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

I have no idea how it works when you have ExplorerPatcher installed. This setup was created for users who didn't want ExplorerPatcher, and running a clean Windows.

My only suggestion is change the script's delay from 3 to 5 seconds, if Start Menu is taking too long to start up.
Code: 
Start-Sleep -Seconds 5
 
I don't use ExplorerPatcher (its no longer supported).

Seems there is a conflict between the script and the app StartAllBack - that's what I am using to bring back an old taskbar.
 
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That's all on StartAllBack. The script just enables the GPO to hide Recommended apps, which normally only applies to EDU or Enterprise editions.
StartAllBack would have the same problem on a real EDU/Enterprise system.

ExplorerPatcher is supported, but it's a single dev project and it takes him a long time to keep up with recent Windows changes.
Good news, he just released today.
 
alias
Using it since the beginning & it is still 90% working all the time, for the other 10% it's a hit or miss
sometimes after reboot, the script won't run/start automatically, I've to manually start the task from task scheduler.

Using: Win11 Pro 22H2 21623.1344 x64

Last I shared some suggestions here on 3rd Oct 2022, not sure after that whether garlin applied any of those my shared feedback or update/modify anything or not because I am using the same old version since Oct 2022
 
The script is straightforward. I can only support SKU's which slmgr is allowed to switch keys, this rules out several SKU's.

Everything else is timing-based. When a logon task starts is slightly random, and it depends if your environment loads other processes in the background. You must kill StartMenuExperienceHost, and wait for it to restart, before reverting to the original SKU.

Just because the new Start Menu starts up, doesn't mean it's run the SKU check yet. There may be many things happening on logon, which slow the entire PC down. The only thing you can do is to extend the Start-Sleep delay by extra seconds. But I'd rather avoid triggering other Windows problems by keeping that delay as short as necessary.

Any risk is up to the user, so I favor the cautious approach even if it's not perfect.
 
Hi garlin,

Adding this wrapper/script with recent 26H1 ISO modded via (latsat) NTlite, ain't creating the 'Hide Recommended' task in the task scheduler (multiple instances & tested), so am posting (reporting) it here.

I think, like your PowerShell GUI tool, this also needs a updated version of the script/wrapper to work seamlessly with latest windows & its changes in START.
 
I haven't installed 26H1, so can't tell why it doesn't work. Most of the Hide Recommended hacks don't work any more with the new Start Menu that's been rolled out in 25H2.

Have you tried the Windhawk mod?
Windows 11 Start Menu Styler
 
garlin
I haven't tried that Windows 11 Start Menu Styler as I don't think that would serve me the best (in my case)
As I custom/mod the START with my own pre-defined PINNED items & insert the srat2.bin into the Win ISO DIR, along with your this script/wrapper to hide the recommendation part permanently with the 1st boot of OS installation

To be clear, your hide recommendation is still working, but it's not creating the task in the task scheduler in the first place. Once I created that manually by locating your script (from C:\Windows\Scripts), then it worked/working as usual, as it used to be

So I think you just need to test this wrapper with the latest Win branch, i.e. 26H1 & adjust some minor tweaks as per the requirement.
 
garlin
Since you haven't replied so far, so asking (again).

Anything on this? Can I/we expect any modification of (your) this script/wrapper (like your PowerShell GUI tool) as per the latest 25H1/H2 & 26H1 START modification?

Like I said earlier, as per my testing, it's just that the 'HideRecommendation' task in the task scheduler isn't being created. Once I manually create it, locating the script (from C:\Windows\Scripts), it's still working in the latest 26H1.

SM03 said:
garlin
I haven't tried that Windows 11 Start Menu Styler as I don't think that would serve me the best (in my case)
As I custom/mod the START with my own pre-defined PINNED items & insert the srat2.bin into the Win ISO DIR, along with your this script/wrapper to hide the recommendation part permanently with the 1st boot of OS installation

To be clear, your hide recommendation is still working, but it's not creating the task in the task scheduler in the first place. Once I created that manually by locating your script (from C:\Windows\Scripts), then it worked/working as usual, as it used to be

So I think you just need to test this wrapper with the latest Win branch, i.e. 26H1 & adjust some minor tweaks as per the requirement.
Click to expand...
 
I said before, I have to find a copy of 26H1 and install it on in a VM. Right now, most users aren't running 26H1 and you said it works except for the scheduled task creation.
 
garlin said:
I said before, I have to find a copy of 26H1...
Click to expand...

26H1 is already available in the x64 retail channel. & 26H1 MVS ISOs are also available 28000.1450 since February 2026
You can also get the latest 28000.1719 ISO from UUPDump.

garlin said:
... you said it works except for the scheduled task creation.
Click to expand...
That's the issue,
the very first task/job (of creating the task in Task Scheduler) of this script ain't working,
and that's the reason I'm reporting it here, to update & align it with the latest versions (i.e. 25H2 26H1) of Windows START.
 
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I just installed 28000.1719 (Pro), and didn't even need a script to hide the Recommended section.

The reg keys work by themselves without needing to temporarily switch to EDU or Enterprise editions (and back). Now I don't personally know what changes were made to 26H1, since it's not my normal W11 build (25H2).

Since the reg file works, I don't need to update the script. As far as I can tell, there's no problem creating the scheduled task.

Code: 
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
 

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garlin
That's great if now this can be done via reg tweak only. I'll try these reg settings with the W11 26H1 ISO while modding it with NTLite.
Thanks for the heads up.

nuhi
Requesting to add these tweaks to the next/future NTLite build
 
From KB5077239's (Feb 2026 Preview) release notes:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...-preview-762130a2-9ee9-4a7a-8adf-76f23b4b58a1
[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.
Click to expand...

None of that appears in the last 25H2 Monthly or Monthly Preview's release notes, suggesting it's only done for 26H1. Maybe it'll appear for 26H2, but it's not a supported feature on the current Production channel.
 
garlin said:
From KB5077239's (Feb 2026 Preview) release notes:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...-preview-762130a2-9ee9-4a7a-8adf-76f23b4b58a1


None of that appears in the last 25H2 Monthly or Monthly Preview's release notes, suggesting it's only done for 26H1. Maybe it'll appear for 26H2, but it's not a supported feature on the current Production channel.
Click to expand...
So that explains why it's possible to hide the START recommended section via reg tweak only on the 26H1 branch.
Good that I switched to 26H1 back in Dec-25,

IMO/IME 26H1 is much cleaner/better than the 26xxx branch that has been bumping with EKB since 24H2 days.
 
nuhi said:
"Start layout" is already there, will add HideRecommendedSection next, thanks.
Click to expand...
Yes, 'Start layout' is there, but I suggested about this new reg tweak for 'HideRecommendation'
Thanks for confirming nuhi

I am gonna mod an ISO for one of my systems real soon,
so if you could tell me when/how soon you gonna release that, then that'd be really great as I'd wait to test this new feature.

Let me know.
 
SM03 said:
I am gonna mod an ISO for one of my systems real soon,
so if you could tell me when/how soon you gonna release that, then that'd be really great as I'd wait to test this new feature.

Let me know.
Click to expand...
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 said, new version with this baked in, tomorrow evening.
Or you meant the script to spoof Windows version? Not adding that.
 
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