One of the new features of Windows 11 was the recommendations section of the start menu. Windows displays recently added programs or opened files in the section.
Microsoft likes it that much, that it made it a mandatory feature. You can reduce the number of recommendations or even display none at all, but you can’t remove the entire section to make room for more pinned items and other useful things.
Note: third-party programs or Start menu replacement apps do away with this, but that is another story.
The latest Windows 11 Insider preview build adds another recommendations section to the operating system. It is not really a new feature, considering that Microsoft tested it in the year 2023 already. It does come with a new design though.
File Explorer: Recommendations
This time, it is File Explorer that is going to show a recommended section when you launch it or display the home section.
Here is how Microsoft describes the feature:
These files will provide you quick access to relevant files based on your activity in the Recommended section which is displayed as a carousel with thumbnail previews. This includes content such as files you frequently use, have recently downloaded, or added to your File Explorer Gallery.
It is interesting to note that Home is already showing recently used files on the very page. Even Microsoft’s screenshot shows the same file under recommended and recent.
The new section is displayed only for users who sign-in with a personal Microsoft account or a local account. Users from the European Economic Area do not get the feature at this point.
It is unclear at this point whether this section will also be mandatory, or if users may disable it. There is an option to collapse it.
Registry hacks exist to remove the entire Home section in File Explorer. This could be another option for users who do not really need the recommendations there.
What is your take on these recommendations? Is it a useful feature that you would like to use? Or do you prefer to hide these whenever possible?
Quote: “The new section is displayed only for users who sign-in with a personal Microsoft account or a local account.”
Is there another option?
Also, I though you had stopped using that false term and started calling them what they are, advertisiments.
Yes, you can also sign-in with a work or school account. Regarding advertisement, as long as it is used only to display the user’s files or shortcuts, I’d say it does not fall into the ads category. If Microsoft plans to add web links or other recommendations, it certainly would.
“What is your take on these recommendations?”
I’m not aware of needing “recommendations.” For the Start Menu, I’ve been using StartAllBack.
https://www.startallback.com/
It eliminated that “huge” empty notification panel above the calendar, a calendar that is once again functional. Open Shell didn’t provide the same solution.
But I don’t know the difference between projects; there is also a StartIsBack which is seemingly different than the precursor, “StartIsBack” to StartAllBack.
https://github.com/samrA-90/StartIsBack-Windows-11-Setup?tab=readme-ov-file
I still have an unused StarDock Menu for Windows 11; saving it for a rainy day.
I’ve heard good and bad for Explorer++; it’s portable if that’s a plus.
I prevented Windows 11 updates using GRC’s InControl app and haven’t seen it. Maybe it only affects 23h2 and beyond.