Pinned apps disappear every time I sign out on Start menu

Question

Pinned apps disappear every time I sign out on Start menu

Virtus 10

Every time we restart, or sign out, or restart file explorer, the pinned apps on the start menu disappear. We already attempted a fresh Windows 11 24H2 install, scanned for corrupted files and repair the OS. No change. I know that pinned apps are stored on the "Start2.bin" file in "\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState". But the Start2.bin deletes any changes made and resets itself to default setting with every sign-out. Attempting to make a backup of Start2.bin doesn't help.

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Premium 0 Reputation points

2025-10-23T08:24:49.9033333+00:00

Hi @Virtus-2540 Did you find a solution?
Rick Maldonado 0 Reputation points

2025-11-12T18:06:19.5+00:00

I just installed update KB5068861 update, this has the new start menu and enabled the new start menu via vivetool. I was hoping this will fix the issue. It did NOT.

Any idea of when this might be fixed?
Levin von Känel 0 Reputation points

2025-12-23T09:51:05.0133333+00:00

Hi @Rick Maldonado and @Domic Vo
Did you find a solution for this? According to our tests, it could have something to do with Baseline 24h2 and LAPS.
Jonathan Flowers 0 Reputation points

2025-12-29T23:43:51.0066667+00:00

This first started happening on my 25H2 clients. Now some of my 24H2 clients are also seeing this behavior after the recent Security Platform Update. My workstation has the problem and it seems to coincide with reboots of the workstation, but not every reboot. I am also experiencing Explorer.exe restarting periodically after logon, this may be corrupting the bin file. This is very annoying.
Timothy William Cochran 5 Reputation points

2026-01-08T19:26:19.9366667+00:00

Any update on this? I am seeing this issue in my org. I can open a ticket. This is very annoying, upgrade to 25H2 is resulting in the same. I have to say Ive noticed it and other here since Octobers updates.

1 answer

Premium 0 Reputation points

2025-10-23T08:24:49.9033333+00:00

Hi @Virtus-2540 Did you find a solution?
Rick Maldonado 0 Reputation points

2025-11-12T18:06:19.5+00:00

I just installed update KB5068861 update, this has the new start menu and enabled the new start menu via vivetool. I was hoping this will fix the issue. It did NOT.

Any idea of when this might be fixed?
Levin von Känel 0 Reputation points

2025-12-23T09:51:05.0133333+00:00

Hi @Rick Maldonado and @Domic Vo
Did you find a solution for this? According to our tests, it could have something to do with Baseline 24h2 and LAPS.
Jonathan Flowers 0 Reputation points

2025-12-29T23:43:51.0066667+00:00

This first started happening on my 25H2 clients. Now some of my 24H2 clients are also seeing this behavior after the recent Security Platform Update. My workstation has the problem and it seems to coincide with reboots of the workstation, but not every reboot. I am also experiencing Explorer.exe restarting periodically after logon, this may be corrupting the bin file. This is very annoying.
Timothy William Cochran 5 Reputation points

2026-01-08T19:26:19.9366667+00:00

Any update on this? I am seeing this issue in my org. I can open a ticket. This is very annoying, upgrade to 25H2 is resulting in the same. I have to say Ive noticed it and other here since Octobers updates.

Answer 1

Dear Virtus,

Based on your description and our internal review, this behavior appears to be linked to how Windows 11 version 24H2 handles the Start2.bin file located.

In this release, the Start menu configuration may reset to default under certain conditions, and manual backups of Start2.bin may not persist across sessions.

Known Behavior in 24H2: The issue has been reported by other users running Windows 11 24H2. The system may overwrite Start2.bin during session termination, reverting to default layout.
Backup Limitations: Traditional backup and restore methods for pinned items, as used in earlier versions, are no longer effective in 24H2+ due to changes in how Start menu data is managed.
Check for Group Policy or MDM Conflicts If your device is managed via Group Policy or MDM (e.g., Intune), verify that no policies are enforcing Start menu layout resets.
Create a Custom Layout via XML You can define a persistent Start layout using a provisioning package or XML configuration. See Microsoft’s Start Menu Policy Guide for details.
Monitor for Updates Microsoft is actively investigating Start menu persistence issues in 24H2. We recommend enabling automatic updates to receive future fixes.
Engage with Feedback Hub Please consider submitting your experience via the Feedback Hub app (Win + F). This helps our engineering teams prioritize and address emerging issues.

I hope this helps. Just kindly tick Accept Answer that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

Best regards,

Domic Vo

Timothy William Cochran 5 Reputation points

2026-01-08T19:27:49.6166667+00:00

@Domic Vo 100% not the answer. This is a bug created by Microsoft.
Mutzi 30 Reputation points

2026-08-04T11:13:22.39+00:00

Problems with 25H2 here; https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5965888/2026-07-preview-update-kb5101684-26200-8973-delete