Key Points
- Manage recommended websites via Start menu personalization options or registry configuration.
- Use Settings to Disable Start Menu Website Recommendations: Settings → Personalization → Start; toggle web suggestions Off.
- Enforce Recommended Websites via Registry: In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced → Start_ShowWebRecommendations, set DWORD to 0 (disable) or 1 (enable); restart Explorer.
- Verify the changes by reopening the Start menu and confirming that the recommendations no longer appear.
- The Start Menu recommended website setup can reduce clutter and control web-based suggestions.
A clean Start menu experience is often preferred because it reduces visual clutter, supporting a smoother workflow and controlled interactions. For users and administrators, this guide provides instructions on how to disable recommended websites in Windows 11 and maintain a more focused Start menu layout.
Deactivate recommended websites in the Start menu
Some configuration methods require elevated permissions and may not be available on all builds. Ensure you have a Windows 11 device with access to the Start menu’s personalization settings, including administrator rights for registry configuration.
Method 1: Disable or enable recommended websites using Settings
This method is best suited for quickly adjusting Start menu behavior without advanced configuration.
- Open Settings → Personalization.
- Click Start, then locate Show websites from your browsing history or Show recommendations for tips, shortcuts, new apps, and more (depending on the Windows 11 version).
- Toggle the setting Off to remove recommended websites or On to allow them.
You may also consider disabling related Start menu recommendations:
- Show recently added apps
- Show recently opened items
- Show recommendations for tips, shortcuts, new apps, and more
Verification: Open the Start menu to confirm that website recommendations are inactive.
Method 2: Disable recommended websites using the registry
This method provides stronger enforcement for users who want the setting to persist or be applied through scripts or management tools.
- Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
- Navigate to or copy and paste the following path to the Registry address bar. If the path is incomplete, create the required key.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
- Create or modify the DWORD (32-bit) value named Start_RecoPersonalizedSites.
- Set the value to 0 to disable recommended websites or 1 to enable suggestions.
- Restart Explorer.exe or sign out and back in to ensure the Start menu reflects the change.
This registry value directly controls the same setting exposed in the Start menu personalization options for the current user. With that in mind, registry values can be targeted using a script and an RMM to ensure consistent behavior across managed environments.
Remove the Recommended section in the Start menu
If you want to remove the Recommended section entirely, view our separate guide for clearing the Start menu’s Recommended section.
Common issues and troubleshooting
Here are some common issues to watch out for if the Start menu behavior becomes unstable.
| Issue | Troubleshooting |
| Recommended websites reappear after a restart | Verify Start menu settings and confirm no policies or management tools are reapplying recommendations |
| Option missing in Settings | Update Windows 11 to the latest build and review available Start menu recommendation controls |
| Registry changes have no effect | Restart explorer.exe or sign out and sign back in to refresh the Start menu |
| Start menu shows empty spacing | Manually remove existing recommended items to force a Start menu refresh |
| Start menu options are hidden by an administrator | Review Group Policy, MDM, or provisioning packages enforcing Start menu restrictions |
Build differences, policy enforcement, or cloud-based settings may also affect deployment and troubleshooting strategies.
Configure the Start menu for user experience and compliance
Turning off website recommendations is one way to keep the Start menu interactions predictable and free from unnecessary content. With that said, it’s important to use a configuration method that ensures changes persist across restarts and updates, especially in managed environments where policies and individual settings may occasionally overlap. For enterprise IT and MSPs, an RMM solution can provide additional flexibility and centralized control as environments scale.
Related topics:
- How to Restart the Start Menu Process in Windows 11
- How to Add or Remove Recently Added Apps on the Start Menu
- How to Deploy a Custom Start Menu Layout Using PowerShell and XML
- How to Clear the Recommended Section in the Start Menu in Windows 11
- How to Add or Remove the Sign Out Option from the Start Menu in Windows 10/11
