Personalization Hide or Show Most Used apps list on Start Menu in Windows 11


Most_used_banner.png

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.

Starting with Windows 11 build 22631.4391, “All apps” is now just “All” on the Start menu. This change began rolling out with Build 22635.4291.


Most used requires Let Windows improve Start and search results by tracking app launches to be turned on.

Most used on the new Start menu will only show when using Name grid or Name list "All" view.



Contents

  • Option One: Remove App from Most Used Apps List for Current User in Start Menu
  • Option Two: Turn On or Off Show Most Used Apps List on Start Menu for Current User in Settings
  • Option Three: Turn On or Off Show Most Used Apps List on Start Menu for Current User using REG file
  • Option Four: Always Show or Hide Most Used Apps List on Start Menu for All Users in Local Group Policy Editor
  • Option Five: 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

Most_used_Start_menu-1.jpg
Most_used_Start_menu-2.jpg


Most_used_on_Start_grid_view.webp
Most_used_on_Start_list_view.webp





Option One

Remove App from Most Used Apps List for Current User in Start Menu


1 Open the Start menu :win:, and click/tap on the All apps button. (see screenshot below)

Most_used_Start_menu-1.jpg

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)

Most_used_Start_menu-3.jpg




Option Two

Turn On or Off Show Most Used Apps List on Start Menu for Current User in Settings


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)


Most_used_Start_menu_Settings-1.png

3 Turn On (show - default) or Off (hide) Show most used apps for what you want on the right side. (see screenshot below)

Most_used_Start_menu_Settings-2.png

4 You can now close Settings if you like.




Option Three

Turn On or Off Show Most Used Apps List on Start Menu for Current User using REG file


1 Do step 2 (on) or step 3 (off) below for what you want.


 2. Turn On "Show Most Used Apps" List on Start Menu for Current User

This is the default setting.


A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​

Turn_ON_Show_most_used_apps_on_Start_for_current_user.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Start]
"ShowFrequentList"=dword:00000001


 3. Turn Off "Show Most Used Apps" List on Start Menu for Current User

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​

Turn_OFF_Show_most_used_apps_on_Start_for_current_user.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Start]
"ShowFrequentList"=dword:00000000

4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7 You could now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.




Option Four

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 Five 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​

Most_used_Start_menu_gpedit-1.png

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 Two and Option Three.


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.​

Most_used_Start_menu_Settings-3.png

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 Two and Option Three.


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.​

Most_used_Start_menu_Settings-4.png

7 Default Users Choice to Show or Hide Most Used apps list on Start Menu

This will allow users to use Option Two and Option Three.


A) Select (dot) Not Configured. (see screenshot below)​

B) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below.​

Most_used_Start_menu_gpedit-2.png

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.




Option Five

Always Show or Hide Most Used Apps List on Start Menu for All Users using REG file


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 Two and Option Three.


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 Two and Option Three.


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 Two and Option Three.


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


Related Tutorials

 

Attachments

Last edited:
Click to expand...
Hi Brink, I recently post a comment regarding "Show recently added apps" but I'll post here for ease of reference :geek:

The registry key to turn off "Show most used apps" per-user can be found here (same as "Show recently added apps"):

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Start]
"ShowFrequentList"=dword:00000000

It will not completely disable the option and allow user to manually configure in Settings, if desired.

Value of 1 will enable it. Tested in 23H2 and 24H2 Pro.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo
    Memory
    24GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    N/A
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Antivirus
    None
seventheaven said:
Hi Brink, I recently post a comment regarding "Show recently added apps" but I'll post here for ease of reference :geek:

The registry key to turn off "Show most used apps" per-user can be found here (same as "Show recently added apps"):

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Start]
"ShowFrequentList"=dword:00000000

It will not completely disable the option and allow user to manually configure in Settings, if desired.

Value of 1 will enable it. Tested in 23H2 and 24H2 Pro.
Click to expand...

Thank you. Now added as option 3. :shawn:

www.elevenforum.com

Hide or Show Most Used apps list on Start Menu in Windows 11

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...
www.elevenforum.com www.elevenforum.com
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
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