How to Add or Remove the All Apps Section on the Start Menu in Windows 11

The All Apps section of the Windows 11 Start menu displays installed applications in alphabetical order. It’s a useful feature, but some organizations would rather keep it simple and hide the All Apps list. Removing the list reduces distractions and enforces application access policies.

This article guides you through the ways to remove or show All Apps by default on the Windows 11 Start menu.

Adding or removing the All Apps section on the Start menu in Windows 11

You can add or remove the All Apps list using the Registry Editor, Group Policy, and via PowerShell.

📌 Prerequisites:

• Windows 11 device
• Administrator rights for registry or policy edits
• Optional: updated ADMX templates for Group Policy management
• Ability to restart File Explorer or sign in again to apply changes

Method 1: Hide or show All Apps using the Registry Editor

This method changes a specific value using the built-in Registry Editor tool.

📌 Use Case: Use this method if you’re using Windows 11 Home or don’t have access to Group Policy.

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, then click OK.
2. Navigate the following folders:
   • HKEY_CURRENT_USER → Software → Microsoft → Windows → CurrentVersion → Policies → Explorer
3. Right-click on a space, click New → DWORD (32-bit) Value.
4. Name it: NoStartMenuMorePrograms
5. Double-click the new entry:
   • Set Value data to:
     • 1 = hide All Apps
     • 0 = show All Apps
6. Click OK.

💡 Note: To restore default: delete NoStartMenuMorePrograms (or set to 0 if you prefer a scripted toggle).

Method 2: Control All Apps visibility with Group Policy

This method lets administrators enforce settings that users can’t easily change using Group Policy.

📌 Use Case: Use this method if you manage multiple users or shared computers.

1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, then press Enter.
2. Navigate to:
   • User Configuration → Administrative Templates → Start Menu and Taskbar
3. On the right, locate the policy “Remove All Programs list from the Start menu”, then double-click it.
4. Select Enabled.
5. Under Options, choose one of the following:
   • Collapse → collapses the All Apps list.
   • Collapse and disable setting → collapses the list and prevents users from enabling it.
   • Remove and disable setting → removes the All Apps list and prevents users from enabling it.
6. Press Win, type cmd, then click Run as administrator.
7. Copy and paste the following into the prompt, then press Enter:
   • gpupdate /force
8. Restart Windows Explorer or sign out and sign back in for the changes to take effect.

Method 3: Automate All Apps configuration with PowerShell

This method applies the exact registry change in Method 1, but in a faster way.

📌 Use Case: Use this method if you want a quick and repeatable solution or if you’re managing devices remotely.

1. Right-click the Start button, then click Windows Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin).
2. Copy and paste the following, depending on the action you need:
   • To hide All Apps:
     • Set-ItemProperty -Path “HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer” -Name “NoStartMenuMorePrograms” -Value 1
   • To show All Apps:
     • Set-ItemProperty -Path “HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer” -Name “NoStartMenuMorePrograms” -Value 0
3. Restart Windows Explorer or sign out and sign back in for the changes to take effect

How to verify All Apps behavior

This step confirms that the All Apps list is behaving as expected.

📌 Use Case: Use this method if you want to confirm that your changes have worked or if you suspect that another setting is overriding them.

1. Click the Start button, then look at the top-right area.
2. Confirm:
   • All Apps is missing when hidden
   • All Apps is visible when enabled
3. If you used Group Policy to apply the changes, follow the steps below:
   • Press Win, type cmd, then press Run as administrator.
   • Copy and paste the following into the prompt, then press Enter:
     • gpresult /h C:\policyreport.html
   • Open the generated report to see which policies are applied.

Additional considerations when adding or removing All Apps

Keep in mind the following information when adding or removing the All Apps section on the Start menu:

• Hiding All Apps does not prevent applications from executing through search or shortcuts.
• Managed Start menu layouts may override local settings unless combined with policy enforcement.
• Users can still access installed apps through the Run dialog or File Explorer, unless they are restricted separately.
• Some third-party Start menu replacements ignore these settings.
• Removing All Apps can improve user onboarding on locked-down systems.

NinjaOne integration

You can use NinjaOne to deploy registry updates and enforce policies across managed fleets. Admins can also automate hiding All Apps on kiosks or restricted endpoints, push PowerShell scripts during onboarding, and validate device compliance using reporting tools.

With NinjaOne, you can ensure consistent Start menu configurations that align with your organization’s requirements.

Simplify the Start menu by removing the All Apps section

Administrators and users can create a simplified interface by controlling the All Apps section in the Windows 11 Start menu. They can tailor the section to personal or kiosk environments using different methods, such as registry configuration, Group Policy, and automation.

Related topics:

• How to Restart the Start Menu Process in Windows 11
• How to Restart the Start Menu Process in Windows 11 (Video)
• Enable or Disable Recent Items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer in Windows 11
• How to Enable or Disable Start Menu Power Options Using PowerShell for Windows 10/11
• How to Manage Pinned Apps in the Windows 11 Start Menu