Changes to Group Policy settings for Windows 10 Start

Applies to

WindowsВ 10 has a brand new Start experience. As a result, there are changes to the Group Policy settings that you can use to manage Start. Some policy settings are new or changed, and some old Start policy settings still apply. Other Start policy settings no longer apply and are deprecated.

Start policy settings supported for WindowsВ 10 Pro, WindowsВ 10 Enterprise, and WindowsВ 10 Education

These policy settings are available in Administrative Templates\Start Menu and Taskbar under User Configuration.

Use this policy in conjunction with a customized Start layout to prevent users from changing it

This applies a specific Start layout, and it also prevents users from changing the layout. This policy can be configured in User Configuration or Computer Configuration.

Policy	Notes
Clear history of recently opened documents on exit	Documents that the user opens are tracked during the session. When the user signs off, the history of opened documents is deleted.
Do not allow pinning items in Jump Lists	Jump Lists are lists of recently opened items, such as files, folders, or websites, organized by the program that you use to open them. This policy prevents users from pinning items to any Jump List.
Do not display or track items in Jump Lists from remote locations	When this policy is applied, only items local on the computer are shown in Jump Lists.
Do not keep history of recently opened documents	Documents that the user opens are not tracked during the session.
Prevent changes to Taskbar and Start Menu Settings	In WindowsВ 10, this disables all of the settings in Settings > Personalization > Start as well as the options in dialog available via right-click Taskbar > Properties
Prevent users from customizing their Start Screen
Prevent users from uninstalling applications from Start	In WindowsВ 10, this removes the uninstall button in the context menu. It does not prevent users from uninstalling the app through other entry points (e.g. PowerShell)
Remove All Programs list from the Start menu	In WindowsВ 10, this removes the All apps button.
Remove and prevent access to the Shut Down, Restart, Sleep, and Hibernate commands	This removes the Shut Down, Restart, Sleep, and Hibernate commands from the Start Menu, Start Menu power button, CTRL+ALT+DEL screen, and Alt+F4 Shut Down Windows menu.
Remove common program groups from Start Menu	As in earlier versions of Windows, this removes apps specified in the All Users profile from Start
Remove frequent programs list from the Start Menu	In WindowsВ 10, this removes the top left Most used group of apps.
Remove Logoff on the Start Menu	Logoff has been changed to Sign Out in the user interface, however the functionality is the same.
Remove pinned programs list from the Start Menu	In WindowsВ 10, this removes the bottom left group of apps (by default, only File Explorer and Settings are pinned).
Show «Run as different user» command on Start	This enables the Run as different user option in the right-click menu for apps.
Start Layout
Force Start to be either full screen size or menu size	This applies a specific size for Start.

Deprecated Group Policy settings for Start

The Start policy settings listed below do not work on Windows 10. Most of them were deprecated in Windows 8 however a few more were deprecated in Windows 10. Deprecation in this case means that the policy setting will not work on Windows 10. The “Supported on” text for a policy setting will not list Windows 10. The policy settings are still in the Group Policy Management Console and can be used on the operating systems that they apply to.

Make older apps or programs compatible with Windows 10

Most apps (and other programs, like games or utilities) that were created for earlier versions of Windows will work in the most recent version of Windows 10, but some older ones might run poorly or not at all. Here are some ways to fix common issues with older programs.

To check which version and build of Windows you’re running, in the search box on the taskbar, enter winver and then select Enter.

If you have printer or scanner problems after a Windows 10 upgrade or update, see Fix printer problems after updating or upgrading to Windows 10.

If you have Bluetooth problems after a Windows 10 upgrade or update, see Fix Bluetooth problems in Windows 10.

First, try running the compatibility troubleshooter:

In the search box on the taskbar, type the name of the program or app you want to troubleshoot.

Select and hold (or right-click) it, and then select Open file location .

Select and hold (or right-click) the program file, select Properties, and then select the Compatibility tab.

Select Run compatibility troubleshooter.

If that didn’t work, you can try adjusting the settings Compatibility tab. Here’s what to look for and what each setting does when it’s selected.

Compatibility settings

Runs the program using settings from an earlier version of Windows. Try this setting if you know the program is designed for (or worked with) a specific version of Windows.

Reduced color mode

Uses a limited set of colors in the program. Some older programs are designed to use fewer colors.

Run in 640 × 480 screen resolution

Try this setting if the graphics for the program appear jagged or are rendered incorrectly.

Change high DPI settings

If your program isn’t displayed correctly on a PC with a high-DPI display (its features are blurry or are too big or too small), select Change high DPI settings, and then try one of these options in the Properties dialog box:

Choose which DPI to use

In the Program DPI section, select Use this setting to fix scaling problems for this program instead of the one in Settings to use the DPI settings you want to use for this program.

Note: This changes the DPI only for the app you’re adjusting. If you want to adjust this for all apps, select Start > Settings > Advanced scaling settings and follow the instructions.
For more info about changing the setting for all apps, see Fix apps that appear blurry.

For Use the DPI that’s set for my main display when, select one of the following:

I signed in to Windows Use the DPI that was set for your main display when you signed in to Windows. This is the default setting.

I open this program – Use the DPI that was set for your main display at the time you open the specific program.

Change the application’s high-DPI scaling mode

In the High DPI scaling override area, select Override high DPI scaling behavior, and then try one of the following options:

Application – Disable all Windows scaling settings and only use the app developer’s setting. This option was called Disable display scaling on high DPI settings in previous versions of Windows.

System – Overrides the program’s DPI settings and makes it run like it would on a low-DPI display. On a high-DPI display, this will make the program appear blurry.

System (Enhanced) – Windows will try to use enhanced DPI scaling for this program. As a result, some programs will display with crisp text on high-DPI displays. This won’t work for all programs.

Run this program as an administrator

Some programs require administrator permissions to run correctly. Sign in to your PC as an administrator to use this option.

Change settings for all users

Apply the settings for that program to all accounts on the PC, and select Change settings for all users. You might be prompted for an admin password or to confirm your choice.

Recovery options in Windows 10

If you’re having problems with your PC, the following table can help you decide which recovery option to use.

See this section

Your PC isn’t working well and you recently installed an update.

Your PC isn’t working well and it’s been a while since you installed an app, driver, or update.

Your PC won’t start, you haven’t created a recovery drive, and resetting your PC didn’t work.

Your PC won’t start and you haven’t created a recovery drive.

Your PC won’t start and you’ve created a recovery drive.

You want to reinstall your previous operating system.

Your PC isn’t working well and you recently installed an app.

Click one of the recovery options below and follow the steps to try to get things working again.

If you’ve recently installed a Windows update, uninstall the update to try to resolve the issue.

Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View your update history > Uninstall updates.
View update history settings

Right-click the update you want to remove, and then select Uninstall.

Important: If you’ve encrypted your device, you’ll need your BitLocker key to reset your PC If you don’t know your BitLocker key, see Find my BitLocker recovery key.

Resetting reinstalls Windows 10, but lets you choose whether to keep your files or remove them, and then reinstalls Windows. You can reset your PC from Settings, the sign-in screen, or by using a recovery drive or installation media.

Reset your PC from Settings

Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Recovery .
Open Recovery settings

Under Reset this PC, select Get started and then choose from the options and/or settings in the table below.

Keep my files > Change settings > Preinstalled apps On

Reinstalls Windows 10 and keeps your personal files.

Removes apps and drivers you installed.

Removes changes you made to settings.

Restores any apps your PC manufacturer installed if your PC came with Windows 10.

Keep my files > Change settings > Preinstalled apps Off

Reinstalls Windows 10 and keeps your personal files.

Removes apps and drivers you installed.

Removes changes you made to settings.

Removes any apps your PC manufacturer installed.

Reinstalls Windows 10 and removes your personal files.

Removes apps and drivers you installed.

Removes changes you made to settings.

Removes any apps your PC manufacturer installed. (If your PC came with Windows 10, apps from your PC manufacturer will be reinstalled.)

Note: Remove everything > Change settings gives you two options.

Data erasure On removes files and cleans the drive. If you’re planning to donate, recycle, or sell your PC, use this option. This might take an hour or two, but it makes it harder for other people to recover files you’ve removed.

Data erasure Off just removes files. It takes less time, but is less secure.

Reset your PC from the sign-in screen

If you can’t open Settings, you can reset your PC from the sign-in screen. Here’s how:

Press Windows logo key + L to get to the sign-in screen, and then restart your PC by pressing the Shift key while you select the Power button > Restart in the lower-right corner of the screen.

Your PC will restart in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) environment.

On the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC, and then choose one of the options in the previous table.

Connect the installation media you created to your PC and reinstall Windows 10.

Open File Explorer and select the drive with the installation media.

From the root directory of the drive, double-click setup.exe, and then select Yes when asked if you’d like to allow the app to make changes to your device.

Select Change what to keep.

Select one of the following options, and then select Next:

Keep personal files and apps – This will preserve your personal data, apps, and settings.

Keep personal files only – This will preserve your personal data and settings, but all your apps will be removed.

Keep nothing – This will remove all personal data, settings, and apps.

Warning: You cannot undo a reinstallation of Windows 10. Be sure to back up your files first if you choose the Keep nothing option.

To finish, select Install to start reinstalling Windows 10 on your PC.

Your PC will restart several times during the resinstallation.

Important: If you’ve encrypted your device, you’ll need your BitLocker key to use a recovery drive to restore or reset your PC If you don’t know your BitLocker key, see Find my BitLocker recovery key.

If your PC won’t start and you haven’t created a recovery drive, download installation media and use it to restore from a system restore point or reset your PC.

Download the Windows 10 media creation tool and then run it.

Select Create installation media for another PC.

Choose a language, edition, and architecture (64-bit or 32-bit).

Follow the steps to create installation media, and then select Finish.

Connect the installation media you created to your nonfunctional PC, and then turn it on.

On the initial setup screen, enter your language and other preferences, and then select Next. If you don’t see the setup screen, your PC might not be set up to boot from a drive. Check your PC manufacturer’s website for info on how to change your PC’s boot order, and then try again.

Select Repair your computer.

On the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot. From there, you can:

Restore from a system restore point by selecting Advanced options > System Restore. This will remove recently installed apps, drivers, and updates that might be causing your PC problems. Restoring from a restore point won’t affect your personal files.

Important: If you’ve encrypted your device, you’ll need your BitLocker key to use a recovery drive to restore or reset your PC If you don’t know your BitLocker key, see Find my BitLocker recovery key.

If your PC won’t start, you can use a recovery drive to restore from a system restore point or recover your PC. For info on how to create a recovery drive on a working PC, see Create a recovery drive.

Note: If you are using a Surface, see Creating and using a USB recovery drive for Surface to download and create a USB recovery image specifically for your Surface device.

To restore or recover using the recovery drive:

Connect the recovery drive and turn on your PC.

Press Windows logo key + L to get to the sign-in screen, and then restart your PC by pressing the Shift key while you select the Power button> Restart in the lower-right corner of the screen.

Your PC will restart in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) environment.

On the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot, and then select one of the following two options. (If you don’t see the Choose your option screen, your PC might not be set up to boot from a drive. Check your PC manufacturer’s website for info on how to change your PC’s boot order.)

To restore from a system restore point, select Advanced Options > System Restore. This won’t affect your personal files, but it will remove recently installed apps, drivers, and updates that might be causing your PC problems.

To reinstall Windows 10, select Advanced Options > Recover from a drive. This will remove your personal files, apps and drivers you installed, and changes you made to settings.

For a limited time after upgrading to Windows 10, you’ll be able to go back to your previous version of Windows by selecting the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Recovery and then selecting Get started under Go back to the previous version of Windows 10. This will keep your personal files, but it’ll remove apps and drivers installed after the upgrade, as well as any changes you made to settings. In most cases, you’ll have 10 days to go back.
Open Recovery settings

To go back, you’ll need to:

Keep everything in the windows.old and $windows.

bt folders after the upgrade.

Remove any user accounts you added after the upgrade.

Know the password you used to sign in to Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 (if you used one).

Have the USB drive you used to upgrade to Windows 10 (if you used one).

Note: If you go back to Windows 8.1, some apps that came with Windows, like Mail and People, might not work anymore. To fix the apps, reinstall them from the Microsoft Store.

Note: The option in Settings to go back to your previous version of Windows is only available for a limited time after upgrading.

Info for Windows Insiders

If you’re an Insider and the current preview build isn’t working for you, select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Recovery . Under Go back to the previous version of Windows 10, select Get Started. This won’t remove your personal files, but it’ll remove recently installed apps and drivers, and change settings back to their defaults.

Going back to an earlier build won’t remove you from the Insider Program. When the next preview build is ready, it’ll be installed on your PC.

This option takes your PC back to an earlier point in time, called a system restore point. Restore points are generated when you install a new app or driver, and when you create a restore point manually. Restoring won’t affect your personal files, but it will remove apps, drivers, and updates installed after the restore point was made.

In the search box on the taskbar, type control panel,andthen choose it from the list of results

In the Control Panel search box, type recovery.

Select Recovery > Open System Restore.

In the Restore system files and setting box, select Next.

Select the restore point that you want to use in the list of results, and then select Scan for affected programs.

If you don’t see the restore point that you want to use, select the Show more restore points check box to see more restore points.

If you’re not seeing any restore points, it might be because system protection isn’t turned on. Here’s how to check:

In the search box on the taskbar, type control panel,andthen choose it from the list of results.

In the Control Panel search box, type recovery.

Select Recovery > Configure System Restore > Configure and see if the Turn on system protection option is selected.

If the Turn on system protection option is not selected, system protection isn’t turned on and there aren’t any restore points. In this scenario, you won’t be able to recovery your PC using a system restore point and will need to use one of the other recovery options listed on this page.

If the Turn on system protection option is selected, continue with step 6.

You’ll see a list of items that will be deleted if you remove this restore point. If you’re OK with the deletions, select Close> Next > Finish.