Application Plugin

Application search is a global plugin. Type an app name directly; no keyword is required. app is also available when you want only application results.

Quick Start

chrome
visual studio code
settings
app launchpad

Press Enter to open the selected app. If Wox can detect that the app is already running, the result can activate the existing window instead of starting another instance.

app launchpad switches to a grid of installed apps. Bind a Query Hotkey to that command if you want a Launchpad-style shortcut.

Actions

Open the Action Panel on an app result for secondary actions:

Action	Use
Open	Launch or activate the app
Open containing folder	Reveal the app file in the system file manager
Copy path	Copy the executable or bundle path
Uninstall	On Windows, start the same ARP/UninstallString or Store package removal used by Settings. On macOS, move a user-installed app to the Trash
Show context menu	Open the system context menu when supported
Terminate app	Stop a running app when Wox can identify the process

App Sources

Wox indexes common application locations for each platform:

Platform	Sources
Windows	Start Menu entries, Program Files, WindowsApps, UWP apps, Windows settings pages
macOS	/Applications, .app bundles, system settings panels
Linux	.desktop files and configured app directories

Settings

Open Settings -> Plugins -> Application to:

• Add custom app directories for portable tools
• Index apps from the Action Panel
• Hide apps from search with wildcard rules or selected-app ignore rules, and preview the matches before saving

Result Ordering

The plugin uses matching score and MRU data. Apps you launch often move up over time. Use the Action Panel to reset a result's usage-based ranking if the wrong app stays first.

Troubleshooting

A new app is missing

• Wait up to 15 seconds for indexing.
• Index apps from the Action Panel, or restart Wox.
• Add the app's parent directory in plugin settings if it is a portable app.
• Confirm the app is not hidden by an ignore rule.

The wrong app appears first

Launch the correct result a few times, or reset ranking from the Action Panel.

CPU or memory details do not appear

Runtime details are shown only when Wox can map the result to a running desktop process. Store apps, settings panels, or unsupported desktop environments may not expose that data.