If you’re using the Phone Link app in Windows 11, you’ve probably noticed how it smartly syncs photos and messages from your mobile device to your PC. While this feature is convenient, it can raise privacy concerns—especially when recent mobile content pops up in the Start Menu’s “Recommended” section. Whether you’re sharing your computer or just value a minimal Start Menu experience, hiding this content can offer peace of mind.
Luckily, Windows 11 offers a couple of simple methods to disable or hide this recent mobile activity from appearing in your Start Menu. In this article, we’ll walk through two easy ways to keep your mobile content private while still enjoying the overall benefits of Phone Link.
1. Turn Off Phone Link’s Integration with Start Menu Recommendations
Windows 11 has a direct integration that allows recently accessed mobile files and links to appear in your Start Menu’s “Recommended” section. You can turn this feature off in just a few steps:
- Click the Start button and select Settings.
- Navigate to Personalization > Start.
- Locate the toggle labeled “Show recently added apps” or “Show recently opened items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer.”
- Toggle it Off.
This setting affects more than just Phone Link—it disables a range of recent activity across your system. If you’re looking for a more targeted solution, the next method might suit you better.
2. Manage Phone Link App Permissions and Sync Settings
For more granular control, you can modify the permissions and synchronization settings specifically within the Phone Link app. This will stop certain content—like recent photos—from being passed from your phone to your PC, hence keeping them off the Start Menu.
Follow these steps:
- Open the Phone Link app on your PC.
- Click the gear icon (⚙️) in the upper-right corner to go to Settings.
- Under Features, you’ll see sections like Messages, Photos, and Apps.
- Toggle Photos and other unwanted categories to the Off position.
This will stop Phone Link from syncing that category of content entirely, which not only keeps it out of the Start Menu but also tidies up the Phone Link interface itself.
Bonus Tip: Use Group Policy Editor (Advanced Users)
If you’re comfortable diving deeper into Windows 11’s system settings and you’re using Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise, you can use the Group Policy Editor to control recommendations even further.
- Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and hit Enter.
- Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar.
- Look for a policy titled “Do not keep a history of recently opened documents” and double-click it.
- Set it to Enabled, then click Apply and OK.
This will effectively suppress recent file and content listings across the Start Menu and other parts of the user interface.
Why This Matters
Protecting your digital privacy on shared or work devices is becoming increasingly important. Even seemingly harmless features like “Recommendations” in the Start Menu can reveal more than you’d like—whether it’s that recent vacation photo or a sensitive message. By adjusting your Phone Link settings and your system preferences, you gain more control over how your information is displayed on-screen.
Final Thoughts
Windows 11 offers powerful integrations with mobile devices through the Phone Link app, but with great power comes the need for discretion. Whether you use the Settings app for quick control or go deeper with app permissions and Group Policy tweaks, these two methods will help you hide recent mobile content from the Start Menu effectively. Keeping your Start Menu clean and private has never been easier.