The Start Menu Clutter
The Windows 11 Start Menu is divided into two main sections: your pinned icons at the top, and a “Recommended” section at the bottom. By default, Microsoft uses this Recommended section to show you your recently opened files and recently installed programs. However, Windows 11 also uses this valuable screen real estate to automatically “suggest” third-party apps, games, and Microsoft Store advertisements that you have never installed. This turns your primary launcher into a billboard and clutters your workflow.
How to Disable App Suggestions
You can turn off these promotional suggestions in the main Windows settings, ensuring the Recommended section only shows files you actually own and use.
1. Click the Start button, type Settings, and press Enter.
2. In the left-hand sidebar, click on Personalization.
3. In the main pane, scroll down and click on Start.
4. You will see several toggle switches controlling the Start Menu’s behavior.
5. Locate the toggle switch labelled Show recommendations for tips, shortcuts, new apps, and more.
6. Click this toggle switch to turn it Off.
Maximizing Your Pinned Area
Even after turning off the advertisements and suggestions, the “Recommended” section still takes up half the physical space of the Start Menu panel, leaving a massive empty gray box if you also disabled recent files. To fix this layout issue, look at the very top of the same Personalization > Start settings page. Under the “Layout” header, click the box labelled More pins. This shrinks the Recommended section down to a tiny sliver at the bottom, allowing you to add dozens of additional rows for your own pinned application icons.