Understanding the Feature
The "Trending Videos from the Web" feature is part of Microsoft's effort to integrate online content directly into the Windows 10 desktop environment. When enabled, the Start Menu aggregates links to popular YouTube videos, news articles, and other web-based media based on your activity or general popularity. While some users find these suggestions helpful for discovering new content, many others view them as intrusive advertisements or unnecessary noise. The feature relies on your Microsoft account being signed in and connected to the internet to fetch real-time data. If you prefer a static, predictable Start Menu layout, turning off these recommendations is the most effective solution.
Step-by-Step Guide to Disable Recommendations
To remove these elements from your Start Menu, follow these precise steps within the Windows 10 operating system:
- Open Settings: Press
Win + Ion your keyboard to open the Settings application immediately. Alternatively, click the gear icon in the Start Menu. - Navigate to Personalization: In the Settings window, locate and click on the "Personalization" tile. This section controls visual aspects of Windows, including themes, colors, and lock screen settings.
- Select Start from the Sidebar: On the left-hand menu, scroll down and click on "Start." This page contains specific options related to how the Start Menu behaves and what it displays.
- Disable Recommendations: Scroll down to the section titled "Show recommendations for tips, shortcuts, new apps, and thumbnails in Start." Toggle the switch next to this option to the "Off" position. You may also see options like "Show recently added apps" and "Show most used apps"; toggle these off if you wish to further declutter the list.
Once you have toggled these switches off, close the Settings window. Open your Start Menu again to verify that the "Trending Videos" section and other suggested tiles have disappeared. The changes apply immediately without requiring a restart.
Additional Privacy and Cleanup Steps
Disabling the Start Menu recommendations is often part of a broader desire to reduce telemetry and tracking. Windows 10 collects usage data to personalize these suggestions. To ensure a more thorough cleanup, consider adjusting additional privacy settings. Go back to Settings and select "Privacy." Under the "General" tab, turn off all four switches, particularly "Let apps use my advertising ID" and "Let Windows show me personalized ads by using my advertising ID." These settings prevent Microsoft from building a profile of your interests to serve targeted content in various apps, including the Start Menu.
If you still see residual icons or pinned items that you no longer want, right-click any unwanted tile in the Start Menu and select "Unpin from Start." This action removes the shortcut from your user interface but does not uninstall the application itself. For a completely fresh start, you can also clear your recent files list by going to Settings > System > Storage > Temporary Files and checking the box for "Recent Items."
Related Troubleshooting
If you encounter issues while customizing your Start Menu, such as the menu failing to close after launching an app, refer to our guide on Windows 10 Start Menu Does Not Close After Starting an App. This common bug can sometimes interfere with UI updates and might require a registry fix or service restart. Additionally, if you are managing third-party software alongside system settings, ensuring that background services are properly disabled can prevent conflicts. For instructions on removing unwanted programs, see our article on How to Disable Supremo Program and Service on Windows 10.
Verifying the Changes
After applying the settings, it is important to verify that the changes have persisted. Sign out of your Windows account and sign back in, or simply restart your computer. Upon logging back in, open the Start Menu and check the bottom section where "Trending Videos" previously appeared. If the feature was successfully disabled, this area should either be empty or display only your manually pinned applications. If the videos reappear, ensure that your Windows 10 installation is up to date, as older builds may have bugs related to policy enforcement. Keep in mind that major feature updates can sometimes reset personalization preferences to their default state, so you may need to reapply these settings after a significant update.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will disabling trending videos affect my installed applications?
No, disabling these recommendations only affects the display of suggested content in the Start Menu. Your installed applications remain fully functional and accessible through the All Apps list or your manual pinning arrangements. This change is purely cosmetic and does not alter the underlying software on your system.
Can I re-enable these features later if I change my mind?
Yes, you can easily reverse this process. Simply return to Settings > Personalization > Start and toggle the "Show recommendations" switch back to the On position. The Trending Videos and other suggestions will reappear in the Start Menu almost immediately, reflecting your updated preference.
Does this work on Windows 11 as well?
The process is slightly different in Windows 11 due to the redesigned interface. In Windows 11, you must go to Settings > Personalization > Start and toggle off "Show recently opened items in Jump Lists, Start, File Explorer, and Quick Access." While the wording differs, the goal of removing dynamic content remains the same across both versions of the OS.
Why do trending videos still appear after I turned them off?
This usually happens if you have not signed out of your Microsoft account or if the system has not refreshed its cache. Try restarting your computer to force a refresh of the Start Menu configuration. If the issue persists, check for pending Windows Updates, as outdated system files can sometimes cause settings to revert unexpectedly.
Is there a way to hide specific apps instead of all recommendations?
You cannot selectively hide individual trending videos because they are generated dynamically based on algorithms. However, you can unpin specific apps from the Start Menu by right-clicking them and selecting "Unpin from Start." This gives you control over the static portion of the menu, while disabling recommendations handles the dynamic web-sourced content.