How to Enable or Disable “Show account-related notifications” on the Start menu in Windows 11

More than likely, you’ve been prompted by various notification badges on your Windows 11 device. As its name suggests, this feature displays badges on the user profile icon, encouraging you to perform recommended actions related to your Microsoft account, such as setting up OneDrive or starting a Microsoft 365 trial. These notification badges are intended to be a simple and convenient way to optimize your workflow, ensuring that you have the most up-to-date products and tools from Microsoft.

That said, they are not always needed or wanted—especially in managed environments. Disabling Microsoft account notifications may even be preferred if your team regularly uses public or shared devices. Doing so not only eliminates clutter but also improves privacy and security.

How to stop “Show account-related notifications”

Before proceeding, make sure you meet the following technical requirements:

• Make sure you have the necessary administrator privileges. If you work in a managed environment, you may need to ask your IT admin to perform these changes for you.
• The instructions listed will only work for Windows 11 build 22621.1344 or newer.
• This feature only applies to personal Microsoft accounts signed into the device.

Method 1: Using Settings (GUI)

This method is suitable for individual users or when manual configuration is acceptable.

1. Press Win + I to launch the Settings app. Alternatively, you can search for Settings in the Windows search bar.
2. In the left sidebar, click on Personalization.
3. Click on Start within the Personalization menu.
4. Locate the option labeled Show account-related notifications and toggle it:

• • On: Enable notification badges.
  • Off: Disable badges and suggestions.

Method 2: Using Group Policy (recommended for IT enterprises)

This method is ideal for managed environments.

1. 1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and click Enter.
   2. Navigate to the policy path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar
   3. Locate and double-click on Disable notification center account badging
   4. Configure as needed:
      • Enabled: Prevents account-related badges on the Start menu.
      • Disabled or Not Configured: Allows notifications to appear

1. Click Ok and run gpudate /force in an elevated Command Prompt to enforce the policy immediately.

Method 3: Using Registry Editor

⚠️ Reminder: Make sure you back up your editor before proceeding. Incorrect configurations can lead to system instability.

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and click Enter.
2. Go to the following path:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
3. Look for the DWORD value HideAccountNotifications. If this doesn’t exist, you’ll need to create one. You can do this by right-clicking on an empty space, selecting New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and naming it HideAccountNotifications.
   Once present, double-click it and set its value to:
   • 1: Disable Microsoft account notifications in Start
   • 0: Enable notifications (default)
4. Close the Registry Editor and restart the system or Windows Explorer for the changes to take effect.

To perform the latter:

1. • Enter Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc)
   • Under Processes, look for Windows Explorer.
   • Right-click on this and press Restart.

Method 4: Using PowerShell

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1. Open PowerShell as an administrator.
2. To disable Start menu account badging, execute this command:
   New-ItemProperty -Path “HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer” `-Name “HideAccountNotifications” -PropertyType DWORD -Value 1 -Force
3. To enable notification badges, execute this command:
   Set-ItemProperty -Path “HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer” `-Name “HideAccountNotifications” -Value 0
4. Close PowerShell.

👉 Other useful references:

• How to Automate Repetitive Tasks with PowerShell
• How to Use PowerShell to Automate Windows 11 Feature Updates
• Automate Admin Tool Management on Windows with This Essential PowerShell Script

✅ You can also use NinjaOne’s Remote PowerShell to securely execute scripts and commands in real-time.

Additional considerations when configuring show account-related notifications occasionally in Start

• You may want to disable notification badges if you want a cleaner interface and improve overall user experience.
• Take note that this feature only appears when a Microsoft account is signed in; local accounts are unaffected.
• The Registry and Group Policy methods will override the Settings UI, ensuring consistent application across users. Exercise caution when performing either method.
• The badging state may be preserved or overridden based on user profile policy enforcement. As such, organizations must carefully plan their execution policies, especially with roaming profiles.

Enterprise-level customization with your notification badges

The notification badging feature in the Windows 11 Start menu is helpful for personal use, but it can become a distraction or create an additional security risk in enterprise environments. Thankfully, IT administrators can easily disable the feature using various methods outlined above.