Fix Missing Startup Apps in Windows 11: Troubleshooting Guide

If you've ever found yourself scratching your head because the Startup Apps page mysteriously vanished from the Settings app in Windows 11, you're not alone. Many users have experienced this frustrating hiccup, which, at first glance, appears to be just another glitch in the software. However, this issue has a few known causes, typically stemming from group policy settings or modifications in the registry. In this article, we'll explore these potential fixes in detail to help you restore full functionality to your Startup settings.

Why Are Startup Apps Missing in Settings?​

The primary reason users can't see the Startup apps within the Settings app is often related to configuration settings that either hide or restrict access to these features. Specifically, Windows employs the Group Policy Editor and the Windows Registry to control what is visible to the user, and sometimes an incorrect setting can lead to pages being hidden altogether.

Key Investigative Steps:​

• Group Policy Settings: This is the first area to check, especially if you're on a managed system or if someone has tinkered with the settings.
• Registry Entries: If the necessary entries are altered or missing, this too can prevent the Startup app functionality from appearing.

Troubleshooting Steps​

Here’s how you can effectively troubleshoot this issue:

1. Check Group Policy Settings​

Group Policy settings govern various functionalities on Windows, including visibility for startup applications. Follow these steps to make sure the Startup apps page is not hidden:

1. Open the Run Command: Press Win + R.
2. Launch Group Policy Editor: Type gpedit.msc and hit Enter.
3. Navigate: Find your way through: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel.
4. Locate Page Visibility: Look for Settings Page Visibility and double-click it.
5. Modify the Setting:
   • If it’s set to "Enabled,” check if there is an entry such as hide:startupapps.
   • Remove this entry if found. If multiple entries are present, only remove startupapps if you don't wish to unhide others.
   • If nothing is set, select "Not Configured."
6. Apply Changes: Click Apply and then OK.

Once you've adjusted the settings, restart the Settings app, and you should now see the Startup page listed under the Apps category.

2. Restore Missing Registry Entries​

If the group policy isn't the culprit, it might be worth checking the Windows Registry. Here's how to restore or fix key registry entries related to the Startup apps page:

1. Open Registry Editor: Type regedit in the Search box and press Enter.
2. Access the Right Path: Navigate to:
   
   Code:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

3. Look for DWORD Values:
   • Check for the following entries:
     • SupportUwpStartupTasks
     • SupportFullTrustStartupTasks
     • EnableFullTrustStartupTasks
     • EnableUwpStartupTasks
   • Double-click each and ensure they have the following data:
     • SupportUwpStartupTasks: Set to 1
     • SupportFullTrustStartupTasks: Set to 1
     • EnableFullTrustStartupTasks: Set to 2
     • EnableUwpStartupTasks: Set to 2
4. Create Missing Values: If any are missing, right-click in the right pane, create a new DWORD (32-bit) value, and name it as specified above.

After modifying the registry, close the editor, and the Startup page should reappear in the settings.

Common User Questions​

Why does the "We Couldn't Find This App" Error Appear?​

Occasionally, within the Startup apps list in Settings, you might encounter this error. This typically means:

• The application’s path doesn’t exist.
• The application may reside on a network drive or was uninstalled.

Solution: Click the error message, which may bring up the Registry Location. Delete any invalid entries associated with the erroneous app.

Additional Measures if Startup Apps Are Still Missing​

If you’re still struggling to see your Startup apps, consider these supplementary actions:

• Restart File Explorer: A simple restart might resolve temporary glitches.
• Utilize the Startup Folder: Add desired startup programs as shortcuts directly in the Startup folder.
• Perform an SFC Scan: Run sfc /scannow in the Command Prompt to repair potentially corrupted system files.

Conclusion​

Encountering a blank Startup apps section in Windows 11 can be an irritating setback, but it’s often resolvable with some configuration tweaks. By carefully following the steps outlined above, you’ll be able to restore access and continue managing your Startup applications with ease. This not only helps with overall system performance but also allows you to take full advantage of the features Windows 11 provides.
If you have further questions or resolved this issue in a different way, feel free to engage in the comments below!

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Source: The Windows Club Startup Apps not showing in Settings app of Windows 11 [Fix]