Microsoft added a small but useful privacy option to Windows 11 that lets users hide their account name and profile picture from the Start menu. The change is aimed particularly at people who frequently share their screens, record tutorials, or use their PCs in environments where they may not want personal account details visible.
By default, Windows 11 displays the user's account name and profile image at the bottom of the Start menu. The new setting removes those details from the main Start menu without deleting or changing the underlying Microsoft account information.
Once the new option is switched on, Windows 11 replaces the user's name and profile picture with a generic Microsoft Account image. This creates a cleaner Start menu and prevents the account holder's identity from being immediately visible whenever the menu is opened.
The change is only visual. The user's Microsoft account, personalization settings, and other account information remain intact. Clicking the generic profile picture can still open the account-related panel, where users can access their information.
This makes the feature particularly useful during presentations or screen recordings, where users previously had to manually crop or blur their account details.
Windows 11 users can enable the option through the Settings app. The process takes only a few steps:
Open Settings on your Windows 11 PC.
Select Personalization from the left-hand menu.
Click Start.
Look for the option called “Hide your name and profile picture on Start.”
Turn the toggle on.
After enabling the setting, open the Start menu again. Your account name and personal profile image should no longer appear in the usual location.
Also Read: Microsoft Removes Search Clutter in New Windows 11 Update Test
The option arrived with Microsoft's KB5120998 update for Windows 11. However, Microsoft is rolling it out gradually, so the setting may not appear on every compatible computer immediately. If the toggle is missing, it does not necessarily mean there is a problem with the PC. Users may simply have to wait until Microsoft enables the feature on their device.
The update is part of Microsoft's broader effort to give users more control over the Windows 11 Start menu. Alongside privacy-focused changes, the company has been testing additional options for controlling how Start displays apps and recently used content.
For most users, the feature is a minor visual adjustment. However, for anyone who regularly shares their screen or uses a common PC, it provides an easy way to keep their identity out of the Start menu without changing their Windows account.