The recommended content in the computer's "Start" menu is often considered by users to be a distraction, but it can actually be turned off through several technical means. This reflects the operating system's balance problem between personalization and simplicity.
Modify the registry to turn off recommendations
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsExplorer
A straightforward but cautious approach is accomplished by modifying the Windows registry. The first step is to press the Win + R keys on the keyboard and type specific commands in the run box to open the registry editor. Next, you need to manually navigate to the deep path of the system registry, which is usually below the items related to the user interface experience.
If the specified item cannot be found in this path, the user must manually create a new item and name it accurately. After the new creation is completed, create a DWORD value of a specific type in the right pane, and set its name and data according to the guidelines. In addition, you have to access another registry path and repeat similar operations to create another DWORD value. After all modifications are completed, you must restart the computer for them to take effect.
Use terminal commands to achieve
For users who are accustomed to the command line, using the Windows terminal is a more efficient option. It is extremely important to open the terminal program as an administrator. This can ensure that the command has sufficient permissions to modify the system settings. After opening the terminal, you may need to switch to the traditional command prompt environment to perform subsequent steps.
The user needs to enter two system commands with specific functions in sequence one by one. This function is similar to modifying the registry, but it can be achieved directly through the command. After the command is successfully executed, the entire Windows 11 operating system must be restarted. After the restart is completed, the layout of the Start menu will change, and the parts that originally contained recommended applications and files will no longer be displayed.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftPolicyManagercurrentdeviceEducation
With PowerShell tools
As a powerful scripting tool, PowerShell can also achieve the goal of closing recommended areas. First, you have to start the Windows terminal with administrator rights. At this time, the default environment is often the PowerShell environment. In this environment, you can directly enter the corresponding PowerShell script to perform the operation.
This command will modify the system's group policy or related configurations, thereby affecting the display logic of the start menu. This method is essentially the same as adjusting the underlying settings of the system, but it is achieved with the help of a more advanced script interface. After the operation is completed, check the start menu and you will usually see the changes immediately. However, sometimes you also need to restart the file explorer or the entire system.
Create and import registry files
For those users who do not want to manually operate the registry, they can create a registry file (.reg file) containing specific registry settings, and then use it to achieve the corresponding settings with one click. First, open the Notepad program carried by the system itself, and then create a new blank text document. Then, the contents of the specific registry code are accurately entered in the document, and these codes actually clearly specify the key value that needs to be added or modified.
After you start typing, you need to save the text document. The key step is to change the original default .txt suffix to the .reg suffix. The file has been saved intact. Find the file in the resource manager, double-click it to run it, and follow the prompts given by the system to confirm the import. The system will merge these settings into the registry to achieve the same effect as manual modification. This method is suitable for batch deployment or backup settings.
Comparison of the principles of different methods
These methods have different operation forms, but the ultimate goal is to modify the same set of configurations that control the start menu behavior in the Windows system. The registry is the database used by Windows to store core settings. Modifying it directly is the most fundamental way. Terminal commands and PowerShell scripts use the command line interface provided by the system to indirectly perform read and write operations on these registry key values.
The .reg file is essentially a registry script, which contains modification instructions to be executed. It is automatically parsed and executed by the system when double-clicked. From a security perspective, manually modifying the registry carries the greatest risk. If the operation is incorrect, it may cause system problems. Relatively speaking, it is generally more stable and safe to use commands or script files that have been verified in advance.
Precautions before operation
Before starting any modifications, it is highly recommended to create a restore point for the current system or back up important data. For those users who are not familiar with registry editing related operations, they should give priority to using commands or scripts. If the computer belongs to a company or organization's network domain, some settings are likely to be overridden by Group Policy, resulting in modifications that lose their effectiveness.
When you want to restore the original state after completing the modification, you can take the opposite direction, or directly delete the newly created registry entry. Some third-party system optimization tools also provide graphical interfaces to switch this function on and off. Knowing these methods will allow users to more autonomously control the experience of using their computers and reduce unnecessary interference.
When customizing your own computer system settings, which method do you generally prefer, using graphical interface tools, command line, or directly modifying the registry? Welcome to share your experience and reasons in the comment area. If you find this article helpful, please give it a like and support.
reg add HKCUSOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsExplorer /v HideRecommendedSection /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f reg add HKLMSOFTWAREMicrosoftPolicyManagercurrentdeviceEducation /v IsEducationEnvironment /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
