking extra privacy, a few additional measures can supplement the built-in mechanisms:

• Clear Activity History: Navigate to Settings > Privacy & Security > Activity History and clear all Windows activity history. This step assists in removing traces from both the Start menu and other personalized sections throughout Windows.
• Edit Group Policies (Pro Editions only): Use the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) to enforce a ban on displaying recently opened files and apps. Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar, then disable “Show recently opened items.” This is particularly effective in managed enterprise scenarios.
• Third-Party Start Menu Apps: If Microsoft’s solutions remain unsatisfactory, third-party tools mentioned earlier provide near-total control.
• Pin or Unpin Apps Strategically: Populate the Pinned section with your most-used apps, reducing reliance on and visibility of the Recommended area.

Microsoft’s Position and Future Directions​

Microsoft, in its insider blogs and support documentation, continues to frame recommendations as a productivity enhancer, and its default state remains “on” for most consumers. Recent updates indicate a careful balancing act: user feedback has pushed for more granular privacy and customization, while the drive for seamless integration and AI-powered suggestions grows.
Tech industry analysts expect further developments. With the integration of AI, including Copilot features and context-aware assistance, the Start menu’s intelligence quotient is only likely to rise. In response, Microsoft will face ongoing pressure to ensure privacy controls advance in step. Early insider builds of future Windows updates suggest that more flexible toggles may soon be introduced—a move welcomed by privacy-conscious users.

Conclusion: Tailoring Your Windows 11 Experience​

The Recommended section in the Windows 11 Start menu can be either a helpful shortcut or a persistent annoyance, depending on your workflow and personal priorities. While the lack of a global “Clear All” function is a sore point, the option to remove individual entries or disable recommendations outright provides effective, if imperfect, options for most.
For those seriously invested in privacy—or simply craving a minimalist look—mastering these settings is now an essential part of setting up a Windows 11 machine. As Microsoft continues to innovate with a focus on AI and user-centric features, continual user feedback will shape how customizable and private the Start menu remains in the years ahead.
In summary, clearing the Recommended section in Windows 11 is a straightforward but sometimes tedious process. For now, the simplest approach remains right-clicking each unwanted entry and selecting “Remove from list,” or toggling privacy settings to disable the feature. Advanced users and organizations can leverage policy and third-party tools to take control further. Regardless of your choice, staying informed and regularly auditing your system’s recommendations will ensure a Windows 11 environment that aligns with your values—and keeps your digital life both efficient and private.

---

Source: Analytics Insight How to Clear Recommended Section in Windows 11 Start Menu