Windows 11 Start Menu Hide Recommended Toggle Disables Recent Files in File Explorer

New Windows 11 Start Menu Features and Their Implications

The latest update to the Start menu in Windows 11 introduces a highly anticipated feature—a toggle to hide the Recommended section. This allows users to display only pinned and installed applications. However, this enhancement comes with a notable drawback; it also disables the ‘Recent files’ section in File Explorer, as well as the jump list that appears when right-clicking on the taskbar.

This update is included in Windows 11 build KB5067036 (Build 26200.7019 / 26100.7019) and newer versions. While Microsoft is in the process of rolling it out slowly, users who are eager to access the new features can consider utilizing an open-source tool to enable it. Alternatively, following Microsoft’s upcoming Patch Tuesday on November 11 could be another way to receive the update.

New Start menu in Windows 11 — Default view of the new Start menu in Windows 11

Within this new configuration, a setting labeled Show recommended files in Start, recent files in File Explorer, and items in Jump Lists can be found under Personalization > Start. While this change offers some flexibility, it exemplifies a significant user experience flaw. As of now, the inability to disable recommended files in the Start menu exclusively is a point of frustration for users seeking customization.

Start menu without Recommended feed — Start menu presented without the Recommended feed

Research by Windows Latest indicated that the Recommended feed in the Start menu, Recent files in File Explorer, and the taskbar jump list are interconnected through a single recent activity tracking system. Essentially, Windows maintains one comprehensive list where user activities are aggregated, affecting access across these three features.

Disabling the toggle for Show recommended files equates to turning off the recent activity list altogether. Consequently, applications and features reliant on this data will no longer reflect any recent activity.

Interestingly, if Microsoft had chosen to do so, they could have implemented a separate toggle specifically for the Start menu’s Recommended section, or at the very least crafted a filter system that would distinguish Recent files in File Explorer from the Recommended feed. Despite the Recommended feed offering recent apps, users will notice that those apps do not appear under ‘Recent’ in File Explorer.

Visual Features and Adaptability of the Start Menu

While the new Start menu reveals a sleek design, its height can be a hindrance, occupying nearly two-thirds of a 14-inch display unless the scaling settings are adjusted significantly. This does, however, result in other elements appearing considerably smaller.

Microsoft assures that the updated Start menu is adaptive—meaning it will adjust to screen space, displaying additional apps and increasing grid numbers. Despite this capability, the smaller size of the Search UI in comparison to the new Start menu creates an awkward, disjointed interface experience.

In response to user feedback, Microsoft has confirmed that it is working on a larger Search UI that would better align with the dimensions of the new Start menu in Windows 11. Many users share the desire for greater control over Start menu dimensions, reminiscent of the resizing options available in Windows 10. What features would you most like to see in future iterations of the Start menu?

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