How to Hide or Show Name and Profile Picture in the Windows 11 Start Menu

In Windows 11, the Start menu can display the account name and profile picture associated with the currently signed-in user. These details make it easier to identify an account, especially on shared computers. However, some users may prefer a cleaner Start menu or want to keep their account information less visible. This guide explains how to hide or show the account name and profile picture in the Windows 11 Start menu using the available methods.

Method 1: Hide or Show the Account Name and Profile Picture in Settings

Windows 11 provides a built-in setting to control whether the account name and profile picture appear in the Start menu. This is the easiest method because it does not require editing the Registry or changing the account itself.

Step 1. Open Start Settings

Press Win + I to open Settings. In the left pane, select Personalization, then click Start on the right.

Step 2. Find the Account Display Option

Scroll down to the Other section. Look for the option named Hide your name and profile picture on Start.

Step 3. Hide or Show the Account Details

Turn on the toggle to hide the account name and profile picture from the Start menu. Turn it off to restore their default display.

Method 2: Hide or Show the Account Name and Profile Picture Using Registry Editor

If the native toggle is missing, you can achieve the same result through the Registry Editor.

Step 1. Open Registry Editor

Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter. If prompted by User Account Control, click Yes.

Step 2. Navigate to the Start Menu Registry Key

In Registry Editor, navigate to the following path:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Start

Step 3. Create or Modify the DWORD Value

In the right pane, look for a DWORD (32-bit) value named HideUserInformation. If it does not exist, right-click an empty area, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it HideUserInformation.

Step 4. Set Value Data

Double-click HideUserInformation and set its Value data to:

• 1 to hide your name and profile picture.
• 0 to show them again.

Click OK and restart your computer for the change to take effect.

Conclusion

Hiding the account name and profile picture can give the Windows 11 Start menu a cleaner appearance and reduce the personal information visible during screen sharing or recording. Keep in mind that hiding these details only changes how they appear in the Start menu. It does not change the Windows account name, delete the profile picture, or prevent others from accessing account information elsewhere on the computer.