Turn Off Suggested Content in Windows 10 Settings

To turn off suggested content in Windows 10, open the Settings app (Win + I), go to Personalization > Start, and toggle off “Show suggestions occasionally in Start.” You can also disable similar suggestions in Settings > Privacy > General by turning off the four “Let apps…” advertising-related switches. This removes most promotional tiles and tips that appear in the Start menu and across the system.

What Counts as Suggested Content in Windows 10

Microsoft uses the term “suggested content” to describe a range of promotional and recommendation features built into Windows 10. These include:

• App suggestions in the Start menu (tiles like Candy Crush or Spotify that you didn’t install).
• “Tips, tricks, and suggestions” that pop up when you use certain settings pages.
• Suggestions in the lock screen (“Get fun facts, tips, and more on your lock screen”).
• Ads in File Explorer (under “Frequent folders” or “Recent files” in the Quick Access view).
• Promotional notifications from the Windows Spotlight feature on the lock screen.

These are not malware—they are built-in advertising and recommendation systems. Microsoft has included them since the Windows 10 launch in 2015, and they are controlled through the Settings app, not the Control Panel. The exact wording of the toggles has changed slightly with feature updates, but the locations have remained stable.

How to Turn Off Start Menu Suggestions

The most common place users see suggested content is the Start menu, where tiles for third-party apps appear after a fresh install or update. To disable them:

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
2. Click Personalization.
3. Select Start from the left sidebar.
4. Find the toggle labeled “Show suggestions occasionally in Start.”
5. Set it to Off.

This single switch removes the promotional tiles. It does not remove the apps themselves—if Candy Crush or another game was already installed, you still need to right-click the tile and choose “Uninstall” to remove it completely. The toggle only prevents new suggestions from appearing.

Turning Off Suggestions in Privacy Settings

Windows 10 also shows suggested content in other areas, such as the notification area and the Settings app itself. These are governed by a separate set of toggles under Privacy settings:

1. Open Settings (Win + I).
2. Click Privacy.
3. Select General from the left sidebar.
4. Turn off all four switches under “Change privacy options”:
   • “Let apps show me personalized ads by using my advertising ID”
   • “Let websites provide locally relevant content by accessing my language list”
   • “Let Windows track app launches to improve Start and search results”
   • “Show me suggested content in the Settings app”

The fourth switch directly controls suggestions inside the Settings app itself. Turning off the first one disables the advertising ID that Microsoft uses to serve targeted ads across Windows apps. The second and third affect personalization and are often left on by users who want search and Start to remember their habits, but they do contribute to what feels like “suggested” content.

Lock Screen and Spotlight Suggestions

Windows Spotlight is the feature that rotates beautiful photos on the lock screen and occasionally shows tips or ads. To see only a static picture or your own slideshow:

1. Open Settings > Personalization > Lock screen.
2. Under “Background,” choose Picture or Slideshow instead of “Windows Spotlight.”
3. If you keep Spotlight, uncheck “Get fun facts, tips, and more from Windows and Cortana on your lock screen.”

This stops the occasional promotional messages that appear below the clock. The lock screen suggestions are separate from the Start menu ones, so you need to adjust both if you want a completely clean experience.

File Explorer and Notification Suggestions

Two less obvious places show suggested content: File Explorer and the notification center.

In File Explorer, the Quick Access view shows “Frequent folders” and “Recent files.” These are not ads, but they are based on your activity and can feel like suggestions. To hide them, open File Explorer, click the View tab, then Options, and under the General tab, uncheck “Show recently used files in Quick Access” and “Show frequently used folders in Quick Access.” You can also change the “Open File Explorer to” dropdown from “Quick access” to “This PC” to skip the suggested views entirely.

Notifications from apps like “Get Office” or “Tips” can also appear in the Action Center. To stop them, right-click the notification and select “Turn off notifications for this app,” or go to Settings > System > Notifications & actions and disable the specific apps you don’t want to hear from.

What About Registry or Group Policy?

For advanced users, some suggested content can be disabled via Group Policy or the Registry, but this is rarely necessary. The Settings toggles cover the vast majority of what users perceive as ads. If you are on Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise, you can use the Local Group Policy Editor to disable “Show suggested content in Settings” under Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar. However, editing the Registry incorrectly can cause system instability, so it is safer to stick with the Settings app. The toggles in Settings are the officially supported method and work on all editions of Windows 10.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

One common issue is that suggested tiles reappear after a major Windows update. Microsoft occasionally resets some settings during feature updates, so you may need to re-disable the toggles after updating. Another misconception is that turning off suggestions also removes the apps themselves—it does not. You must uninstall any unwanted apps manually.

Some users worry that disabling the advertising ID will break other features. It won’t—it only stops personalized ads. Your Start menu search and Cortana will still work, though they may become less tailored. Also, note that the “Show suggestions occasionally in Start” toggle only affects the Start menu; it does not stop suggestions in the Settings app or lock screen, which is why you need to adjust all the relevant settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off suggested content speed up my PC?

No. The suggestions are just UI elements; they don’t consume significant CPU or memory. You might notice slightly faster Start menu rendering if you have many tiles, but the effect is negligible.

Can I remove the suggested apps completely?

Yes. Right-click the app tile in Start and select “Uninstall.” Some built-in apps like Microsoft Solitaire Collection or Xbox can be uninstalled via PowerShell, but that is more advanced and not necessary for most users.

Do these settings sync across devices?

No. Each Windows 10 device has its own settings. If you have multiple PCs, you need to disable suggestions on each one.

Will turning off the advertising ID affect my Microsoft account?

No. The advertising ID is a per-device identifier used for app ads. Your Microsoft account and its preferences remain unchanged.

Are these suggestions a security risk?

No. They are promotional content from Microsoft and its partners. They are not malware, but they do track some usage data to personalize ads. Disabling them reduces data collection.

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