diff --git a/src/common/utils/excluded_apps.h b/src/common/utils/excluded_apps.h
index bbfdd93562..fed45a8b83 100644
--- a/src/common/utils/excluded_apps.h
+++ b/src/common/utils/excluded_apps.h
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ inline bool find_folder_in_path(const std::wstring& where, const std::vector<std
 }
 
 #define MAX_TITLE_LENGTH 255
-inline bool check_excluded_app_with_title(const HWND& hwnd, std::wstring& processPath, const std::vector<std::wstring>& excludedApps)
+inline bool check_excluded_app_with_title(const HWND& hwnd, const std::vector<std::wstring>& excludedApps)
 {
     WCHAR title[MAX_TITLE_LENGTH];
     int len = GetWindowTextW(hwnd, title, MAX_TITLE_LENGTH);
@@ -42,23 +42,25 @@ inline bool check_excluded_app_with_title(const HWND& hwnd, std::wstring& proces
     }
 
     std::wstring titleStr(title);
-    auto lastBackslashPos = processPath.find_last_of(L'\\');
-    if (lastBackslashPos != std::wstring::npos)
+    CharUpperBuffW(titleStr.data(), static_cast<DWORD>(titleStr.length()));
+
+    for (const auto& app : excludedApps)
     {
-        processPath = processPath.substr(0, lastBackslashPos + 1); // retain up to the last backslash
-        processPath.append(titleStr); // append the title
+        if (titleStr.contains(app))
+        {
+            return true;
+        }
     }
-    CharUpperBuffW(processPath.data(), static_cast<DWORD>(processPath.length()));
-    return find_app_name_in_path(processPath, excludedApps);
+    return false;
 }
 
-inline bool check_excluded_app(const HWND& hwnd, std::wstring& processPath, const std::vector<std::wstring>& excludedApps)
+inline bool check_excluded_app(const HWND& hwnd, const std::wstring& processPath, const std::vector<std::wstring>& excludedApps)
 {
     bool res = find_app_name_in_path(processPath, excludedApps);
 
     if (!res)
     {
-        res = check_excluded_app_with_title(hwnd, processPath, excludedApps);
+        res = check_excluded_app_with_title(hwnd, excludedApps);
     }
 
     return res;
diff --git a/src/modules/fancyzones/FancyZonesLib/WindowUtils.cpp b/src/modules/fancyzones/FancyZonesLib/WindowUtils.cpp
index 14a9074180..fb68945154 100644
--- a/src/modules/fancyzones/FancyZonesLib/WindowUtils.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/fancyzones/FancyZonesLib/WindowUtils.cpp
@@ -202,12 +202,12 @@ bool FancyZonesWindowUtils::IsExcluded(HWND window)
     return false;
 }
 
-bool FancyZonesWindowUtils::IsExcludedByUser(const HWND& hwnd, std::wstring& processPath) noexcept
+bool FancyZonesWindowUtils::IsExcludedByUser(const HWND& hwnd, const std::wstring& processPath) noexcept
 {
     return (check_excluded_app(hwnd, processPath, FancyZonesSettings::settings().excludedAppsArray));
 }
 
-bool FancyZonesWindowUtils::IsExcludedByDefault(const HWND& hwnd, std::wstring& processPath) noexcept
+bool FancyZonesWindowUtils::IsExcludedByDefault(const HWND& hwnd, const std::wstring& processPath) noexcept
 {
     static std::vector<std::wstring> defaultExcludedFolders = { NonLocalizable::SystemAppsFolder };
     if (find_folder_in_path(processPath, defaultExcludedFolders))
diff --git a/src/modules/fancyzones/FancyZonesLib/WindowUtils.h b/src/modules/fancyzones/FancyZonesLib/WindowUtils.h
index d330e36e09..72ea73e96f 100644
--- a/src/modules/fancyzones/FancyZonesLib/WindowUtils.h
+++ b/src/modules/fancyzones/FancyZonesLib/WindowUtils.h
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@ namespace FancyZonesWindowUtils
     bool IsProcessOfWindowElevated(HWND window); // If HWND is already dead, we assume it wasn't elevated
     
     bool IsExcluded(HWND window);
-    bool IsExcludedByUser(const HWND& hwnd, std::wstring& processPath) noexcept;
-    bool IsExcludedByDefault(const HWND& hwnd, std::wstring& processPath) noexcept;
+    bool IsExcludedByUser(const HWND& hwnd, const std::wstring& processPath) noexcept;
+    bool IsExcludedByDefault(const HWND& hwnd, const std::wstring& processPath) noexcept;
 
     void SwitchToWindow(HWND window) noexcept;
     void SizeWindowToRect(HWND window, RECT rect) noexcept; // Parameter rect must be in screen coordinates (e.g. obtained from GetWindowRect)