How to Add or Remove Account Picture Menu on Start Menu in Windows 11
This guide explains how to add or remove the account picture menu from your Start screen in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Open Windows Terminal as administrator and use a reg add command. Enter “0” as the value to add the menu, or “1” to remove it.
What is the Account Picture Menu?
The account picture menu on your Windows 11 Start menu is that little picture at the top, letting you quickly get to account settings, lock your PC, sign out, or switch users.
To remove the account picture menu from the Windows 11 Start menu, users can take action to hide this specific feature entirely. This action prevents the account picture from appearing in the Start menu area.
New Feature in Recent 🪟 Windows 11 Updates
Windows 11 build 26100.7922, a component of the 24H2 version, introduced a new account menu option. This specific account menu option now links directly to the Microsoft account benefits page at https://account.microsoft.com/. The inclusion of this direct link simplifies exploring and managing user Microsoft account benefits.
How to Add or Remove the Account Picture Menu
The account picture menu on the Windows 11 Start menu simplifies the interface. Users may want to remove the account picture menu to make the Start menu cleaner. Alternatively, users may want to add the account picture menu if the account picture is not appearing.
What happens? Removing the account picture menu hides the user tile from your Start menu. Adding it shows the menu again.
What You Need
- Administrator access to your computer
⚠️ Admin Required: You’ll need administrator access to make these changes.
Steps
- Open the Windows Terminal app as an administrator.
- Run one of the commands below, depending on what you want to do.
Add Account Picture Menu to Start Menu
This is the default setting.
reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\default\Start\HideUserTile" /v value /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /fRemove Account Picture Menu from Start Menu
reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\default\Start\HideUserTile" /v value /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /fLearn More
For more information, see Start Policy CSP and learn more about the Start Area in Policy CSP on docs.microsoft.com.
Summary
The account picture menu on your Windows 11 Start menu offers quick access to your account settings and sign-out options, but you can hide it using a command in Windows Terminal if you prefer.
Where are user account pictures stored in 🪟 Windows 11?
User account pictures in Windows 11 are stored in a hidden folder at 📁C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\User Account Pictures, and your current profile image is also cached in your user profile’s AppData folder.
How can you change the profile picture of a user account in 🪟 Windows 11?
You can change your user account profile picture in Windows 11 by opening Settings, going to Accounts, then Your info, and choosing a new photo from your computer or taking one with your webcam.
How to find out where the photo was taken for Windows?
To find out where Windows Spotlight lock screen photos were taken, look in the hidden Assets folder within the ContentDeliveryManager package, then copy, rename to .jpg, and use a reverse image search.
How do I add a picture to my login screen in 🪟 Windows 11?
Adding a picture to your Windows 11 login screen is done through Settings > Accounts > Your info, where you can upload an image or take a photo to use as your account picture.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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