How-To

How to Show or Hide Most Used Apps on Windows 11 Start Menu

By Brian Burgess

Published August 13, 2021

Similar to Windows 10, the new OS, Windows 11 also has a “Most Used” app section you can show or hide on the Start menu. Here’s how to do it.

While the user interface (UI) on Windows 11 has received a makeover compared to Windows 10, it has some of the same functionality. One of the features it allows you to do is show or hide your most-used apps. It should be off by default. But it’s up to you whether you want that list to display when you launch the Start menu. Here we will show you how to hide or display the list.

Most Used Apps List on Windows 10

You can hide or display the Most Used Apps list on the Windows 10 Start menu too. And the easiest way to remove an app on Windows 10 is directly from the Start menu itself. Right-click on a listed app and select More > Don’t show in this list.

To remove the “Most used” apps list completely, make sure to read our instructions on removing it on Windows 10 Start menu.

Show or Hide Most Used Apps on Windows 11 Start

Now, on Windows 11, it’s essentially the same process, but everything looks different. First, we’ll take a look at turning it on via Settings. Click Start > Settings. Or alternately, use the keyboard shortcut Windows key + I to open Settings directly.

Then click on Personalization from the list on the left, scroll down the options on the right side, and click Start.

Now, flip on the “Show most used apps” switch.

After turning it on, launch the Start menu and click the All Apps button.

Next, you will see the “Most used” list of apps at the top of the Start menu — just beneath the “All apps” section. That should show the apps you use the most on your Windows 11 system.

Note: It’s important to mention that when you go to Settings > Personalization > Start, the option to show most used apps might be grayed out. If so, there is a workaround. Go to Settings > Privacy & security > General and turn on the “Let Windows improve Start and search results by tracking app launches” option.

Now, just like on Windows 10, you can remove individual apps from the “Most used” list. Launch the Start menu, right-click an app you don’t want on the list, and select More > Don’t show in this list.

That’s all there is to it. If you want to hide the “Most used” section again, go to Settings > Personalization > Start and turn off the “Show most used apps” switch.

For more on the new operating system, check out our article on adding Control Panel to the Start menu. Or take a look at how to add or remove folders on the Windows 11 Start menu.