HATE THIS - Windows Search "Top Apps" - How do I remove it?

Hi Netverse

I have done all of the disabling as well and those 5 app icons still appear in the Top Apps area. I recently did a complete reset of my system to clean it up and I had to reinstall all of my software.  I never installed SIMPLE MAHJONG and I've never launched it but it is first on the list of apps.  It also does not list my most recently install apps.

My top 5 apps remain the same all the time, in the same order. Not even the new programs I install or the apps I use every day, appear in the list.  I've never "searched" for BONUS COOKBOOKS but that is the 5th app icon in my search area.  It's stupid and makes no sense.  It sucks that Microsoft has this much control.

Barbara

Top Apps is yet another way for Microsoft to spy on you and track what software you use frequently. I don't care what items I used most in the jump list, so I disable that. I don't care about what places I visit on the web, so I disable that on the startup page.  You would think, with this, MS would get the picture. If you disable certain items on Windows 10, like I have, these top apps never change.  There is a flaw even in this feature.  Leave us to say, one uses Notepad/wordpad all the time, along with a few web browsers, and a photo editor on daily basis, so these items should be TOP APPS all the time, yet that isn't the case. Before I tweaked the OS, if I just installed some program, and didn't even launch, Windows would display it as a top App.  What does that mean? that means that MS is tracking every program you install regardless even if you don't use it,;at least that is how I sense what is going on.   I haven't found a Reg Tweak to remove the display of this, however, based on previous experience, I am sure, one could go into a certain program file with a hex editor and possibly it could be a DLL file that you could change to clear that out. Being this is a search feature, and tied into Cortana, a person would have to tinker there,  I haven't done this, but I disable everything I can in SETTINGS, and use Winaero tweaker to disable stuff, like Cortana, Web search from Desktop, etc, and at the end result, my top four apps remaing the same all the time, in the same order. Not even the new programs I install and even if I use them all day long, are not list.  I use chrome every day, and yet, it isn't listed as a top app. I use file manager, and system tools everyday, and yet, they are not listed. So this tells me, I can't remove TOP APPS, yet, I managed to disable SOFTWARE TRACKING BY MICROSOFT.

Hi Barbara,

Yes - in order to replace the existing apps shown you will first need to have the track search feature turned on (so that Microsoft will track the new app launches you wish to appear in the Top Apps list). Once you are happy with the apps listed, then turn that tracking option back off. 

That should do the trick. It has worked for me twice now.