diff --git a/src/core/widgets/services/quick_launch/providers/apps.py b/src/core/widgets/services/quick_launch/providers/apps.py
index 38bdd3bb5..fb7060d73 100644
--- a/src/core/widgets/services/quick_launch/providers/apps.py
+++ b/src/core/widgets/services/quick_launch/providers/apps.py
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ def _get_lnk_description(lnk_path: str) -> str | None:
 class DescriptionResolverWorker(QThread):
     """Background thread to resolve app descriptions."""
 
-    finished = pyqtSignal(dict)
+    descriptions_ready = pyqtSignal(dict)
 
     def __init__(self, apps: list[AppEntry]):
         super().__init__()
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ def run(self):
                 cache[path] = _get_lnk_description(path) or path
             elif os.path.isfile(path):
                 cache[path] = _get_exe_description(path) or path
-        self.finished.emit(cache)
+        self.descriptions_ready.emit(cache)
 
 
 def _is_subfolder_app(path: str) -> bool:
@@ -245,6 +245,8 @@ def __init__(self, config: dict[str, Any] | None = None):
         self._history = LaunchHistory()
         self._desc_cache: dict[str, str] = {}
         self._desc_worker: DescriptionResolverWorker | None = None
+        self._desc_apps: list[AppEntry] | None = None
+        self._pending_desc_apps: list[AppEntry] | None = None
 
     @property
     def service(self) -> QuickLaunchService:
@@ -259,15 +261,32 @@ def match(self, text: str) -> bool:
 
     def start_description_resolution(self, apps: list[AppEntry]):
         """Start background thread to resolve app descriptions."""
-        if self._desc_worker and self._desc_worker.isRunning():
-            self._desc_worker.finished.disconnect()
-            self._desc_worker.wait()
-        self._desc_worker = DescriptionResolverWorker(apps)
-        self._desc_worker.finished.connect(self._on_descriptions_ready)
+        if apps == self._desc_apps:
+            self._pending_desc_apps = None
+            return
+        if self._desc_worker is not None:
+            self._pending_desc_apps = list(apps)
+            return
+        self._desc_apps = list(apps)
+        self._desc_worker = DescriptionResolverWorker(self._desc_apps)
+        self._desc_worker.descriptions_ready.connect(self._on_descriptions_ready)
+        self._desc_worker.finished.connect(self._on_description_worker_finished)
         self._desc_worker.start()
 
     def _on_descriptions_ready(self, cache: dict[str, str]):
         self._desc_cache = cache
+        if self.request_refresh:
+            self.request_refresh()
+
+    def _on_description_worker_finished(self):
+        worker = self._desc_worker
+        self._desc_worker = None
+        if worker is not None:
+            worker.deleteLater()
+        pending = self._pending_desc_apps
+        self._pending_desc_apps = None
+        if pending is not None:
+            self.start_description_resolution(pending)
 
     def get_results(self, text: str, **kwargs: Any) -> list[ProviderResult]:
         svc = self.service
diff --git a/src/core/widgets/services/quick_launch/service.py b/src/core/widgets/services/quick_launch/service.py
index d745343a6..b968f39c4 100644
--- a/src/core/widgets/services/quick_launch/service.py
+++ b/src/core/widgets/services/quick_launch/service.py
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ def __init__(self):
         self._show_icons: bool = True
 
         self._app_loader: AppListLoader | None = None
+        self._app_reload_pending = False
         self._query_worker = QueryWorker()
         self._query_worker.finished.connect(self._on_query_finished)
         self._query_worker.start()
@@ -142,6 +143,8 @@ def configure_providers(
             if not self._apps_loaded and not self._app_loader:
                 self._setup_fs_watcher()
                 self._start_app_loading()
+            elif self._apps_loaded:
+                self._start_description_resolution()
 
     def async_query(self, text: str, max_results: int = 50) -> str:
         """Submit an async query. Returns a query_id to match results."""
@@ -154,13 +157,27 @@ def _on_query_finished(self, query_id: str, results: list[ProviderResult]):
         self.query_finished.emit(query_id, results)
 
     def _start_app_loading(self):
-        if self._app_loader:
-            self._app_loader.apps_loaded.disconnect(self._on_apps_loaded)
+        if self._app_loader is not None:
+            self._app_reload_pending = True
+            return
         self._app_loader = AppListLoader()
         self._app_loader.apps_loaded.connect(self._on_apps_loaded)
+        self._app_loader.finished.connect(self._on_app_loading_finished)
         self._app_loader.start()
 
+    def _on_app_loading_finished(self):
+        loader = self._app_loader
+        self._app_loader = None
+        if loader is not None:
+            loader.deleteLater()
+        if self._app_reload_pending:
+            self._app_reload_pending = False
+            AppListLoader.clear_cache()
+            self._start_app_loading()
+
     def _on_apps_loaded(self, apps: list[AppEntry]):
+        if self._apps_loaded and apps == self._apps:
+            return
         self._apps = apps
         self._apps_loaded = True
         if self._show_icons: