Remove pinned programs list from the Start Menu: registry value NoStartMenuPinnedListUserHKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Policy ID
NoPinnedPrograms
Scope
User Configuration
Supported on
Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP
Source
Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category
Start Menu and Taskbar

Registry

NoStartMenuPinnedList

-User