All Apps button missing from Windows 11 25H2 Start Menu

Question

All Apps button missing from Windows 11 25H2 Start Menu

Ed Reed 26

Last week, I wiped my computer and reinstalled Windows 11. For the past few days, I've been reinstalling my applications and putting my machine back in order. I just noticed that the All Apps button is missing from the Start Menu. This is one of the problems I was having before which led me to wipe the machine and reinstall. The All Apps button was there last week but it's missing again. I've searched the internet high and low and cannot find a useful resolution to this problem.

Kerrie LeFevre 0 Reputation points

2025-12-04T02:29:34.5566667+00:00

For me, it was simply selecting the view arrow on the right side (note: I have show all >, show all >,& View: Category v) just change the category and I was back going!
Rudolph van Eijken 0 Reputation points

2026-03-15T10:14:55.89+00:00

Microsoft thinks for us, we are all stupid users and need their guidance to get things "right" . The are god and we are their slaves using their OS.. But to help you all all apps are in 2 places:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

C:\Users<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

and <username> is your name you registered windows with , or more precize: what the microsoft folks thinks that is your name.

Answer accepted by question author

7 additional answers

Your answer

Kerrie LeFevre 0 Reputation points

2025-12-04T02:29:34.5566667+00:00

For me, it was simply selecting the view arrow on the right side (note: I have show all >, show all >,& View: Category v) just change the category and I was back going!
Rudolph van Eijken 0 Reputation points

2026-03-15T10:14:55.89+00:00

Microsoft thinks for us, we are all stupid users and need their guidance to get things "right" . The are god and we are their slaves using their OS.. But to help you all all apps are in 2 places:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

C:\Users<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

and <username> is your name you registered windows with , or more precize: what the microsoft folks thinks that is your name.

Answer 1

Hi,

The Start menu in version 25H2 has been redesigned, but it seems some options on your end are missing or didn’t update correctly. Have you checked for updates yet? Make sure to install any available Windows Updates and Microsoft Store updates to see if that resolves the issue. If the problem persists, you may want to check whether this article helps restore the All apps section.

Disclaimer: ElevenForum is a non-Microsoft site created by a Windows MVP. The information is reliable, but be careful with ads. Research any product before downloading.

Answer 2

Sean 15

I thought my "all apps" button had disappeared but in my case, it was my error. I was used to a button at the top right of the start screen above the pinned apps labeled "all apps" that opened another screen with a list of apps. After an update, that function moved UNDER the pinned apps and just said "All" with a separate button for categories, grid or list view. It was set to categories so it didn't look like what I was used to and I thought all apps was missing and the new category thing had been added. Once I changed it to list view it was the same list I was used to, only on the same page below the pinned apps, which is actually better. Maybe this will help someone who, like me, isn't that computer savvy.

Pat Klocke 10 Reputation points

2026-02-26T15:37:12.1333333+00:00

I had same experience. the whole "categories" item = Bad Idea (at least, if it is not US assigning apps to custom categories we create. MS's categories are pretty meaningless to me. thx for the tip!
Joe Beckner 0 Reputation points

2026-02-26T17:45:54.4533333+00:00

Changing to list view fixed this for me. Thx for the tip.

Yes, I agree changing the start menu with this categories item is a bad idea, especially when they change without notification.

Sean, this was not your error. They should not have changed the layout without telling us.
Billy 5 Reputation points

2026-02-27T09:39:05.06+00:00

I've been trying to get the "All Apps" button back too. I updated my windows 11 laptop and now I've got all this junk below my pined apps. I finally figured out how to get rid of the junk, but I can't figure out how to get the "All Apps" button back. I was pretty much forced into adding the "All" section back. If anyone knows how I can get the "All Apps" button back, please let me know!
Cracker Jack 0 Reputation points

2026-03-15T02:31:58.89+00:00

Brilliant to make things harder to find, and not bothering to tell us. Very difficult on Windows 11 to make quick access buttons to FILES on the desktop or Start menu
John Nasta 0 Reputation points

2026-03-28T19:35:48.7266667+00:00

I have a button that says "Show all" but it shows a list of Recommended things, not a list of all apps.

Answer 3

Pat Klocke 10

The registry keys noted in this solution do not exist in the location noted in this thread any longer (plus, this thread, even if found, does not say what to set the registry values too)

Billy 5 Reputation points

2026-02-27T09:43:38.0766667+00:00

You can use gpedit.msc to turn all of them off , but I haven't figured out how to get the "All Apps" button back yet. So, I was forced into adding the "All" section back that way I could get to my other apps. I want the "All Apps" Button back! If you find out how to get it back, please let us all know.

Answer 4

Raymond C 0

I've been having this same problem for months. So glad I found this discussion.

The registry setting worked for me. FYI...you don't need to delete the value—setting it to 0 also works.

Billy 5 Reputation points

2026-02-27T09:46:03.82+00:00

This new update (25H2) got rid of the "All Apps" Button. If you figure out a way to get it back, let me know.

Answer 5

Ed Reed 26

There were no missing updates. Looking that the linked article, Option Two of the article solved the problem. I used the two registry settings below in a .reg file and the All Apps button is back. Unfortunately, I didn't check the values of these settings before merging the .reg file, but it is working now.[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoStartMenuMorePrograms"=-[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoStartMenuMorePrograms"=-

Pat Klocke 10 Reputation points

2026-02-25T14:58:24.3733333+00:00

Did you set the registry key to a minus sign? Sorry.. That's what it kinda looks like. Could you clarify in you post what you set the value to? Thank you... Very helpful.
Billy 5 Reputation points

2026-02-27T09:48:55.2066667+00:00

This new update got rid of the "All Apps" Button. I haven't figured out how to get it back yet. If you find out how, let me know.

Share via

All Apps button missing from Windows 11 25H2 Start Menu

7 additional answers

Your answer