The Windows 11 Start menu, continuing the evolution of Microsoft’s iconic interface, introduces a new organizational structure split between “Pinned” shortcuts at the top and a lower “Recommended” section. While the pinned area offers the traditional familiarity of quick-access tiles, it’s the recommended section—showing recently opened files and frequently used applications—that has emerged as a particularly polarizing feature among users.
For many, this lower portion of the Start menu serves up a curated glimpse of recent activity, ostensibly to streamline workflow and reduce the friction of locating ongoing projects or regularly accessed files. However, for a significant portion of the Windows 11 user base, the “Recommended” section crosses that fine line between helpful suggestion and unwanted intrusion, sometimes displaying random or irrelevant files and cluttering an otherwise tidy workspace. The outcry has been especially strong from privacy-conscious individuals and power users who value a clean, predictable environment or who simply prefer managing their application and document access themselves.
Understanding Windows 11’s Start Menu Evolution
The Start menu’s development offers a window into Microsoft’s broader vision of modern desktop productivity. Under CEO Satya Nadella’s leadership, Windows has aimed to serve a wide spectrum of preferences, blending visual dynamism with context-sensitive suggestions. Yet, as feedback has consistently shown, not all users are seeking the same degree of machine-driven “helpfulness.”At its core, Windows 11’s Start menu consists of two main sections:
- Pinned: The traditional grid for user-selected app shortcuts.
- Recommended: An automatically generated list of files, folders, and apps based on recent and frequent activity.
Why Remove the “Recommended” Section?
Several factors drive users to seek the removal or suppression of this feature:- Privacy concerns: By surfacing recently accessed files, the recommended area can inadvertently reveal sensitive information to anyone glancing at the screen.
- Aesthetic preference: Some users feel that the extra clutter breaks the “minimalist” look of the Start menu.
- Efficiency: Experienced users often have established navigation shortcuts—using search, keyboard commands, or pinned tiles—making automated recommendations redundant or distracting.
- Consistency: Especially in professional settings, some organizations prefer a uniform, controlled Start menu appearance across multiple devices.
How to Remove the “Recommended” Section: Step-by-Step
Fortunately, Microsoft has provided a way to disable most of this automated content, making the “Recommended” area effectively disappear for those who desire a cleaner look. These options are available natively, without the need for third-party tools or registry edits.Step 1: Open the Start Menu and Access Start Settings
- Right-click the empty space between the ‘Pinned’ section and the ‘All apps’ button in the upper portion of the Start menu.
- In the context menu that appears, select Start settings. This action will bring up the related configuration panel in the Windows Settings app.
Step 2: Adjust the Recommended Content
Within the Start settings page, look for the configuration sliders controlling Start menu suggestions. Typically, they include the following:- Show recently added apps
- Show the most used apps
- Show recommended files in Start, recent files in File Explorer and items in Jump Lists
Step 3: Evaluate the Results
Once the above options are toggled off, the lower “Recommended” area of the Start menu will either become empty or display minimal content. Notably, as reported by several reputable sources such as The Star and DPA, this method does not remove the section entirely but will clear it of any populated suggestions or recent files. Instead, the freed-up space expands the “Pinned” apps grid, slightly increasing the number of shortcut slots and creating a cleaner overall appearance.Potential Limitations and Workarounds
While Microsoft has complied with user demand by offering granular control over Start menu recommendations, the solution isn’t perfect. Some users have noted that the section itself—though emptied—remains visually present, leading to lingering dissatisfaction for those who desire its complete eradication. There’s no simple native toggle to remove the recommended section’s frame entirely as of the most recent Windows 11 updates.Third-Party Tools and Registry Hacks
A nontrivial portion of the enthusiast community has turned toward unofficial workarounds in search of a more thorough solution. Popular third-party Start menu replacements—such as StartAllBack, Open-Shell, or StartIsBack—restore older menu layouts, bypassing the Windows 11 interface altogether. These solutions generally offer granular customization, allowing for the full removal of unwanted UI elements. However, they introduce potential risks:- Compatibility: Updates to Windows 11 may break or restrict third-party utilities, requiring regular tool updates.
- Security: Sideloaded tools from lesser-known developers increase exposure to malware or system instability.
- Support: Microsoft may decline to troubleshoot issues arising from modified or replaced user interfaces.
Broader Implications for Customization in Windows
The controversy around the “Recommended” section is emblematic of a deeper tension within modern operating system design: the balance between proactive assistance and user autonomy. Microsoft, like its competitors, aims to anticipate and streamline user actions, leveraging increasing integration of cloud synchronization, AI recommendations, and behavioral analytics.However, strong feedback from long-time Windows users suggests a persistent desire for transparency and control. Numerous support threads, feedback posts, and articles attest to the frustration of having personal work habits “overruled” by system recommendations, especially when those suggestions miss the mark or introduce privacy concerns. This has surfaced especially in environments where workflows are highly predictable or tasks involve sensitive information.
Alternative Customization Strategies
While the quickest path is to disable Start recommendations as outlined above, users looking for a more tailored experience might consider the following complementary measures:- Setting up a more efficient Pinned section: Carefully curating pinned apps can offset the absence of recommendations, keeping the programs and tools you want always at hand.
- Utilizing Windows Search more aggressively: For those missing the quick-jump utility of recommendations, the taskbar search or Windows key search remains both fast and private.
- Group Policy adjustments (for Pro/Education editions): IT administrators can further restrict or preconfigure features using Group Policies within organizations, adding another layer of control over start menu visibility and contents.
Privacy and Enterprise Concerns
For businesses and educational institutions, the recommended files area represents not just a UI nuisance but a genuine compliance and privacy risk. Documents surfaced at the wrong moment can inadvertently reveal confidential details to colleagues or clients. This underscores the importance of administrator-level controls available through Active Directory and Group Policy Management, empowering IT teams to lock down Start menu behavior across large fleets of devices.Microsoft documentation (as of the latest update) details how IT professionals can deploy policies disabling Start menu content recommendations. These measures are particularly valuable in shared computer environments, such as schools, libraries, or open office spaces, where personal file recommendations are not only unhelpful but potentially unsafe.
Feedback and Microsoft’s Response
To its credit, Microsoft has adapted to negative feedback around Windows 11 Start menu’s recommendation features, incrementally expanding user-facing controls via Settings. Major point releases have repeatedly fine-tuned the boundaries of Start menu content, reflecting a willingness to align closer to user sentiment. Nevertheless, the persistence of the “Recommended” section’s basic frame makes clear that the company sees ongoing value in the suggestion feature, perhaps anticipating that future refinements, powered by context-sensitive AI, may find broader user acceptance.Community engagement on official forums and third-party sites remains high. Popular posts on the Feedback Hub and subreddits like r/Windows11 consistently rank requests for further customization and the outright removal of the recommended pane among the most upvoted. This ongoing conversation should pressure Microsoft to continue making Start menu content increasingly user-optional in subsequent updates.
Comparing with Other Platforms
The tension between proactive recommendations and user control is not unique to Windows. Competing desktop interfaces—macOS, for example—emphasize recent files in features like Spotlight and the Apple menu but allow for quick disabling of such features in privacy settings. Desktop Linux environments such as KDE Plasma or GNOME often offer even greater granularity in menu appearance, content, and behavior, at the cost of increased configuration complexity.The mixed response to Windows 11’s Start menu recommendations reveals a persistent split in the market: some users thrive on dynamic content and AI-driven suggestions, while others prioritize predictability and minimalism above all. Microsoft’s ongoing challenge is to cater to both without sacrificing stability or design coherence.
Pros and Cons Recap
Advantages of “Recommended” Section
- Quicker workflows for casual users: Frequent documents and apps are surfaced without effort.
- Discovery: Forgotten files or new programs may receive increased exposure.
- Continuity: Syncs with cloud and cross-device history for ongoing projects.
Disadvantages and Concerns
- Privacy leaks: Recent activity could inadvertently reveal sensitive or personal items.
- Screen clutter: Extra content and tiles impact visual simplicity.
- Lack of control: Some users feel the system is “making decisions for them.”
- Incomplete removal options: Native controls don’t fully hide the section.
Looking Ahead: User-Driven Design and Future Updates
It’s evident that Microsoft’s user base is deeply invested in how their primary navigation hub operates. With strong feedback mechanisms in place and robust competition from alternative tools, pressure remains high for Microsoft to keep rolling out new customization options. If privacy and visual clarity continue to dominate user feedback, it’s not unreasonable to expect future Windows releases—or at least optional feature packs—to offer increased granularity and perhaps even the option to hide the “Recommended” area entirely.In the interim, users can maximize Start menu efficiency and privacy by leveraging the current controls under Start Settings. By toggling off “Show recommended files in Start,” “Show recently added apps,” and “Show the most used apps,” the vast majority of automatic suggestions can be suppressed.
For power users seeking a classic or alternative experience, trusted third-party Start menu applications offer even deeper overhaul possibilities. However, each carries its own risks and compatibility considerations and should be approached with caution and thorough research.
Final Thoughts
The new “Recommended” section in Windows 11’s Start menu encapsulates many of the defining dilemmas of modern interface design: balancing smart recommendations with user control, and offering new features without alienating long-time enthusiasts. Microsoft’s willingness to provide granular settings, even if not yet perfect, represents real progress in user empowerment. As Windows continues to evolve, it’s likely that both the proactive AI-driven and curated minimalist approaches will coexist, giving users the final say on how their digital workspace looks and feels.For now, the process is clear: users dissatisfied with Start menu recommendations can disable nearly all automated content in just a few clicks, restoring sanity—and a touch more space—to Windows’ central navigation hub. As community voices grow ever stronger, the future may well bring even more robust controls. Until then, fine-tuning the Start menu’s behavior is within easy reach for anyone willing to explore the Windows Settings app.
Source: thestar.com.my How to remove the 'recommended' section in the Windows 11 start menu