How To Clean Up Windows 11 System Recommendations And Offers

Step 1Clean Up the Start Menu Recommendations

To clean up Start menu ⊞ recommendations in Windows 11, open Settings ⚙️, click Personalization, select Start, and turn off the switches for showing recently added apps, most used apps, and recent items. This stops Windows from cluttering your menu with suggested files and apps you do not use.

Select Personalization from the menu on the left side of the screen.

Click on Start from the available options on the right.

Turn off the toggle switches next to options like Show recently added apps, Show most used apps, and Show recommendations for tips, shortcuts, new apps, and more.

Once you turn these off, the bottom portion of your Start menu will display only your pinned applications, giving you a much cleaner layout.

Step 2Stop Promotional Notifications in the Settings App

To stop promotional notifications in the Windows 11 Settings app, open Settings, go to System, click Notifications, scroll to the very bottom, and uncheck the boxes for getting suggestions and welcome tips. This gets rid of annoying banners asking you to finish setup or back up files.

windows 11 notifications tile

Go to the System tab on the left, then click on Notifications on the right.

Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the Notifications page and click to expand the Additional settings section.

Uncheck the boxes next to Show me the welcome experience after updates and occasionally when I sign in to highlight what's new and suggested and Get tips and suggestions when using Windows.

Step 3Remove Ads and Tips from File Explorer

To remove ads and tips from File Explorer in Windows 11, open any folder, click the three dots at the top, select Options, go to the View tab, and uncheck the box for showing sync provider notifications. This stops annoying cloud service prompts from appearing above your drives.

Launch File Explorer by clicking its taskbar icon or pressing Windows Key + E.

Click on the three horizontal dots (See more) icon at the top of the window, then select Options.

In the Folder Options window that appears, click on the View tab at the top.

Scroll down the list of advanced settings until you find Show sync provider notifications.

Uncheck the box next to Show sync provider notifications.

Click Apply, then click OK to save your changes.

Step 4Clear Up Lock Screen Suggestions

To clear up lock screen suggestions in Windows 11, open Settings, click Personalization, select Lock screen, and change the background from Windows Spotlight to a picture or slideshow. This stops promotional pictures, fun facts, and weather updates from showing up every time your computer locks.

Open the Settings app by pressing Windows Key + I.

Select Personalization from the left menu, then click on Lock screen on the right.

Look for the setting labeled Personalize your lock screen.

Change the drop-down menu from Windows spotlight to Picture or Slideshow.

Uncheck the box next to Get fun facts, tips, tricks, and more on your lock screen if it remains visible.

Step 5Disable Tailored Experiences and Diagnostic Data

To disable tailored experiences and diagnostic data in Windows 11, open Settings, click Privacy & security, go to Diagnostics & feedback, and turn off the switch for tailored experiences. This stops Microsoft from using your computer usage history to generate targeted offers and tips.

Open the Settings app by pressing Windows Key + I.

Select Privacy & security from the left-hand menu.

Click on Diagnostics & feedback on the right.

Expand the Tailored experiences section.

Turn off the toggle switch next to Let Microsoft use your diagnostic data—excluding info about your browser—to provide you with personalized tips, ads, and recommendations.

Step 6Unique Expert Tip — Managing Background Apps and Startup Programs

To manage background apps and startup programs in Windows 11, open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc, click the Startup apps tab on the left, and disable any programs you do not need to run automatically. This stops unnecessary software from slowing down your computer when it turns on.

To stop unnecessary programs from running as soon as your computer turns on:

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open the Task Manager.

You can click on the Startup apps icon, which looks like a small gauge or speedometer, located on the left menu of the settings window. Finding this specific icon matters because you need to open the startup apps list to stop unwanted programs from running in the background when your computer turns on, which helps your Windows 11 system run faster.

Review the list of applications that launch automatically when you turn on your PC.

Right-click any app you do not need running immediately in the background and select Disable.

Turning off Windows 11 system recommendations keeps your system resources free and stops annoying pop-up ads from appearing right after you sign in to your computer. Stopping these unwanted offers matters because disabling Windows 11 system recommendations frees up memory and stops distractions, letting you get to work right away without closing extra windows.

Step 7Unique Expert Tip — Clearing the System Clipboard

To clear the system clipboard in Windows 11, open Settings, click System, select Clipboard, and click the Clear button next to clipboard data. This deletes the stored history of everything you recently copied and pasted to protect your privacy and reduce clutter.

Open the Settings app by pressing Windows Key + I.

Select System from the left menu, then click on Clipboard on the right.

Locate the Clipboard data section and click the Clear button next to Clear clipboard data.

You can also turn off the Clipboard history toggle switch entirely if you prefer not to store multiple copied items.

Summary

Windows 11 system recommendations and promotional offers can easily be turned off if you find built-in ads and tips distracting while using your computer. Adjusting your start menu preferences, notification settings, and file explorer options gives you a much cleaner, quieter experience without extra Microsoft suggestions getting in your way.