Windows 10 menu issue

Question

Windows 10 menu issue

John Emmas 20

Firstly, sorry about the poor quality screenshot. I generally use Snipping Tool for things like this but it never seems to work with menus.

Anyway... my Windows 10 menu is showing a large empty section (in black) at the RHS. Until last week apps were always shown there (I think mostly system apps maybe - like Control Panel?) But all of a sudden they've disappeared. I assume I must've changed some setting inadvertently but can anyone suggest what it might be?

JE-screenshot

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3 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Senthil kumar 2,500

Hi John Emmas,

Are your used any third party cleaning softwares like cleaner or another. suppose to use it will clear all mostly used apps shortcuts also. app will clear that also.

Thanks.

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Answer 2

DaveM121 935.1K Independent Advisor

Your screenshot seems to indicate you are using some utility to customize the Start Menu and Taskbar, is that correct?

If so, that is the most likely cause of the problem.

Open the long alphabetical list of installed apps on the start menu, right click one of the apps and select 'Pin to Start', does that add the app back to the Start Menu.

DaveM121 935.1K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-05-14T13:22:09.9466667+00:00

This is not a problem caused by Windows, because WindowsBlinds is used to skin your Start Menu and Taskbar, check the WindowsBlinds settings, because on the right side, the start menu is only set to show Tip Sites, not installed apps.
John Emmas 20 Reputation points

2026-05-14T14:08:21.3366667+00:00

Is this just me..? When someone adds a reply as a comment (rather than an answer) I still get a notification email but the link saying See the answer just gives me Error 404

Anyway... here's the Settings menu from WindowsBlinds. I've outlined two options that looked like they might be relevant. The uppermost option only affects the Windows start button and the lower option only affects WindowBlinds own menu. Neither option has any effect on my Windows start menu.
John Emmas 20 Reputation points

2026-05-14T14:12:16.88+00:00

Oh, one more thing... in Windows 10, the menu's RHS shows me Top Apps rather than Top Sites. Is that wrong? Correction.. it was showing Top Sites in my original photo but now it's showing Top Apps?!?
DaveM121 935.1K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-05-14T14:13:13.5233333+00:00

I am sorry, I am not familiar with WindowsBlinds settings, the setting may be somewhere else in there to select what appears on the Start Menu, because it is currently set to show Top Sites, not the apps installed on oyur PC
John Emmas 20 Reputation points

2026-05-14T14:22:48.7066667+00:00

It's not a problem Dave. It's just something I was curious about so I'll just live with it. Thanks again.
DaveM121 935.1K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-05-14T14:23:37.49+00:00

Glad to help!

Answer 3

John Emmas 20

Thanks for the help guys...

@DaveM121 The 3rd party app I'm using is called WindowBlinds but I've been using it for 10 years or more and it never caused this problem before. I tried "Pin to Start" which then shows the app as pinned but still leaves it at the LHS.
@Anonymous A couple of weeks ago I installed a trial copy of Norton 360 antivirus and to be fair that coincided with this issue happening (timewise) but uninstalling Norton 360 hasn't helped.

DaveM121 935.1K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-05-14T12:29:41.8966667+00:00

If installing Norton coincided with the problem on the start menu, that may have caused some conflict with WindowsBlinds, it may be best to uninstall and reinstall WindowsBlinds.
John Emmas 20 Reputation points

2026-05-14T13:13:13.6233333+00:00

I doubt if I'll still have the WindowBlinds installer so I just tried booting into Safe Mode (which disables WindowBlinds) and that still shows the same problem :-(