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If you don’t want that content, you can often reduce it significantly by changing the right privacy and personalization toggles, and—on some editions—by using Group Policy or targeted Registry settings. This guide walks you through the practical options that actually affect Start Menu behavior.
Quick scope: the settings below focus on Windows 11 (22H2/23H2/24H2-era) features tied to Microsoft’s recommendations and “consumer experiences.” Exact wording varies slightly by build, but the underlying controls are the same.
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“Start Menu ads” generally refers to promotional or recommended content that appears in the Start experience—commonly under a mix of recommendations, tips, and Microsoft-linked suggestions. Depending on your build, that content may look like app promotions, subscription prompts, or featured experiences that aren’t part of your pinned apps.
It’s not the same as a classic banner ad inside a web browser. Instead, it’s integrated content delivered through Windows components that also power personalization and recommendations.
Who gets the rollout and what changes you’ll notice
Microsoft uses phased rollouts, so you might see it arrive first on devices with certain configurations, and later on others. In practice, Windows 11 machines on current updates tend to get it when Microsoft enables the relevant feature flags for your region and build.
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You’ll likely notice one or more of these:
- More “recommended” tiles or prompts in Start, especially in the area that mixes suggestions with your apps.
- Promotional notifications that appear when you open Start or sign in.
The exact placement depends on your Start layout and how much space is available (screen size, scaling, and whether you’re using a multi-monitor setup can all change what you see).
Why this matters (privacy, cost, and user experience)
From a user-experience angle, Start should be fast and predictable. Recommendations blur that line and can add distractions right when you’re looking for an app or setting.
From a privacy angle, these features also tend to rely on data collection signals and “personalization” pipelines. Even when data use is described in Microsoft’s privacy documentation, many users still prefer fewer outbound requests and less tracking.
And from a practical perspective, any sponsored content can be annoying and hard to “train out” if the system keeps re-enabling recommendations after updates.
Before you start: confirm your Windows 11 version and edition
Some options depend on whether you’re on Windows 11 Home vs Pro/Enterprise, and what build you’re running. Confirm first so you don’t waste time chasing settings that aren’t available.
- Press Win + I to open Settings.
- Go to System > About.
- Check:
- Edition (Home, Pro, Enterprise, Education)
- Version (for example 23H2 or 24H2)
- OS build (example: 22631.x for 23H2, 26100.x for 24H2-era builds)
Keep this info handy—especially OS build—because some menus differ between builds.
Method 1: Turn off Start Menu content and personalization
This method targets the UI-level toggles that feed suggestions into Start.
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- Open Settings.
- Go to Personalization > Start.
- Turn off the following options if they’re present:
- Show recommendations for tips (or similarly worded tips recommendations)
- Show suggestions for how I can set up my device
- Show recently added apps (optional, but it reduces content churn)
- Show more apps in Start (this can change the density of non-pinned items)
If you see extra toggles specific to ads or Microsoft promotions, disable them first. Reopen Start after changing each setting to confirm the UI behavior changes on your machine.
Method 2: Disable Microsoft Consumer Experiences components
Windows can pull recommendations from Microsoft’s “consumer experience” components. Disabling them can reduce promotional content across Start and other surfaces.
- Open Settings > Privacy & security.
- Click General.
- Look for toggles related to:
- Let Windows show me personalized ads (turn off)
- Let apps show me personalized ads (turn off)
- Turn on advertising ID (disable if present)
Then check the Start-specific experience again: Settings changes can take a minute to reflect, so sign out/in if the UI doesn’t update immediately.
Method 3: Turn off recommendations in Settings
Some recommendation switches aren’t nested in Start. They live under notifications, personalization, and privacy controls.
- Open Settings.
- Go to System > Notifications.
- Review notifications related to:
- Microsoft accounts or Microsoft Store experiences
- Tips, suggestions, and promotions (disable if present)
Next, go to Settings > Privacy & security and scan for recommendation/personalization toggles. Windows’ wording varies, but anything labeled “personalized” or “recommendations” is a candidate for turning off.
Method 4: Use Group Policy (Pro/Enterprise)
If you’re on Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise, Group Policy can be a stronger lever than UI toggles. It’s also easier to keep consistent across devices.
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- Press Win + R, type
gpedit.msc, and press Enter. - Navigate to:
User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Start Menu and Taskbar
Then look for policies related to Start menu recommendations or “notifications.” Names vary by build, but typical targets include “Turn off notifications” style policies and Start suggestions.
If you find a policy that disables Start menu recommendations and you’re unsure, enable it and test by restarting Start (or signing out/in). You can revert by setting the policy back to Not Configured.
Method 5: Registry edits (Home and unsupported builds)
Registry changes can work when UI toggles don’t. However, registry edits can break settings if you use the wrong key, so back up first.
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- Press Win + R, type
regedit, Enter. - In Registry Editor, select the key you’re editing > File > Export.
What to change: There are multiple keys depending on the build and whether you’re targeting Start, personalization, or ad personalization. A safe approach is to use the Windows privacy toggles first (Method 1/2), then observe which registry values change.
Practical workflow:
- Before changing anything, search in Registry Editor for terms like
ContentDelivery,SubscribedContent, orAds(these are common areas affected by consumer experiences). - Change the relevant Settings toggles (Method 1/2).
- Search again for the keys that changed.
Set only the values that correspond to the specific feature you’re disabling. If an update resets the values, re-apply the change or switch to policies where available.
Method 6: Reduce ad delivery at the network level
If the ads are being pulled from Microsoft endpoints, you can reduce exposure by blocking known domains at the DNS or firewall level. This won’t fix UI toggles, but it can stop the content from loading.
Two common approaches:
- DNS filtering (for example using a secure DNS provider with ad/malware categories)
- Windows Firewall rules that block specific outbound requests
Use this carefully. Over-blocking can break Windows Store sign-in, tips content, or other legitimate services. If you go this route, start with logging (audit mode) or block only after you identify the exact domains being used on your system.
What to do when the ads come back
It’s common for Windows updates to re-enable recommendation components or restore defaults for “consumer experiences.” If the Start Menu ads return, don’t assume your prior settings were ignored—usually the system toggles were reset.
- Re-check Settings > Personalization > Start and turn off the same toggles again.
- Confirm Privacy & security > General ad personalization toggles are still disabled.
- Reboot and sign out/in to force UI components to refresh.
If you’re using Group Policy, verify the policy still applies after the update. For Registry edits, verify the targeted values didn’t revert.
Common mistakes and gotchas
- Changing only one toggle: Start can draw from multiple recommendation systems. If you disable only personalization ads but leave Start suggestions on, you may still see content.
- Ignoring OS build differences: menu labels can move between versions (for example 23H2 vs 24H2). If a toggle isn’t present, don’t assume it’s “off”—it may be in a different place.
- Using overly broad blockers: blocking all Microsoft domains can cause Store failures and inconsistent sign-in behavior.
- Assuming it’s instant: changes can take a few minutes to reflect in Start. Give it time or sign out/in.
Comparisons and alternatives
There are a few ways to reduce the “feels like ads” experience without fighting Windows every time.
| Approach | Effect | Effort | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Settings toggles (Personalization & Privacy) | Good UI-level reduction | Low | Low |
| Group Policy (Pro/Enterprise) | More persistent control | Medium | Low–Medium |
| Registry edits | Potentially strong, build-dependent | Medium–High | Medium |
| Network blocking (DNS/Firewall) | Stops content delivery | Medium | Medium |
If you want the best balance, start with Settings (Methods 1–3). Add Group Policy if you have Pro/Enterprise. Use Registry and network blocking only when you’ve verified the feature still appears.
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FAQ
Can I completely remove every sponsored item from the Start Menu?
Not always. Microsoft’s recommendation systems can vary by build, region, and feature flags. In most cases you can significantly reduce them, but “100% guaranteed removal” isn’t realistic across all updates.
Will turning off personalization affect other Windows features?
It can. Personalized suggestions are tied to multiple consumer experience components. Disabling them usually reduces recommendations, but it may also affect some tips and suggested content elsewhere (not core system functionality).
Why do the ads return after a Windows update?
Updates can reset feature flags or restore default values for consumer experiences. Re-check Start and privacy toggles after the update, and verify policies/registry values if you used them.
Is this only on Windows 11, or does Windows 10 also have it?
This particular rollout is for Windows 11 Start experiences. Windows 10 has had similar recommendation mechanisms in different areas, but the Start Menu integration described here is associated with Windows 11’s newer UI and feature set.
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Use Settings first (Personalization > Start and Privacy > General). If that’s not enough, consider targeted Registry changes only for keys you can verify changed when you flipped the UI toggles.
Bottom Line
Windows 11 is expanding Start Menu promotional content to more users, so you may see new “recommended” items that didn’t exist on your previous setup. The good news is you can usually reduce the visibility of these ads by turning off Start recommendations and personalized ads in Settings.
If they come back after updates, re-apply the toggles and—on Pro/Enterprise—use Group Policy for stronger persistence. For Home users who still see content, targeted Registry edits and selective network blocking can help, but they carry more risk than the built-in options.
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