Getting rid of suggested apps in the Windows 11 Start Menu (especially the ones that pop up out of the blue)
Honestly, figuring this out wasn’t straightforward. Those promoted apps and ads flooding the Start Menu can make things feel cluttered, and it’s like Windows is constantly pushing stuff you didn’t ask for. After some digging, I found there’s a hidden toggle — you just need to know where to look. The main trick is that it’s tucked away in Settings, but its location can vary a bit depending on your version of Windows and updates.
If you’re fed up with seeing recommended apps or promotional tiles every time you open the Start Menu, start by pressing Windows key + I to open Settings. From there, click on Personalisation. Scroll down until you see Device Usage — note that terminology might differ with updates, but mine was right in that area. Inside that menu, you should find a toggle to control whether promoted apps appear. Switch it off. For most users, disabling this will stop Windows from tossing those sponsored tiles onto your start menu.
That said, sometimes the toggle isn’t visible or it’s greyed out — on some OEM systems, like my old ASUS laptop, it was buried deeper under Advanced Settings. If you can’t find it here, you might need to get into the Registry. The key I found most useful is HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ContentDeliveryManager. Within that, look for entries like SubscribedContent-338388Enabled and change the value to 0. But be very careful — messing around with the Registry can cause issues, so back it up first before making changes.
Just a heads-up: disabling these promotional ads in the Registry can sometimes lead to hiccups, like losing some personalised tips or news that Windows might want to show you. So if you want that stuff, maybe just turn the promos off to make them less of a nuisance. If you prefer a cleaner start menu, though, it does mean some fiddling and not all options are straightforward.
Turning off constant tips and suggestions — some of them are basically ads
Next up, the barrage of notifications and tips that some reckon feel like Windows trying to sell you stuff. To minimise those, head back into Settings with Windows key + I. Click on System and then Notifications. Scroll down to the bottom where there’s a section called Additional Settings — depending on your version, it might look a bit different.
Look for the option called Get tips and suggestions when using Windows. Turn that off. Even after disabling it, I still noticed some tips popping up, especially after major updates — Windows seems to reset some of these settings periodically. Also, under Privacy & Security, there’s an option called Show me tips about Windows. Turning that off can help reduce the nudges and keep things simpler. It’s not perfect, but it definitely helps cut down the chatter.
Dealing with ads and notifications from third-party apps or bloatware
This part can be more frustrating because some applications — like OneDrive or your phone syncing apps — keep pestering you with notifications, even if you’d rather not see them. In the same Notifications menu, scroll down to Notifications from apps and other senders. Honestly, I had to turn off notifications individually for quite a few apps I didn’t care about. Sometimes, it also helps to go into the app’s own settings and disable notifications there, especially in Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Each app might have its own toggle, which can be a bit of a chore but gives you full control.
Some apps even have their own notification preferences — check in within the app if available. After doing all this, I’ve found it’s worth revisiting these settings now and then, especially after Windows updates — they can reset or re-enable notifications automatically, which is annoying.
Pro tip: On some systems, you might need to tweak the registry or Group Policy settings because the UI doesn’t always stick. If notifications or ads seem to reappear after changes, that’s probably why. Keep in mind, disabling some notifications or ads might also turn off useful tips or security prompts, so it’s worth balancing. But overall, these tweaks go a long way to reducing clutter and making Windows run more smoothly — less intrusive, too.
Hope this helps — honestly, it took me ages to figure out all these little settings. Now, my desktop feels a lot cleaner and less pushy. Just double-check everything after Windows updates, as some settings may reset or change. Hopefully, this saves someone else a weekend of trial and error!