How to Hide the Recommended Section in Windows 11 Start Menu

How to hide the "Recommended" section in the Windows 11 Start menu

The Start menu in Windows 11 has undergone a facelift: it looks modern, neat and does a pretty good job of organizing applications. The top part focuses on pinned icons, and the bottom part... well. This is where "Recommended" comes in - a place that arouses more emotions than Cortana at the premiere.

For some it makes things easier. For others: an annoying list of things they don't want to see every time they click Start.

What is this section and why is it so controversial?

Microsoft meant well. Seriously. The "Recommended" section is intended to make life easier: it shows recently opened documents, recently installed applications and everything that - theoretically - may be useful. In practice? Sometimes it shows a file you edited at 2:37 in the morning and you don't necessarily want to show it to your roommates.

On a computer shared by several people, this "feature" turns into a potential minefield. Privacy? Quick access? Choose wisely.

Some users simply prefer a clean, predictable layout - no prompts, no chaos. Minimalism has its fans, and they are hardly surprised.

Step by Step: How to Turn Off "Recommended"

Ready? It takes less than a minute and requires no registry magic or key combinations.

Open the Start menu and right-click on the empty space between the pinned icons and the "All Apps" button. Select "Start Menu Settings" from the menu. The system will take you straight to the appropriate section in the Settings app.

There, disable all three options:
- "Show recently added applications"
- "Show most frequently used applications"
- "Show recommended items in the Start menu"

Additionally, you can also enter the File Explorer settings and disable "recent files" and the content of jump lists (i.e. the context menu that expands after right-clicking button).

It's not witchcraft. It's just clicks. But the difference is colossal.

What if I turn it off? This is how the

layout changes When you turn off "Recommended", this section still physically exists in the Start menu - but it remains blank. It does not display applications, documents or files that previously landed there without asking.

Effect? More space for pinned apps. Less visual noise. And one less click to worry about "can anyone see that I recently opened [insert file whose name you don't want to translate here]?"

Although it is impossible to completely remove the "Recommended" block itself (at least without messing around with the system registry), its lack of content makes a huge difference. The start menu stops looking like a digital bulletin board - and looks more like a personalized launcher. Which is exactly what most of us want.

Key Takeaways

• The "Recommended" section may reveal recently opened files - which is not always desirable
• It can be cleared of content without having to dig around the system
• It takes 30 seconds to turn off and effectively improves the clarity of the Start menu
• Although the "Recommended" frame remains, the emptiness inside gives a sense of greater control
• For fans of minimalism - this is one of the easiest interface optimizations in Windows 11

Do you want more tips like this?

If you like your system to work neatly, without unnecessary "surprises", it is worth following the next tips and tricks. Minimalism is not a fad - it is comfort that stays with you for a long time.

Save this article or send it to a friend who clicks Start with their eyes closed. Your Start menu. Your choice.