Removing "Recommended" from Start Menu on Windows 11 22H2 Pro

[SM03]

Part of magic of NTLite is its Integrate - Registry page.
Just drop a REG file with the tweak into it, it will directly write it to the registry hives on Apply, same effect as the tweak being listed.

That was the plan earlier, like I told/commented here earlier,
Since you're gonna add that (tweak) to the next NTL build, so deferring that for now.

That said, new version with this baked in, tomorrow evening.

Will wait for tomorrow's NTL new build to try this. Thanks.

Or you meant the script to spoof Windows version? Not adding that.

I meant this reg tweak to 'START HideRecomm' in 26H1+ builds

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"HideRecommendedSection"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"Start_Layout"=dword:00000001

 

[garlin]

Some users claim this works to spoof EDU at the application level (not Windows edition). Others say it's useless. It really depends on what Windows build you're running.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\current\device\Education]
"IsEducationEnvironment"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\current\device\Start]
"HideRecommendedSection"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"HideRecommendedSection"=dword:00000001

 

[SM03]

Some users claim this works to spoof EDU at the application level (not Windows edition). Others say it's useless. It really depends on what Windows build you're running.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\current\device\Education]
"IsEducationEnvironment"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\current\device\Start]
"HideRecommendedSection"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"HideRecommendedSection"=dword:00000001

I'm using Pro (since the XP days).
Which edition did you test this reg first that you mentioned here earlier?

 

[SM03]

Hi nuhi
Just updated to the latest version v2026.03.10899 & noticed this new feature in the changelog
as well as inside the NTLite settings/Tweaks/Desktop


Just to clarify that it's the tweak for this option, from 'Windows Settings/Personalisation/START' that we're discussing, right?


IMO, to avoid such confusion,
This should've been placed under the 'NTLite settings/Tweaks/START Menu' section instead of this 'NTLite settings/Tweaks/Desktop' section, with the same "Show recommended files in Start, recent files in File Explorer, and items in Jump Lists" name.

 

[nuhi]

Hi nuhi
Just updated to the latest version v2026.03.10899 & noticed this new feature in the changelog
as well as inside the NTLite settings/Tweaks/Desktop
View attachment 15789

Just to clarify that it's the tweak for this option, from 'Windows Settings/Personalisation/START' that we're discussing, right?
View attachment 15791

IMO, to avoid such confusion,
This should've been placed under the 'NTLite settings/Tweaks/START Menu' section instead of this 'NTLite settings/Tweaks/Desktop' section, with the same "Show recommended files in Start, recent files in File Explorer, and items in Jump Lists" name.

That one is:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"Start_TrackDocs"=dword:00000000

It already existed, "Let Windows track opened documents to populate Jump Lists"

will rename it, thanks.

So the new one remains a mistery.

 

[SM03]

So the new one remains a mistery.

New one? Which one are you referring to?


And now I'm confused.



Could you please specify, out of these three tweaks, which one is for this reg tweak that we were discussing earlier for garlin 's START HideRecoomedation wrapper?

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"HideRecommendedSection"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"Start_Layout"=dword:00000001

 

[garlin]

Brink on ElevenForum confirmed it was quietly rolled to 24H2/25H2, in the Dec 2025 Preview.

Change date

Change description

December 12, 2025

Update: This feature is included in the December 2025 non-security update (KB5070311). [File Explorer] New! The Recommended section in File Explorer now makes it easier to access files you frequently use or recently downloaded. To view this section on the homepage, turn on the Show Recommended section setting in File Explorer > Options. This feature is now available to all users, including those signed in with personal Microsoft accounts.

 

[SM03]

Brink on ElevenForum confirmed it was quietly rolled to 24H2/25H2, in the Dec 2025 Preview.

Change date

Change description

December 12, 2025

Update: This feature is included in the December 2025 non-security update (KB5070311). [File Explorer] New! The Recommended section in File Explorer now makes it easier to access files you frequently use or recently downloaded. To view this section on the homepage, turn on the Show Recommended section setting in File Explorer > Options. This feature is now available to all users, including those signed in with personal Microsoft accounts.

Does this means
1. Now we can use the reg tweak across all Windows branches 24H2/25H2/26H1, with or w/out MSFT account logged in?
2. To hide the Recommendation section from START, this PS wrapper will no longer be required?

I still haven't tried the new NTLite version where Nuhi added this new registry tweak to Hide Recommendation as discussed here earlier
Probably gonna try this week, and as it's unclear to me which NTlite option to use for Hide the Recommendation section from START that I asked here earlier & remains unanswered, so asking you

-With the new NTLite versions, have you already tried this?
-What's the outcome? Is it working?
-And which NTlite option explicitely hide the Recommendation section from START?

 

[garlin]

Does this means
1. Now we can use the reg tweak across all Windows branches 24H2/25H2/26H1, with or w/out MSFT account logged in?

1. 26H1 requires the Feb 2026 Preview (or later) to work. 24H2/25H2 requires the Dec 2025 Preview (or later).

It works for any account. Ignore the terrible phrasing, MS assumes if you don't have a work or school domain account, you're a MS Account. What they really mean is all Windows editions now share the feature. In the original rollout the feature was never tied to your account type. It always worked for a local account.

2. To hide the Recommendation section from START, this PS wrapper will no longer be required?

2. The wrapper is still useful if your Windows has not been patched to the mentioned updates. Or you're using 22H2, which never received a fix.

3. You have a licensed copy of NTLite. That means you can test the reg tweaks on a live system without doing a full install.