When Microsoft redesigned the Start Menu for Windows 11, they introduced a large section at the bottom called “Recommendations.” This section uses algorithms to suggest recently opened files, newly installed applications, and even generic tips from Microsoft. Because it takes up a full half of the Start Menu’s real estate, it leaves significantly less room for your pinned, favourite applications.
If you prefer a clean, minimalist workspace, or if you use a shared computer and do not want your recently opened documents broadcasted every time you press the Windows key, you can completely turn off these algorithmic suggestions. While you cannot entirely remove the blank space left behind, you can stop Windows from populating it with files.
Disabling Start Menu Recommendations in Settings
The controls for the Start Menu’s layout are located within the Personalisation section of the main Windows Settings app.
- Click the Start button on your taskbar.
- Click the Settings icon (the gear). If it is not pinned, you can type “Settings” into the search bar.
- In the left-hand sidebar of the Settings window, click on Personalisation.
- Scroll down the main panel and click on Start.
- At the top of this menu, you will see a Layout section. Select the More pins option to physically shrink the size of the Recommendations area.
- Below the Layout section, you will see three distinct toggle switches:
- Show recently added apps
- Show most used apps
- Show recently opened items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer
- Click all three toggle switches to Off.
The changes take effect immediately. When you open your Start Menu now, the bottom half will be completely empty, and no recent files or algorithmic suggestions will appear. You will only see the applications that you have deliberately chosen to pin to the top half of the menu.