Start policy settings - Configure Windows

Article
04/11/2024

This reference article outlines the policy settings available for customizing the Start menu experience, using Configuration Service Provider (CSP) or group policy (GPO). For information about how to configure these settings, see Configure the Start menu.

The settings are categorized and presented in alphabetical order to facilitate navigation and configuration.

Start layout: settings to control the Start menu appearance and its behavior
All apps options: settings to control the All apps list
Account options: settings to control the options exposed when selecting the user account icon
Pinned folders: settings to control the folders pinned for quick access
Power options: settings to control the options exposed when selecting the power button

Select one of the tabs to see the list of available settings:

Policy name	CSP	GPO
Configure Start pins	✅	❌
Disable context menus	✅	✅
Disable search	✅	✅
Don't use the search-based method when resolving shell shortcuts	❌	✅
Don't use the tracking-based method when resolving shell shortcuts	❌	✅
Prevent changes to Taskbar and Start Menu Settings	❌	✅
Prevent users from customizing their Start	❌	✅
Prevent users from uninstalling applications from Start	❌	✅
Remove common program groups	❌	✅
Show Run as different user command	❌	✅

Recommended section

Policy name	CSP	GPO
Clear history of recently opened documents on exit	❌	✅
Hide recently added apps	✅	✅
Hide recent jumplists	✅	✅
Hide recommended personalized sites	✅	✅
Hide recommended section	✅	✅

Policy name	CSP	GPO
Clear history of recently opened documents on exit	❌	✅
Clear tile notifications during log on	❌	✅
Configure Start layout	✅	✅
Disable context menus	✅	✅
Don't use the search-based method when resolving shell shortcuts	❌	✅
Don't use the tracking-based method when resolving shell shortcuts	❌	✅
Force Start size	✅	✅
Hide recently added apps	✅	✅
Import Edge assets	✅	❌
Prevent changes to Taskbar and Start Menu Settings	❌	✅
Prevent users from customizing their Start	❌	✅
Prevent users from uninstalling applications from Start	❌	✅
Remove common program groups	❌	✅
Show Run as different user command	❌	✅

Clear history of recently opened documents on exit

If you enable this policy setting, shortcuts to recently used files are deleted when the user signs out:

The Recent Items section on the Start menu is cleared
Recently and frequently used items in the jump lists of programs in the Start menu and Taskbar are cleared

If you disable or don't configure this policy setting, the system retains document shortcuts. When a user signs in, the Recent Items menu and the jump lists appear as when the user logged off.

Note

The system saves document shortcuts in the user profile in the System-drive\Users\User-name\Recent folder.

	Path
CSP	Not available.
GPO	User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Clear history of recently opened documents on exit

Clear tile notifications during log on

If you enable this policy setting, the system deletes tile notifications when the user signs on. As a result, the tiles in the Start menu always show their default content when a user signs in. Any cached versions of the notifications are cleared when the user signs in. If you disable or don't configure this setting, the system retains notifications, and when a user signs in, the tiles appear just as they did when the user signed out, including the history of previous notifications for each tile. This policy setting doesn't prevent new notifications from appearing.

	Path
CSP	./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Setting
GPO	User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar

Configure Start layout

This policy setting lets you specify the Start layout for users, preventing them from changing its configuration. The Start layout you specify must be stored in an XML file that was generated by the Export-StartLayout PowerShell cmdlet. To use this setting, you must first manually configure a device's Start layout to the desired look and feel. Then, run the Export-StartLayout PowerShell cmdlet on that same device. The cmdlet generates an XML file representing the layout you configured. Once the XML file is generated and moved to the desired file path, use the fully qualified path and name of the XML file. You can use a local path, or a UNC path. If the specified file isn't available when the user signs in, the layout isn't changed. Users can't customize the Start layout while this setting is enabled. If you disable this setting or don't configure it, the Start screen layout isn't changed and users can customize it.

	Path
CSP	Configure start layout
GPO	Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar

For more information, see Customize the Start layout.

Configure Start pins

This policy setting lets you specify a new list of pinned apps to override the default/current list of pinned apps in the Windows Start menu.

The policy setting accepts a JSON file that contains the list of items to pin, and their order.

	Path
CSP	`./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`ConfigureStartPins `./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`ConfigureStartPins
GPO	Not available

For more information, see Customize the Start layout.

Disable context menus

With this policy setting you can prevent users from opening the context menus in the Start menu. If you enable this policy, then invocations of context menus within the Start menu is ignored.

	Path
CSP	`./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`DisableContextMenus `./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`DisableContextMenus
GPO	Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Disable context menus in the Start Menu

Disable search

When you enable this policy setting, the Search UI and all its entry points are disabled, such as keyboard shortcuts, touchpad gestures, and type-to-search in the Start menu. The Start menu's search box and Search Taskbar buttons are hidden. If you disable or don't configure this policy setting, users can open the Search UI and its different entry points are available.

	Path
CSP	`./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Search/`DisableSearch
GPO	Computer Configuration > Windows Components > Search > Fully disable Search UI

Don't use the search-based method when resolving shell shortcuts

This policy setting prevents the system from conducting a comprehensive search of the target drive to resolve a shortcut. If you enable this policy setting, the system doesn't conduct the final drive search. It just displays a message explaining that the file isn't found. If you disable or don't configure this policy setting, by default, when the system can't find the target file for a shortcut (.lnk), it searches all paths associated with the shortcut. If the target file is located on an NTFS partition, the system then uses the target's file ID to find a path. If the resulting path isn't correct, it conducts a comprehensive search of the target drive in an attempt to find the file. Note: This policy setting only applies to target files on NTFS partitions. FAT partitions don't have this ID tracking and search capability.

	Path
CSP	./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Setting
GPO	User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Do not use the search-based method when resolving shell shortcuts

Don't use the tracking-based method when resolving shell shortcuts

This policy setting prevents the system from using NTFS tracking features to resolve a shortcut. If you enable this policy setting, the system doesn't try to locate the file by using its file ID. It skips this step and begins a comprehensive search of the drive specified in the target path. If you disable or don't configure this policy setting, by default, when the system can't find the target file for a shortcut (.lnk), it searches all paths associated with the shortcut. If the target file is located on an NTFS partition, the system then uses the target's file ID to find a path. If the resulting path isn't correct, it conducts a comprehensive search of the target drive in an attempt to find the file. Note: This policy setting only applies to target files on NTFS partitions. FAT partitions don't have this ID tracking and search capability.

	Path
CSP	./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Setting
GPO	User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Do not use the tracking-based method when resolving shell shortcuts

Force Start size

If you enable this policy and set it to Start menu or full screen Start, Start is set to that size and users can't change the size of Start in Settings. If you disable or don't configure this policy setting, Windows automatically selects the size based on hardware form factor and users can change the size of Start in Settings.

	Path
CSP	`./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`ForceStartSize `./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`ForceStartSize
GPO	Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Force Start to be either full screen size or menu size

Hide recently added apps

With this policy setting, you can prevent the Start menu from displaying a list of recently installed applications.

If you enable this policy, the Start menu doesn't display the Recently added list. The corresponding setting is also disabled in Settings.

	Path
CSP	`./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`HideRecentlyAddedApps `./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`HideRecentlyAddedApps
GPO	Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Remove "Recently added" list from Start Menu

Hide recent jumplists

Prevents the operating system and installed programs from creating and displaying shortcuts to recently opened documents.

If you enable this setting:
- The system and apps don't create shortcuts to documents opened
- The system empties the Recent Items menu on the Start menu, and apps don't display shortcuts at the bottom of the File menu
- The Jump Lists in the Start Menu and Taskbar don't show lists of recently or frequently used files, folders, or websites If you disable or don't configure this setting
- The system stores and displays shortcuts to recently and frequently used files, folders, and websites

If you enable this setting but don't enable the "Remove Recent Items menu from Start Menu" setting, the Recent Items menu appears on the Start menu, but it's empty. If you enable this setting, but then later disable it or set it to Not Configured, the document shortcuts saved before the setting was enabled reappear in the Recent Items menu and program File menus, and Jump Lists. This setting doesn't hide or prevent the user from pinning files, folders, or websites to the Jump Lists. This setting doesn't hide document shortcuts displayed in the Open dialog box.

	Path
CSP	`./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`HideRecentJumplists `./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`HideRecentJumplists
GPO	Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Do not keep history of recently opened documents User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Do not keep history of recently opened documents

Hide recommended personalized sites

Remove Personalized Website Recommendations from the Recommended section in the Start Menu.

	Path
CSP	`./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`HideRecommendedPersonalizedSites `./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`HideRecommendedPersonalizedSites
GPO	Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Remove Personalized Website Recommendations from the Recommended section in the Start Menu

Hide recommended section

This policy setting prevents the Start menu from displaying a list of recommended applications and files. If you enable this policy setting, the Start menu doesn't show the section containing a list of recommended files and apps.

	Path
CSP	`./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`HideRecommendedSection `./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`HideRecommendedSection
GPO	Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Remove Recommended section from Start Menu

Import Edge assets

	Path
CSP	`./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`ImportEdgeAssets
GPO	Not available

With this policy setting you can prevent changes to Taskbar and Start menu settings:

If you enable this policy setting, users can't change the Taskbar or Start properties
If you disable or don't configure this policy setting, the Taskbar and Start Menu items are available from Settings on the Start menu

	Path
CSP	Not available.
GPO	Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Prevent changes to Taskbar and Start Menu Settings User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Prevent changes to Taskbar and Start Menu Settings

Prevent users from customizing their Start

With this policy setting you can prevent users from changing their Start menu layout:

If you enable this setting, users can't pin/unpin a Start menu element, and rearrange elements
If you disable or don't configure this setting, users can pin/unpin elements, and rearrange elements

	Path
CSP	Not available.
GPO	User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Prevent users from customizing their Start

Prevent users from uninstalling applications from Start

If you enable this setting, users can't uninstall apps from Start. If you disable this setting or don't configure it, users can access the uninstall command from Start.

	Path
CSP	Not available.
GPO	Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Prevent users from uninstalling applications from Start

Remove common program groups

This policy setting removes items in the All Users profile from the Programs menu on the Start menu. By default, the Programs menu contains items from the All Users profile and items from the user's profile. If you enable this setting, only items in the user's profile appear in the Programs menu.

	Path
CSP	Not available.
GPO	User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Remove common program groups from Start Menu

Show Run as different user command

With this policy setting, you can hide the Run as different user command on the Start application bar. If you enable it, users can access the Run as different user command from Start. If you disable or don't configure this setting, users can't access the Run as different user command from Start for any applications.

Note

This setting doesn't prevent users from using other methods, such as the SHIFT right-click menu on application's jumplists in the taskbar to issue the Run as different user command.

	Path
CSP	Not available
GPO	User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Show "Run as different user" command on Start

Policy name	CSP	GPO
Clear the recent programs list for new users	❌	✅
Hide app list	✅	✅
Hide frequently used apps	✅	✅
Hide most used lists	✅	✅

Clear the recent programs list for new users

If you enable this policy setting, the recent programs list in the start menu is empty for each new user. If you disable or don't configure this policy setting, the start menu recent programs list is prepopulated with programs for each new user.

	Path
CSP	Not available.
GPO	User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Clear the recent programs list for new users

Hide app list

If you enable this setting, the Start Menu will either collapse or remove the all apps list from the Start menu:

Collapse doesn't display the app list next to the pinned tiles in Start. An All apps button is displayed on Start to open the all apps list. This is equivalent to setting the Show app list in Start in Settings to Off
Collapse and disable setting is the same as the collapse option and disable the Show app list in Start menu in Settings, so users can't turn it to On
Remove and disable setting removes the all apps list from Start and disable the Show app list in Start menu in Settings, so users can't turn it to On
If you disable or don't configure this setting, the all apps list is visible by default, and the user can change Show app list in Start in Settings

	Path
CSP	`./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`HideAppList `./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`HideAppList
GPO	Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Remove All Programs list from the Start menu User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Remove All Programs list from the Start menu

Hide frequently used apps

If you enable this setting, the frequently used programs list is removed from the Start menu.

If you disable this setting or don't configure it, the frequently used programs list remains on the simple Start menu.

	Path
CSP	`./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`HideFrequentlyUsedApps `./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`HideFrequentlyUsedApps
GPO	User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Remove frequent programs from the Start Menu

Hide most used lists

If you enable this policy setting, you can configure Start menu to show or hide the list of user's most used apps, regardless of user settings:

Selecting Show forces the Most used list in the Start menu, and users can't change to hide it using the Settings app
Selecting Hide disables the Most used list, and users can't change to show it using the Settings app
Selecting Not Configured, allow users to turn on or off the display of Most used list using the Settings app. This is default behavior.

Note

This policy setting has the precedence over the Hide frequently used apps policy setting.

	Path
CSP	`./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`ShowOrHideMostUsedApps `./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`ShowOrHideMostUsedApps
GPO	Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Show or hide "Most used" list from Start menu User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Show or hide "Most used" list from Start menu

Policy name	CSP	GPO
Hide Change account settings	✅	❌
Hide Lock	✅	❌
Hide Sign out	✅	✅
Hide Switch account	✅	❌
Hide user tile	✅	❌

Hide change account settings

	Path
CSP	`./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`HideChangeAccountSettings
GPO	Not available.

Hide Lock

	Path
CSP	`./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`HideSignOut
GPO	Not available.

Hide Sign out

With this policy setting you can remove the Sign out item from the Start menu and prevents users from restoring it:

If you enable this policy setting, the Sign out item doesn't appear in the Start menu
If you disable or don't configure this policy setting, users can use the Sign out item in the Start menu

Note

This policy setting affects the Start menu only. It doesn't affect the Sign out item on the Windows Security dialog box that appears when you press CTRL+ALT+DEL, and it doesn't prevent users from using other methods to sign out.

	Path
CSP	`./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`HideSignOut
GPO	User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Remove Logoff on the Start Menu

Hide Switch account

	Path
CSP	`./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`HideSwitchAccount
GPO	Not available.

Hide User tile

	Path
CSP	`./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`HideUserTile
GPO	Not available.

Policy name	CSP	GPO
Allow pinned folder Documents	✅	❌
Allow pinned folder Downloads	✅	❌
Allow pinned folder File Explorer	✅	❌
Allow pinned folder Home Group	✅	❌
Allow pinned folder Music	✅	❌
Allow pinned folder Network	✅	❌
Allow pinned folder Personal Folder	✅	❌
Allow pinned folder Pictures	✅	❌
Allow pinned folder Settings	✅	❌
Allow pinned folder Videos	✅	❌

Allow pinned folder Documents

This policy controls the visibility of the Documents shortcut on the Pinned folder section of the Start menu:

When enabled, the Documents shortcut is displayed in the Pinned folder section of the Start menu
When disabled, the Documents shortcut is not displayed in the Pinned folder section of the Start menu

	Path
CSP	`./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`AllowPinnedFolderDocuments
GPO	Not available.

Allow pinned folder Downloads

This policy controls the visibility of the Downloads shortcut on the Pinned folder section of the Start menu:

When enabled, the Downloads shortcut is displayed in the Pinned folder section of the Start menu
When disabled, the Downloads shortcut is not displayed in the Pinned folder section of the Start menu

	Path
CSP	`./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`AllowPinnedFolderDownloads
GPO	Not available.

Allow pinned folder File Explorer

This policy controls the visibility of the File Explorer shortcut on the Pinned folder section of the Start menu:

When enabled, the File Explorer shortcut is displayed in the Pinned folder section of the Start menu
When disabled, the File Explorer shortcut is not displayed in the Pinned folder section of the Start menu

	Path
CSP	`./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`AllowPinnedFolderFileExplorer
GPO	Not available.

Allow pinned folder Home Group

This policy controls the visibility of the Home Group shortcut on the Pinned folder section of the Start menu:

When enabled, the Home Group shortcut is displayed in the Pinned folder section of the Start menu
When disabled, the Home Group shortcut is not displayed in the Pinned folder section of the Start menu

	Path
CSP	`./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`AllowPinnedFolderHomeGroup
GPO	Not available.

Allow pinned folder Music

This policy controls the visibility of the Music shortcut on the Pinned folder section of the Start menu:

When enabled, the Music shortcut is displayed in the Pinned folder section of the Start menu
When disabled, the Music shortcut is not displayed in the Pinned folder section of the Start menu

	Path
CSP	`./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`AllowPinnedFolderMusic
GPO	Not available.

Allow pinned folder Network

This policy controls the visibility of the Network shortcut on the Pinned folder section of the Start menu:

When enabled, the Network shortcut is displayed in the Pinned folder section of the Start menu
When disabled, the Network shortcut is not displayed in the Pinned folder section of the Start menu

	Path
CSP	`./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`AllowPinnedFolderNetword
GPO	Not available.

Allow pinned folder Personal Folder

This policy controls the visibility of the Personal Folder shortcut on the Pinned folder section of the Start menu:

When enabled, the Personal Folder shortcut is displayed in the Pinned folder section of the Start menu
When disabled, the Personal Folder shortcut is not displayed in the Pinned folder section of the Start menu

	Path
CSP	`./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`AllowPinnedFolderPersonalFolder
GPO	Not available.

Allow pinned folder Pictures

This policy controls the visibility of the Pictures shortcut on the Pinned folder section of the Start menu:

When enabled, the Pictures shortcut is displayed in the Pinned folder section of the Start menu
When disabled, the Pictures shortcut is not displayed in the Pinned folder section of the Start menu

	Path
CSP	`./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`AllowPinnedFolderPictures
GPO	Not available.

Allow pinned folder Settings

This policy controls the visibility of the Settings shortcut on the Pinned folder section of the Start menu:

When enabled, the Settings shortcut is displayed in the Pinned folder section of the Start menu
When disabled, the Settings shortcut is not displayed in the Pinned folder section of the Start menu

	Path
CSP	`./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`AllowPinnedFolderSettings
GPO	Not available.

Allow pinned folder Videos

This policy controls the visibility of the Videos shortcut on the Pinned folder section of the Start menu:

When enabled, the Videos shortcut is displayed in the Pinned folder section of the Start menu
When disabled, the Videos shortcut is not displayed in the Pinned folder section of the Start menu

	Path
CSP	`./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`AllowPinnedFolderVideos
GPO	Not available.

Policy name	CSP	GPO
Hide Hibernate	✅	❌
Hide Power button	✅	❌
Hide Restart	✅	❌
Hide Shut down	✅	❌
Hide Sleep	✅	❌
Remove and prevent access to the shut down restart sleep and hibernate commands	❌	✅

Hide Hibernate

	Path
CSP	`./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`HideHibernate
GPO	Not available.

Hide Power button

	Path
CSP	`./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`HidePowerButton
GPO	Not available.

hiderestart hideshutdown hidesleep

Hide Restart

	Path
CSP	`./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`HideRestart
GPO	Not available.

hideshutdown hidesleep

Hide Shut down

	Path
CSP	`./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`HideShutDown
GPO	Not available.

Hide Sleep

	Path
CSP	`./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Start/`HideSleep
GPO	Not available.

Remove and prevent access to the Shut Down, Restart, Sleep, and Hibernate commands

With this policy setting, you can prevent users from performing the following commands from the Windows security screen, the sign in screen, and the Start menu: Shut Down, Restart, Sleep, and Hibernate. This policy setting doesn't prevent users from running Windows-based programs that perform these functions:

If you enable this policy setting, the shutdown, restart, sleep, and hibernate commands are removed from the Start menu. The Power button is also removed from the Windows Security screen, which appears when you press CTRL+ALT+DELETE, and from the sign in screen
If you disable or don't configure this policy setting, the Power button and the Shut Down, Restart, Sleep, and Hibernate commands are available on the Start menu. The Power button on the Windows Security and sign in screens is also available

	Path
CSP	Not available
GPO	Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Remove and prevent access to the Shut Down, Restart, Sleep, and Hibernate commands

Start menu policy settings

Recommended section

Clear history of recently opened documents on exit

Clear tile notifications during log on

Configure Start layout

Configure Start pins

Disable context menus

Disable search

Don't use the search-based method when resolving shell shortcuts

Don't use the tracking-based method when resolving shell shortcuts

Force Start size

Hide recently added apps

Hide recent jumplists

Hide recommended personalized sites

Hide recommended section

Import Edge assets

Prevent changes to Taskbar and Start Menu settings

Prevent users from customizing their Start

Prevent users from uninstalling applications from Start

Remove common program groups

Show Run as different user command

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