This tutorial will show you how to show or hide the Most used list on the Start menu for your account or all users in Windows 11.
The Start menu is comprised of three sections: Pinned, All apps, and Recommended ("Recently added" apps and recently opened items).
The Start menu contains shortcuts of all your apps, settings, and files.
The Most used list at the top of the All apps list on the Start menu shows up to 6 of the user's most frequently used apps.
The Most used list can make it quicker and easier to open your most used apps, but you can hide the Most used list if you find it as clutter instead.
Most used requires Let Windows improve Start and search results by tracking app launches to be turned on.
Contents
- Option One: Remove App from Most Used Apps List for Current User in Start Menu
- Option Two: Show or Hide Most Used Apps List on Start Menu for Current User in Settings
- Option Three: Always Show or Hide Most Used Apps List on Start Menu for All Users in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Four: Always Show or Hide Most Used Apps List on Start Menu for All Users using REG file
EXAMPLE: "Most used" apps list on Start menu
1 Open the Start menu
, and click/tap on the All apps button. (see screenshot below)2 Right click or press and hold on a "Most used" app you want to remove, click/tap on More, and click/tap on Don't show in this list. (see screenshot below)
1 Open Settings (Win+I).
2 Click/tap on Personalization on the left side, and click/tap on Start on the right side. (see screenshot below)
3 Turn On (show - default) or Off (hide) Show most used apps for what you want on the right side. (see screenshot below)
4 You can now close Settings if you like.
Always Show or Hide Most Used Apps List on Start Menu for All Users in Local Group Policy Editor
You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option Four to configure the same policy.
1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc).
2 Navigate to the key below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar
3 In the right pane of Start Menu and Taskbar in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Show or hide "Most used" list from Start menu policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4 Do step 5 (always show), step 6 (always hide), or step 7 (default) below for what you would like to do.
5 Always Show Most Used apps list on Start Menu for All Users
This will turn on and gray out (disable) the Show most used apps setting in Option One.
A) Select (dot) Enabled. (see screenshot below)
B) Select Show in drop menu under "Options".
C) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below.
6 Always Hide Most Used apps list on Start Menu for All Users
This will turn off and gray out (disable) the Show most used apps setting in Option One.
A) Select (dot) Enabled. (see screenshot below)
B) Select Hide in drop menu under "Options".
C) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below.
7 Default Users Choice to Show or Hide Most Used apps list on Start Menu
This will allow users to use Option One and Option Two.
A) Select (dot) Not Configured. (see screenshot below)
B) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below.
8 You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor.
9 Either restart the explorer.exe process, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.
You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.
1 Do step 2 (always show), step 3 (always hide), or step 4 (default) below for what you would like to do.
2 Always Show Most Used apps list on Start Menu for All Users
This will turn on and gray out (disable) the Show most used apps setting in Option One.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the REG file below, and go to step 5 below.
Always_show_Most_Used_list_in_Start_menu_for_all_users.reg
(contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"ShowOrHideMostUsedApps"=dword:00000001
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"ShowOrHideMostUsedApps"=-
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoStartMenuMFUprogramsList"=-
"NoInstrumentation"=-
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoStartMenuMFUprogramsList"=-
"NoInstrumentation"=-3 Always Hide Most Used apps list on Start Menu for All Users
This will turn off and gray out (disable) the Show most used apps setting in Option One.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the REG file below, and go to step 4 below.
Always_hide_Most_Used_list_in_Start_menu_for_all_users.reg
(contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"ShowOrHideMostUsedApps"=dword:00000002
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"ShowOrHideMostUsedApps"=-
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoStartMenuMFUprogramsList"=-
"NoInstrumentation"=-
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoStartMenuMFUprogramsList"=-
"NoInstrumentation"=-4 Default Users Choice to Show or Hide Most Used apps list on Start Menu
This will allow users to use Option One and Option Two.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Default_user_choice_Most_Used_list_in_Start_menu.reg
(contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"ShowOrHideMostUsedApps"=-
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"ShowOrHideMostUsedApps"=-
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoStartMenuMFUprogramsList"=-
"NoInstrumentation"=-
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoStartMenuMFUprogramsList"=-
"NoInstrumentation"=-5 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
6 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
8 Either restart the explorer.exe process, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.
9 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
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