When a new user logs into a Windows 11 machine for the first time, or after a major feature update, the operating system interrupts the workflow with a full-screen “First Run Experience” (often branded as the “Welcome Experience”). This multi-page prompt encourages users to link an Android phone, sign up for Microsoft 365, purchase Xbox Game Pass, or configure Microsoft Edge. In an enterprise environment, a school computer lab, or on dedicated kiosk machines, this onboarding screen is highly disruptive, confusing for standard users, and delays productivity as they are forced to click “Skip” through multiple advertising pages.
This guide explains how to completely disable the First Run Experience system-wide using the Group Policy Editor in Windows 11, ensuring users boot directly to a clean desktop.
Disable First Run Experience via Group Policy
To enforce a strict block that prevents the operating system from launching the full-screen welcome prompts after updates or upon new user creation, we must deploy an administrative template. Note that this requires Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education editions.
- Log into Windows 11 with an Administrator account.
- Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run dialogue box.
- Type
gpedit.mscand press Enter to launch the Local Group Policy Editor. - In the left-hand navigation pane, strictly follow this exact path:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Logon - In the right-hand pane, locate the policy named Turn off the “Welcome Experience” (or “Show first sign-in animation” depending on the specific update prompt you wish to block; ideally, disable both). Let’s specifically target the Welcome Experience: locate Turn off the Windows Welcome Experience.
- Double-click the policy to open its configuration window.
- Select the radio button next to Enabled. (Note: You must Enable the policy to turn off the feature).
- Click Apply, then click OK.
Verify the Configuration Lockdown
To enforce the change immediately across the system without requiring a full reboot, open an elevated Command Prompt and execute gpupdate /force.
To verify the restriction is active, navigate to Settings > System > Notifications. Scroll down to the bottom of the list and expand the “Additional settings” dropdown. The checkbox for “Show the Windows welcome experience after updates and occasionally when I sign in to highlight what’s new and suggested” will be forcibly unchecked and managed by your organization. Users will no longer be interrupted by full-screen promotional onboarding screens.