Show or hide "Most used" list from Start menu: registry value ShowOrHideMostUsedAppsUserHKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
- Policy ID
- ShowOrHideMostUsedApps
- Scope
- Computer Configuration, User Configuration
- Supported on
- At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 2106
- Source
- Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
- Category
- Start Menu and Taskbar
Registry
ShowOrHideMostUsedApps
REG_DWORDUserComputer…\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\ExplorerHKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer Current key
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
- Enabled value
- Depends on the option value
- Element
- Choose one of the following actions
| Item | Stored value |
|---|---|
| Not Configured | 0 |
| Show | 1 |
| Hide | 2 |
Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell
UserPer-account setting
.reg
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer] ; Options (use only one) ; Not Configured "ShowOrHideMostUsedApps"=dword:00000000 ; Show "ShowOrHideMostUsedApps"=dword:00000001 ; Hide "ShowOrHideMostUsedApps"=dword:00000002
CMD
:: Options (use only one) :: Not Configured reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "ShowOrHideMostUsedApps" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f :: Show reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "ShowOrHideMostUsedApps" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f :: Hide reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "ShowOrHideMostUsedApps" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f
PowerShell
# Common: create the key New-Item -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Force | Out-Null # Options (use only one) # Not Configured New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'ShowOrHideMostUsedApps' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null # Show New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'ShowOrHideMostUsedApps' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null # Hide New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'ShowOrHideMostUsedApps' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null
ComputerMachine-wide setting
.reg
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer] ; Options (use only one) ; Not Configured "ShowOrHideMostUsedApps"=dword:00000000 ; Show "ShowOrHideMostUsedApps"=dword:00000001 ; Hide "ShowOrHideMostUsedApps"=dword:00000002
CMD
:: Options (use only one) :: Not Configured reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "ShowOrHideMostUsedApps" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f :: Show reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "ShowOrHideMostUsedApps" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f :: Hide reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "ShowOrHideMostUsedApps" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f
PowerShell
# Common: create the key New-Item -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Force | Out-Null # Options (use only one) # Not Configured New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'ShowOrHideMostUsedApps' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null # Show New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'ShowOrHideMostUsedApps' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null # Hide New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer' -Name 'ShowOrHideMostUsedApps' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null