This tutorial will show you how to add or remove recommended websites on the Start menu for your account, specific users, or all users in Windows 11.
The Start menu is comprised of three sections: Pinned, All apps, and Recommended.
Starting with Windows 11 build 23451 (Dev), Microsoft is re-introducing websites after trying this out with Insiders last fall. One improvement Microsoft made is to recommend more useful and personal websites based on your browsing history instead of generally popular websites. Insiders can right-click on a website and choose to remove a website individually at any given time. Only some Insiders will see this experience and, if you do, please share your feedback.
Starting with Windows 11 build 22621.2359 (Release Preview) and build 22621.2361 (public), Microsoft is introducing websites to the Recommended section of the Start menu. These websites will be personalized for you and come from your browsing history. This gives you quick access to the websites that are important to you. You can remove any website URL from the Recommended section using the shortcut menu.
This feature will apply to users who have opted into sharing browsing data with Microsoft and have visited enough websites in Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome (with Continuous Import enabled).
Contents
- Option One: Remove Specific Recommended Websites on Start Menu for Current User
- Option Two: Turn Off Recommended Websites on Start Menu for Current User
- Option Three: Turn On or Off Recommended Websites on Start Menu for Current User in Settings
- Option Four: Enable or Disable Recommended Websites on Start Menu for All or Specific Users in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Five: Enable or Disable Recommended Websites on Start Menu for All Users using REG file
1 Open the Start menu . (see screenshot below)
2 Perform one of the following actions:
- Under Recommended, right click on a recommended website you want to remove, and click/tap on Remove from list.
- Click/tap on the More button under Recommended, right click on a recommended website you want to remove, and click/tap on Remove from list.
1 Open the Start menu . (see screenshot below)
2 Under Recommended, right click on a recommended website.
3 Click/tap on Stop showing recommended websites.
1 Open Settings (Win+I).
2 Click/tap on Personalization on the left side, and click/tap on Start on the right side. (see screenshot below)
3 Turn On (default) or Off Show websites from your browsing history for what you want on the right side. (see screenshot below)
4 You can now close Settings if you like.
Enable or Disable Recommended Websites on Start Menu for All or Specific Users in Local Group Policy Editor
You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option Five to configure the same policy.
1 Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.
2 Navigate to the policy location below you want in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)
(All users)
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar
OR
(Specific user or group)
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar
3 In the right pane of Start Menu and Taskbar in the Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Remove Personalized Website Recommendations from the Recommended section in the Start Menu policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you want.
5 Enable Show Recommended Websites on Start Menu
This is the default setting to allow users to use Option One, Option Two, and Option Three.
A) Select (dot) Not Configured. (see screenshot below)
B) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 7.
6 Disable Show Recommended Websites on Start Menu
This will disable and prevent users from using Option One Option Two, and Option Three.
A) Select (dot) Enabled. (see screenshot below)
B) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 7.
7 You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.
You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.
1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.
2 Enable Show Recommended Websites on Start Menu for All Users
This is the default setting to allow users to use Option One Option Two, and Option Three.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Enable_recommended_websites_on_Start_menu_for_all_users.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"HideRecommendedPersonalizedSites"=-
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"HideRecommendedPersonalizedSites"=-
3 Disable Show Recommended Websites on Start Menu for All Users
This will disable and prevent users from using Option One Option Two, and Option Three.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Disable_recommended_websites_on_Start_menu_for_all_users.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"HideRecommendedPersonalizedSites"=dword:00000001
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"HideRecommendedPersonalizedSites"=dword:00000001
4 Save the REG file to your desktop.
5 Double click/tap on the downloaded REG file to merge it.
6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7 You can now delete the downloaded REG file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Related Tutorials
- Remove Recommended Section from Start Menu in Windows 11
- Change Start Layout to Show More Pins or More Recommendations in Windows 11
- Clear Start Menu Recommended Section in Windows 11
- Enable or Disable Recent Items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer in Windows 11
- Add or Remove Recently Added apps on Start Menu in Windows 11
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