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Disable app launch tracking (hides most-used apps)

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Works with Windows 10 and 11Works with Windows Vista, XP, 7, 8, 10, 11, and Windows Server 2008 or newer.
  • Single actionThis page belongs to a script, containing basic changes to achieve a task.
  • Windows onlyThis script improves your privacy on Windows
  • Impact: MediumSystem Functionality Loss Risk: Moderate
    This action improves privacy with minimal impact when you run the recommended script.
    This action improves privacy with some impact when you run the recommended script.
  • Batch (batchfile)These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.
  • Fully reversible

    You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using this website.

    The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.

Overview​

Missing Good Quality Documentation

This page does not yet meet PrivacyLearn's documentation standards. However, the script/action is stable and verified by community. Here are some options for you to understand its functionality:

Computer-generated docs (PREVIEW)

This documentation may be low quality but still useful.
Read computer-generated explanation

This documentation is automatically extracted from the code implementation.

To protect personal data thanks to personal privacy measures on Windows, this tuning demonstrates: disable app launch tracking (hides most-used apps) to avoid misuse of your data as result of data handling maintenance. Similarly, steps to reverse the updates made are included in this specification.

The broader goal of digital human rights is supported by system data privacy assurance. Through this improvement, improve privacy maintenance settings and apply the improvement through the steps provided. Stay calm and deliberate as you work through the instructions. Patience will lead to better results.

Reference: https://www.thewindowsclub.com/enable-or-disable-app-launch-tracking-in-windows-10

Technical Details​

This configuration handles process lifecycle to help maintain stricter cyber data privacy control owing to controlling application behavior. This helps use memory more effectively in the process of reducing process overhead.

This instruction set implements registry configurations to reduce information privacy control risks and this helps to reach system privacy modification. To achieve optimizing system configurations, it aims to help simplify system operations.

This customization manages file browsing parameters to enhance secure privacy integration with aid of controlled file access. In the process of make the system handle more work, this can help to benefit from enhanced Explorer responsiveness.

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Gives more context about the goal of the changes
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Review code

Requires technical knowledge about Batch (batchfile)
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Requires technical knowledge about YAML and Git
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Use with Caution

This script is only recommended if you understand its implications.

Some non-critical or features may no longer function correctly after running this script.

This script can be fully reversed to restore changes if something goes wrong.

Apply Now​

Choose one of three ways to apply:

Download script​

Download and run the script directly
  • No app needed
  • Offline usage
  • Easy-to-apply
  • Free
  • Open-source
Help

How to apply or restore "Disable app launch tracking (hides most-used apps)" using script​

  • ≈ 2 min to complete
  • Tools: Web Browser
  • Difficulty: Simple
  • ≈ 5 instructions
  1. 1

    Download

    Download the script file by clicking on the   Apply protection  button above.
    Use   Undo protection button above to restore changes.
  2. 2

    Keep the file

    If warned by your browser, keep the file.
  3. 3

    Open

    Open the downloaded file.
  4. 4

    Exit

    Once it's done, press any key to exit the window.
  5. 5

    Restart

    Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.

Apply with privacy.sexy​

Guided, automated application with safety checks
  • Recommended for most users
  • Includes safety checks
  • Free
  • Open-source
  • Popular
  • Offline/Online usage
Open privacy.sexy
Help

How to apply or restore "Disable app launch tracking (hides most-used apps)" using privacy.sexy​

  • ≈ 3 min to complete
  • Tools: privacy.sexy
  • Difficulty: Simple
  • ≈ 4 instructions
privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily with more advanced options.
  1. 1

    Open or download

    Open or download the desktop application
  2. 2

    Choose script

    1. Search for the script name: Disable app launch tracking (hides most-used apps)
    2. Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
  3. 3

    Run

    Click on ▶️ Run button at the bottom of the page.

    This button only appears on desktop version (recommended). On browser, use 💾 Save button.

Run commands​

Copy and run commands manually Requires technical knowledge
Apply changes
:: Set the registry value: "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced!Start_TrackProgs"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$registryPath = 'HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced'; $data =  '0'; reg add 'HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced' /v 'Start_TrackProgs' /t 'REG_DWORD' /d "^""$data"^"" /f"
:: Suggest restarting explorer.exe for changes to take effect
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$message = 'This script will not take effect until you restart explorer.exe. You can restart explorer.exe by restarting your computer or by running following on command prompt: `taskkill /f /im explorer.exe & start explorer`.'; $warn =  $false; if ($warn) { Write-Warning "^""$message"^""; } else { Write-Host "^""Note: "^"" -ForegroundColor Blue -NoNewLine; Write-Output "^""$message"^""; }"
Help

How to apply or restore "Disable app launch tracking (hides most-used apps)" using commands​

  • ≈ 2 min to complete
  • Tools: Command Prompt
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • ≈ 3 instructions
 View step-by-step guide with screenshots
  1. 1

    Open Command Prompt

    Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
  2. 2

    Copy code

    Copy the code:
    Copy Apply Code Copy Revert Code
  3. 3

    Paste & run

    Paste the commands into Command Prompt and press Enter to run.

    Some changes require a system restart to take effect

Similar Guides​

Wider Goal​

The guide below includes this guide to achieve a wider goal.See other more general settings that includes this one as one of its actions.
These plans combine multiple privacy settings, including this one, for stronger protection.
Visit category: Disable OS data collection

Same Goal​

Other guides in Disable OS data collection See settings that are in the same category as this guide.
Using other actions in the same category may help you achieve your goal better.
See all 26 guides
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Disable targeted advertisements and marketing
Disable biometrics (breaks fingerprinting/facial login)
Disable Windows Insider Program
Disable cloud sync
Disable Recall
Disable cloud-based speech recognition
Opt out of Windows privacy consent
Disable Windows feedback collection
Disable text and handwriting data collection
Disable device sensors
Disable Wi-Fi Sense
Disable Website Access of Language List
Disable automatic map downloads
Disable game screen recording
Disable internet access for Windows DRM
Disable typing feedback (sends typing data)
Disable Activity Feed feature

About the Creators​

These people have authored this documentation and written its scripts:

  • Avatar of undergroundwires. The creator of PrivacyLearn and privacy.sexy. Black and white portrait showing a person wearing a polka dot tie and suit jacket, reflecting the professional expertise behind the privacy protection tools.
    • Certified security professional
    • 7+ years experience securing banks
    • Open-source developer since 2005
    • EU advisor, Public Speaker, Moderator
    • Hundreds across the globe
    • Testers, reviewers, developers
    • Companies, military agencies
    • Community since 2017
About Us

Reviewed By​

This guide has undergone comprehensive auditing and peer review:

  • Expert review by undergroundwires​

    • Verified technical accuracy and editorial standards
    • Assessed system impact and user privacy risks
    • Audited and verified using automated security tests

  • Public review by large community​

    • Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
    • Millions of end-users tested across different environments
    • Audited and verified using third-party security software

History​

We continually monitor our guides, their impact and other potential privacy options. We update our guides when new information becomes available. On every update, we publicly store who made the change, what has been changed, why the change was made and when the change was made.

Review Change History Our Change Process