Microsoft introduced the Settings app in 2015 as a replacement for the Control Panel. The Control Panel is still available, but Microsoft moved some of its features to Settings in the years that followed.
A recent addition is the Settings Home page. It is the new start page of the Settings app and lists a number of custom information and options to the user.
Apart from the name of the device and the Internet connection status, it also lists Windows Update information, recommended settings, personalization options and options linked to a Microsoft account.
Not all users need the homepage. Those who prefer to use the Settings app without it can hide in using two different methods. This restores the classic Windows 11 Settings startpage, which is System.
The first makes the change in the Group Policy Editor. Please note that this tool is only available in Pro, Education, Enterprise and Workstation editions of Windows 11. In other words, in all Windows 11 editions except for Windows 11 Home.
Microsoft launched Windows 11 version 23H2 and the Moment 4 update for Windows 11 recently.
Hide the Settings Home page in Windows 11 using the Group Policy Editor
The Group Policy Editor is a widely used tool to configure the operating system for specific or all users. It includes a policy to hide pages in Settings.
Note: it is recommended to back up the PC before you edit the Registry. You should not run into any issues if you follow the guide exactly, but backups are a good precaution nevertheless.
Here is a step-by-step guide to hide the homepage in Settings:
- Open the Start Menu, type gpedit.msc and select Edit Group Policy from the search results. This opens the Group Policy Editor.
- Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel.
- Double-click on Settings Page Visibility to display the configuration window for that policy.
- Set the status to Enabled.
- Type hide:home in the Settings Page Visibility box.
- Select OK to apply the change.
- Restart the PC.
The home link is no longer visible in Settings after the restart. Windows 11 opens the System page in Settings from now on.
Remove the Home page in Settings using the Registry
Every Group Policy setting is matched in the Registry. Home administrators may make the same configuration change in the Registry to hide the Settings home page.
- Open the Start Menu, type Regedit and select the Registry Editor result.
- Confirm the UAC security prompt.
- Paste the following URL into the address field in Registry Editor: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
- Right-click on Explorer (left sidebar) and select New > String Value.
- Name it SettingsPageVisibility.
- Double-click on the new entry and type hide:home.
- Select OK to apply the change.
- Close the Registry Editor and restart the PC.
Closing Words
Windows 11 users who prefer the classic experience may use the instructions above to restore it. Those who don’t mind or prefer the new Settings home don’t have to do anything, as this is the new default experience.
Now You: home or not, what is your take on the new homepage?