How to Clear the Recommended Section in the Windows 11 Start Menu
The Recommended section in the Windows 11 Start menu sits at the bottom of the menu and shows recently opened files, newly installed apps, and cloud documents. Windows builds this list from your activity history to guess what you want to open next. Update KB5120998 renamed it to Recent, both in the Start menu and on the Settings page.
You can turn the suggestions off in Settings to keep Start clean and private. No restart is needed, and you can reverse every change later.
Open Settings with Win+I, go to Personalization Start, and switch off Show recently added apps, Show recently opened items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer, and Show recommendations for tips, shortcuts, new apps, and more. The Recommended section (called Recent after update KB5120998) empties straight away, and no restart is needed.
What Is the Start Menu Made Of?
The Windows 11 Start menu has three parts that help you reach programs and files quickly:
- Pinned – apps you choose to keep handy
- All apps – a list of all your installed programs
- Recommended (called Recent after KB5120998) – shows your recently added apps, files, and websites
These steps work the same on Windows 11 Home and Pro. Menu wording can differ slightly between builds, so if a label on your PC is a little different, pick the closest match.
Steps to Clear the Recommended Section
- Open Settings. Press
Win + Ion your keyboard. The Settings window should open. - Go to the Start page. Click Personalization in the left-hand menu, then click Start on the right. Microsoft lists the path for PCs with KB5120998 as Settings Personalize Start, so the left-hand item may read Personalize on your PC. You should now see the Start options, including layout choices and several switches.
- Change the layout. Under Layout, select More pins. The Recommended (or Recent) section gets smaller and the Pinned area gets more room. This step is optional, but it makes the Start menu look much cleaner. To undo it, choose Default here.
- Turn off the options. Click each switch so it reads Off for these three options:
- Show recently added apps
- Show recently opened items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer
- Show recommendations for tips, shortcuts, new apps, and more
- Close Settings. Close the Settings window when you are done. Open the Start menu to check the result.
That’s it. The Recommended section (now named Recent on PCs with KB5120998) no longer fills up with new items, and your Start menu looks cleaner.
If a switch is greyed out, your PC is probably managed by an organization, such as a work or school account, and a policy is controlling it. In that case, ask your IT administrator. To bring the suggestions back, return to the same page and turn the switches back On.
What Happens When You’re Done?
With these options off, the section stops showing recent apps, files, or websites, and it stays empty. The Start menu looks less busy. Windows also stops surfacing your recent activity there, which helps if other people use or look at your screen.
Want to Learn More?
If you want to learn more about customizing the Windows 11 Start menu, you can visit the official Microsoft guide here: Customize the Windows 11 Start Menu.
Summary
- Open Settings and go to Settings Personalization Start (listed by Microsoft as Settings Personalize Start after KB5120998)
- Set the layout to More pins to shrink the Recommended (Recent) area
- Turn off all the options to stop showing recent apps, files, websites, and tips
- Turn the switches back on at any time if you want the suggestions back
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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