How to Disable or Enable Welcome Experience in Windows 11
- 3 ways to do it
- Needs administrator rights
- Group Policy needs Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise or Education
- Includes a restart or sign-out
The Welcome Experience in Windows 11 shows full-screen setup prompts and tips after major system updates finish installing. These screens push new features or ask you to finish setting up your PC. They usually appear once after a feature update, and sometimes again at sign-in.
Turning off this feature lets you skip the nag screens so your desktop loads straight away after an update. You need an Administrator account on your PC to change this setting. This guide covers three methods: the Settings app, the Registry Editor and Local Group Policy Editor. Start with Settings, since it is the simplest and works on every edition.
Open Settings (Win+I), go to System Notifications, scroll to the bottom and untick “Show me the Windows welcome experience after updates and occasionally when I sign in.” The change takes effect immediately, with no restart needed, and applies only to your account. Windows 11 Home, Pro, Enterprise and Education all support this method.
Method 1Settings App (Standard Users)
- Open Settings (Win+I). The Settings window opens with the list of categories on the left.
- Navigate to System Notifications. You should now see the master notifications switch at the top and a list of apps below it.
- Scroll to the bottom and uncheck Show me the Windows welcome experience after updates and occasionally when I sign in. The box should now be empty. The wording can differ slightly between Windows 11 builds, but it is always the checkbox about the welcome experience. The change applies straight away, so you don’t need to restart.
Method 2Registry Editor (Power Users)
Registry Editor lets you turn off the Windows 11 welcome experience by modifying a specific registry key when you cannot access the standard settings menu. This advanced method requires administrator privileges and changes the ContentDeliveryManager key to block post-update setup screens permanently across your user profile. It works on every edition, Home included. Because the value sits in your own user profile, it affects only the account you are signed in with.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ContentDeliveryManager
Locate the SubscribedContent-310093Enabled DWORD value (a specific type of registry entry used to store numerical settings). It sits in the right-hand pane once the ContentDeliveryManager key is selected in the left-hand pane, as shown above. Its Type column should read REG_DWORD. If you can’t find it, check that you opened the right key.
Double-click the value and change its data to 0 to turn off the feature. In the Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value box that opens, type 0 in the Value data field and click OK. The value should now show 0 in the Data column. Sign out and back in, or restart the PC, so the change takes effect. To turn the welcome experience back on, set the data back to 1.
Method 3Group Policy (Enterprise & IT Admins)
Local Group Policy Editor allows system administrators to disable the Windows 11 welcome experience across multiple machines using domain management tools. You open the policy editor through the Run dialog, locate the Windows Welcome Experience folder under administrative templates, and turn on the policy to block setup screens for every user.
This method does not work on Windows 11 Home. Home does not include the Local Group Policy Editor. Use the Settings or registry method instead. On Pro, Enterprise and Education, the policy applies to every user on the PC, not just your account.
- Press Win+R, type
gpedit.msc, and hit Enter. The Local Group Policy Editor window opens. If a User Account Control prompt appears, click Yes. - Navigate to Computer Configuration Administrative Templates Windows Components Windows Welcome Experience. Expand each folder in the left pane. The policies in that folder appear in the right pane.
- Enable the policy: Turn off Windows Welcome Experience. Double-click it, select Enabled, then click Apply and OK. The policy’s State column should now read Enabled. Restart the PC, or sign out and back in, to make sure it applies. To undo this, set the policy back to Not Configured.
Troubleshooting Persistent Pop-ups
If the screen persists, verify that AllowWindowsConsumerFeatures is disabled in your registry under 🗝️HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\
Summary
Turning off the Windows 11 welcome experience is achievable through the Settings app, Registry Editor, or Group Policy. Settings is the easiest and works on every edition. The registry works on Home too. Group Policy suits Pro, Enterprise and Education PCs where you want one setting for all users. Whichever you pick, reverse it by checking the box again, setting the registry value back to 1, or setting the policy to Not Configured.
Frequently asked questions
Why am I being forced to use Windows Hello?
Windows Hello is usually required because a work, school, or device policy enforces it. Personal PCs rarely force it. During setup, you can often skip the prompt. Later, go to Settings Accounts Sign-in options and turn on a password or PIN instead. If an organization manages your PC, its administrator controls this setting.
What are the key features of the Windows operating system?
Windows is a desktop operating system that runs your apps, manages files and hardware, and connects to the internet. Its main features include the Start menu, the taskbar, File Explorer for managing files, Windows Update for security fixes, Microsoft Store for apps, Microsoft Edge for browsing, and Settings for changing how your PC works.
What happens if you disable telemetry?
Disabling telemetry stops Windows from sending optional usage and diagnostic data to Microsoft. Your PC keeps working normally. You may see fewer personalized tips, and Microsoft gets less information for fixing bugs. On Windows 11 Home and Pro, the lowest setting still sends required diagnostic data, so you cannot block all of it in Settings.
Do you press F8 or F12 for safe mode?
Neither key reliably works on Windows 11. Older versions of Windows used F8. To start Safe Mode, hold Shift while you click Restart. Then choose Troubleshoot Advanced options Startup Settings Restart, and press 4 or F4 when the list appears.
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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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