Disable Settings Header Banner in Windows 10 2004 and 20H2 (also 20H1)

[Karlston]

How to Disable Settings Header Banner in Windows 10 2004 and 20H2 [and 20H1]

 

Windows 10 version 2004 and 20H2 enable the new header banner in the Settings app for many users. Initially available to a small select group if Insiders, it is now appears for regular users too. Let's review how to get rid of the header in Settings in Windows 10.

 

Settings is a Universal app bundled with Windows 10. It is created to replace the classic Control Panel for both touch screen users and mouse and keyboard Desktop users. It consists of several pages which bring new options to configure Windows 10 along with some older options inherited from the classic Control Panel. In every release, Windows 10 is getting more and more classic options converted to a modern page in the Settings app. At some point, Microsoft might remove the classic Control Panel completely.

 

The updated Settings app features a new header, that displays some bits of important information related to your user account and the OS. Here's how it looks for my user account.

 

Along the user account information, which includes your name and the e-mail address you use for the Microsoft Account, the new header area also comes with a number of links to quickly access the Your Phone options page, and the Windows Update settings page. Also, there is a  link to Microsoft Rewards and OneDrive. In version Windows 10 version 20H2, it also promotes Microsoft Edge in this way.

 

 

This post will show you how to disable the Settings Header Banner in Windows 10, version  2004, and version 20H2 [and 20H1].

 

You may find the links in the header banner useful, as they allow opening certain pages of Settings directly. If you click on the Windows Update icon, you will directly open the Windows Update page. The OneDrive icon launches the OneDrive client app. However, the header banner in Settings is huge and takes enormous space just for showing a few links. Unfortunately, there is no option to easily get rid of it. Luckily, this can be done is via the ViveTool app.

To Disable Settings Header Banner in Windows 10 2004 and 20H2 [and 20H1]

1. Download the latest ViveTool release from GitHub.

2. Unblock the downloaded file.

3. Extract the archive contents to any folder you like.

4. Open PowerShell as Administrator in that folder by clicking on File > Open Windows PowerShell > Open Windows PowerShell as Administrator in File Explorer.

 

 

5. Type the following command: .\ViveTool.exe addconfig 18299130 1.

6. Now, type and run yet another command: .\ViveTool.exe addconfig 31950543 1.

7. You will get a message "Successfully set feature configuration" for both of the commands. Now restart Windows 10.

 

Voila, the header banner in Settings is now disabled!

 

Later you can re-enable the header in Settings by following the below steps.

Enable Header Banner in Settings

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator in the folder where you have the ViveTool app. Click on File > Open Windows PowerShell > Open Windows PowerShell as Administrator in File Explorer.

2. Type and run the following command: .\ViveTool.exe addconfig 18299130 2.

 

 

3. Now, type and run one more command: .\ViveTool.exe addconfig 31950543 2.

4. Restart Windows 10.

 

You are done.

 

The header icons feature is still a work-in-progress, so they remain non-customizable to the end user. Please keep in mind that the header may return back after installing some updates. A cumulative update, or a build upgrade may restore it. In this case, just repeat the steps explained above to hide it again.

 

Also, at some point Microsoft may internally change Windows 10, so this method to disable the header ad banner in Settings may stop working completely.

 

 

Disable Settings Header Banner in Windows 10 2004 and 20H2

[Karlston]

I noticed this after applying the Windows 10 August 2021 updates yesterday.

 

The posted solution removed the banner.

 

Also, I had to replace the original topic with this one because some members were reporting getting a "Blocked by AdGuard" message. Apologies for any inconvenience.