windows-itpro-docs/windows/configuration/start/policy-settings.md

title, description, ms.topic, ms.date, appliesto, zone_pivot_groups

title	description	ms.topic	ms.date	appliesto	zone_pivot_groups
Start policy settings	Learn about the policy settings to configure the Windows Start menu.	reference	04/03/2025		windows-versions-11-10

Start menu policy settings

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.

:::row::: :::column span="2":::

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

:::column-end::: :::column span="2"::: ::: zone pivot="windows-10" :::image type="content" source="./images/windows-10-settings.png" alt-text="Sample start menu layout with its components highlighted." border="false" lightbox="./images/windows-10-settings.png"::: ::: zone-end

::: zone pivot="windows-11" :::image type="content" source="./images/windows-11-settings.png" alt-text="Sample start menu layout with its components highlighted." border="false" lightbox="./images/windows-11-settings.png"::: ::: zone-end

:::column-end:::

:::row-end:::

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

:::image type="icon" source="../images/icons/start.svg"::: Layout

::: zone pivot="windows-11"

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	✅	✅

::: zone-end

::: zone pivot="windows-10"

Policy name	CSP	GPO
Clear history of recently opened documents on exit	❌	✅
Clear tile notifications during log on	❌	✅
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	❌	✅
Start layout	✅	✅
::: zone-end

[!INCLUDE clear-history-of-recently-opened-documents-on-exit] ::: zone pivot="windows-10" [!INCLUDE clear-tile-notifications-during-log-on] ::: zone-end ::: zone pivot="windows-11" [!INCLUDE configure-start-pins] ::: zone-end [!INCLUDE disable-context-menus] ::: zone pivot="windows-11" [!INCLUDE disable-search] ::: zone-end [!INCLUDE do-not-use-the-search-based-method-when-resolving-shell-shortcuts] [!INCLUDE do-not-use-the-tracking-based-method-when-resolving-shell-shortcuts] ::: zone pivot="windows-10" [!INCLUDE force-start-size] ::: zone-end [!INCLUDE hide-recently-added-apps] [!INCLUDE hide-recent-jumplists] ::: zone pivot="windows-11" [!INCLUDE hide-recommended-personalized-sites] [!INCLUDE hide-recommended-section] ::: zone-end ::: zone pivot="windows-10" [!INCLUDE import-edge-assets] ::: zone-end [!INCLUDE prevent-changes-to-taskbar-and-start-menu-settings] [!INCLUDE prevent-users-from-customizing-their-start] [!INCLUDE prevent-users-from-uninstalling-applications-from-start] [!INCLUDE remove-common-program-groups] [!INCLUDE show-run-as-different-user-command] ::: zone pivot="windows-10" [!INCLUDE start-layout] ::: zone-end

:::image type="icon" source="../images/icons/allapps.svg"::: All apps

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

[!INCLUDE clear-the-recent-programs-list-for-new-users] [!INCLUDE hide-app-list] [!INCLUDE hide-frequently-used-apps] [!INCLUDE hide-most-used-lists]

:::image type="icon" source="../images/icons/user.svg"::: Account options

::: zone pivot="windows-11"

Policy name	CSP	GPO
Disable account notifications	✅	✅
Hide Change account settings	✅	❌
Hide Sign out	✅	✅
Hide Switch user	✅	❌
Hide entry points for Fast User Switching	✅	✅
Hide user tile	✅	❌
::: zone-end

::: zone pivot="windows-10"

Policy name	CSP	GPO
Disable account notifications	❌	✅
Hide Change account settings	✅	❌
Hide Lock	✅	❌
Hide Sign out	✅	✅
Hide Switch user	✅	❌
Hide entry points for Fast User Switching	✅	✅
Hide user tile	✅	❌
::: zone-end

[!INCLUDE disable-account-notifications] [!INCLUDE hide-change-account-settings] [!INCLUDE hide-lock] [!INCLUDE hide-signout] [!INCLUDE hide-switch-user] [!INCLUDE hide-lock] [!INCLUDE hide-user-tile]

:::image type="icon" source="../images/icons/folder.svg"::: Pinned folders

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	✅	❌

[!INCLUDE allow-pinned-folder-documents] [!INCLUDE allow-pinned-folder-downloads] [!INCLUDE allow-pinned-folder-file-explorer] [!INCLUDE allow-pinned-folder-home-group] [!INCLUDE allow-pinned-folder-music] [!INCLUDE allow-pinned-folder-network] [!INCLUDE allow-pinned-folder-personal-folder] [!INCLUDE allow-pinned-folder-pictures] [!INCLUDE allow-pinned-folder-settings] [!INCLUDE allow-pinned-folder-videos]

:::image type="icon" source="../images/icons/power.svg"::: Power options

::: zone pivot="windows-11"

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

::: zone pivot="windows-10"

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	❌	✅

::: zone-end

[!INCLUDE hide-hibernate] ::: zone pivot="windows-11" [!INCLUDE hide-lock] ::: zone-end [!INCLUDE hide-power-button] [!INCLUDE hide-restart] [!INCLUDE hide-shut-down] [!INCLUDE hide-sleep]

[!INCLUDE remove-and-prevent-access-to-the-shut-down-restart-sleep-and-hibernate-commands]

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