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 menu policy settings	Learn about the policy settings to configure the Windows Start menu.	reference	03/15/2024		windows-versions-11-10

Start menu policy settings

This reference article provides a comprehensive list of policy settings for Start menu.

:::row::: :::column span="2"::: The list of settings is sorted alphabetically and organized in four categories:

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. User options: settings to control the options exposed when selecting the user 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:::

For information about how to configure these settings, see Configure the Start menu.

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 area

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	❌	✅
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	❌	✅
::: zone-end

[!INCLUDE clear-history-of-recently-opened-documents-on-exit]

::: zone pivot="windows-10" [!INCLUDE clear-tile-notifications-during-log-on] [!INCLUDE configure-start-layout] ::: 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

[!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]

:::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"::: User options

Policy name	CSP	GPO
Hide Change sccount settings button	✅	❌
Hide Lock button	✅	❌
Hide Sign out button	✅	✅
Hide Switch User button	✅	❌
Hide user tile	✅	❌

[!INCLUDE hide-signout-button]

:::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	✅	❌

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

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

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

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