If you’ve ever glanced at a shared or public PC and noticed your name and account picture staring back from the Windows 11 Start menu, you’re not alone. That profile block is handy for fast sign-in switching, but it isn’t for everyone. Microsoft has added a straightforward way to remove it, and this quick tip walks you through exactly how to hide your name and profile picture from the Start menu.
Why you might want to hide your account details
The Start menu in Windows 11 displays your account name and profile picture in a small panel, usually anchored near the power and settings icons. It’s genuinely useful when you share a machine with family members who each switch between their own accounts. But that same convenience turns into a minor privacy leak in other situations.
Picture a work laptop left open on a desk, a shared family PC, or a public kiosk. Anyone walking by can see who’s signed in and, in some cases, a photo tied to your Microsoft account. Turning that display off is a simple privacy-hygiene move that needs no sign-out and no account switch.
There’s also a purely cosmetic reason worth mentioning. Some users simply prefer the cleaner, app-grid look of the Start menu without a personal avatar anchoring the corner. The setting gives you that control without touching anything else on your system, and it’s part of a broader pattern of Windows 11 letting users trim the account panel that has sat in the Start menu since the OS launched in 2021.
How to hide your name and profile picture
The control lives in the Settings app under your account settings. Follow these steps:
- Open Settings with the Win + I keyboard shortcut, or by right-clicking the Start button and choosing Settings.
- In the left sidebar, click Accounts.
- Select Your info from the list on the right.
- Find the option labeled Stop showing my account details on the start menu and toggle it on.
That’s the entire process. Within moments, your name and profile picture should disappear from the Start menu’s account panel. The rest of your account—your sign-in, your Microsoft services, and your personalization—stays completely intact.
If you don’t see the toggle right away, make sure you’re on the main Your info page for the account currently in use. The option is tied to the active profile, so it should appear for whoever is signed in when you open Settings.
What actually changes on screen
Once enabled, the Start menu no longer shows your display name or account photo. That space collapses into a leaner panel, often leaving just the power and settings icons where your avatar used to sit. You can still reach your account settings, sign out, or switch accounts through the same menu—nothing is locked away, it’s simply no longer broadcast to anyone looking over your shoulder.
It’s worth being clear about what this does not do. The change only affects the Start menu’s visual display. It does not alter your actual account name, your email address, or any personal data tied to your profile. If someone opens your account settings directly, they’ll see the same information as before.
What this means for you
For most users, this is a low-stakes privacy tweak. It costs nothing, takes a few seconds, and is instantly reversible. The real value shows up in shared or public environments where you’d rather not advertise who’s signed in. It’s the kind of setting that quietly blends into the background until you actually need it.
If you’re managing multiple PCs or helping family members set up their machines, it’s a reasonable default to consider—especially on devices that travel or sit in common areas. Keep in mind it isn’t a security feature in the strict sense: it won’t stop someone from signing in or reading your files. It just reduces the amount of personal information sitting out in the open for casual observers.
How to bring it back
Changing your mind is just as easy. Return to Settings > Accounts > Your info, locate the same Stop showing my account details on the start menu toggle, and switch it off. Your name and profile picture will reappear on the Start menu on the next refresh. Because the setting is stored with your account, it should persist across reboots and feature updates without needing to be re-enabled.
Source: Neowin
Over to you: Do you prefer seeing your account picture on the Start menu, or would you turn it off to keep things private?
