The Start Menu: in all probability, it is where you start, every time you turn on your PC. Disregarding a hiatus with Windows 8. It is been a staple of the Windows desktop for generations with proven credentials as an efficient app launcher. Unfortunately, it still tends to attract inordinate amounts of bloat as you use your PC. In this article, we are going to talk about How To Remove And Organize Apps From Windows. Let’s begin!
On a fresh Windows 10 install, the Start menu’s applications list is fairly tidy. Most apps, particularly UWP ones from the Store, are display at the root of the menu. Windows also include a few folders, such as “Windows Accessories,” to group together less frequently-used utilities.
As you add more apps to your PC, your applications list can quickly start to lose its structure. Apps are able to add whichever shortcuts they like to the menu, and there’s little consistency between programs. Desktop apps, in particular, have a tendency to create a new folder for themselves and include a plethora of uninstallation, settings, and website links. Over time, you might find it harder to locate an app, and you will also see unwanted shortcuts showing up in Windows Search.
Contents
Universal Apps | Organize Apps From Windows
A Universal Windows app is a software application written in the Windows 8 or Windows 10 codebase. That can run not just on a Windows PC. But also on a Windows tablet, smartphone, smartwatch, or Xbox as well.
Universal Windows apps are designed to function the same way on different form factors. For developers, the shared codebase works across almost all APIs, requiring only tweaks for display parameters. This approach can lessen the burden in the enterprise, removing the need for developers to create custom code for different form factors running a Windows operating system (OS). The tradeoff is that the shared codebase may also provide malware makers with a single, large target, simplifying the task of malware creation.
The prevalence of the Windows operating system and the ability to run desktop apps on mobile devices is expected to boost market share for Microsoft’s mobile platforms, particularly Windows Phone.
Remove Apps from All Apps List | Organize Apps From Windows
If you want to remove a desktop app from the Windows 10 Start Menu’s All Apps list, first head to Start > All Apps and find the app in question. Right-click on its icon and select More > Open File Location.
Of note, you can only right-click on an application itself, and not a folder that the app might reside in. This does not mean that you can’t remove or modify folders in the All Apps list (we will show you how in a moment). But you will need a specific application icon itself to get to the next step.
After clicking Open File Location, a new File Explorer window will appear showing you the application shortcut. Depending on whether the app is available to all users or limited to your own user account. You will be looking at one of the following directories, respectively:
C:ProgramDataMicrosoftWindowsStart MenuPrograms
%appdata%MicrosoftWindowsStart MenuPrograms
Changes made to the contents of these directories will be reflected in the All Apps list. Such as, we want to remove Microsoft Access 2016 from our All Apps list. But we do not necessarily want to uninstall the application. Using the steps above, we can locate the Access 2016 shortcut in the corresponding “Programs” folder and delete it. When we open the Start Menu’s All Apps list again. Then the entry for Access 2016 will not show.
You can remove other applications, including folders, from File Explorer to get rid of any unwanted apps. That would otherwise clutter up your All Apps list. Note, however, that there are certain system files and entries that you can see in File Explorer but not in your All Apps list. It is best to leave any entries that do not show up in the All Apps list alone in case Windows or other applications depend on them.
Organize Apps in All Apps List | Organize Apps From Windows
Instead of deleting apps from the All Apps list, some users may prefer to organize their apps into folders. Thus, reducing desktop clutter and making it look more organized. This can accomplished by repeating the steps above to find the app’s shortcut location. Rather than deleting any apps, however, you can create a new folder. (Or use an existing folder) and simply drag and drop the appropriate apps into place.
Such as, all of our Adobe Creative Cloud apps are listed in the top-level Programs folder. But we can move them all to an “Adobe” folder to clean up our All Apps list. However, we still maintaining easy access to our Adobe apps.
Folders in the All Apps list do not need to limited to certain developers, of course. Users can create custom folders such as “Games” or “Work” and populate them with the desired list of apps. You can also rename apps or folders in File Explorer and have the changes reflected in your All Apps list.
Once you are done organizing your Start Menu in Windows 10. You will be able to search and find content and apps faster than ever before.
Choose the App You Want to Show in Your Start Menu | Organize Apps From Windows
There are apps that you want to be readily available in your Start Menu for easy access. There is a way to customize your Start Menu to show all the available applications or just the ones you use most of the time. To do this, you have to:
- Click the Start Menu.
- Go to Settings.
- Click Personalization, and adjust the settings you want to change.
Conclusion
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Also See: How To Modify Brightness For All Displays On macOS
