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GeraldMartin's avatar
GeraldMartin
Copper Contributor
Nov 20, 2024

"Most Used" apps not in start menu underneath the pinned apps

I have just noticed a minor problem that has probably been hanging around on my PC for some weeks now, and maybe since I did a completely
clean installation of Windows 11 a month or so ago.

Despite having Personalisation>Start>Show the Most Used Apps set to ON they do not appear under the pinned apps list. I can only see them if I perform another interaction and click on the "All" button at the top RHS of the menu , in which case the entire start menu is replaced with a scrollable list of all apps and the topmost six of them are the most used ones, appearing under the heading Most Used.

I have also used the Group Policy Editor to switch the corresponding options to supposedly enable the Most Used feature, but it makes no difference.

Now, I well appreciate that this is a minor problem, and just amounts to a matter of convenience, but I am pretty sure they used to appear directly under the pinned list.


Has anyone any comments?

  • It sounds like a minor quirk with how Windows 11 handles "Most Used" apps after a clean installation. Here are a few things to check or try:

    1. Restart Explorer: Open Task Manager, find Windows Explorer, right-click, and restart it. This often refreshes UI elements like the Start menu.
    2. Rebuild Search Index: Go to Settings > Privacy & security > Searching Windows > Advanced Indexing Options and rebuild the index. This might help update the app usage data.
    3. Reset Start Menu Settings: Toggle the "Show the Most Used Apps" option off, restart your PC, then turn it back on.

    If none of these work, it could be a minor glitch in the current Windows 11 build. A future update might fix it. You’re not alone—others have noticed similar quirks!

  • Double check to make sure you also have Let Windows improve Start and search results by tracking app launches below turned on. It's required for Most Used apps.

  • RonaldWhite's avatar
    RonaldWhite
    Brass Contributor

    It sounds like a minor quirk with how Windows 11 handles "Most Used" apps after a clean installation. Here are a few things to check or try:

    1. Restart Explorer: Open Task Manager, find Windows Explorer, right-click, and restart it. This often refreshes UI elements like the Start menu.
    2. Rebuild Search Index: Go to Settings > Privacy & security > Searching Windows > Advanced Indexing Options and rebuild the index. This might help update the app usage data.
    3. Reset Start Menu Settings: Toggle the "Show the Most Used Apps" option off, restart your PC, then turn it back on.

    If none of these work, it could be a minor glitch in the current Windows 11 build. A future update might fix it. You’re not alone—others have noticed similar quirks!

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