Add or Remove Apps in All Apps Windows 11 and 10

Adding or deleting shortcuts in the All Apps list does not happen inside the Start Menu interface itself; it happens by modifying two hidden Start Menu system directories on your storage drive. To modify entries for your account, navigate to %appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs, while system-wide changes for all users require access to %programdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs. Deleting a shortcut from these folders cleanly removes it from the All Apps list without uninstalling the underlying software.

Few things on a fresh desktop environment are as frustrating as opening the Start Menu expecting a clean list of tools, only to find an unorganized clutter of uninstalled app remnants, installation logs, help files, and web links. When you install portable applications, desktop utilities, or enterprise tools, installers frequently dump full folder trees into the system index or skip adding shortcuts entirely. Knowing how to control the Start Menu directory hierarchy returns full control over your desktop workflow.

Understanding Where All Apps Shortcuts Live

The All Apps section in the Start Menu is not a static registry listing or a single hidden configuration file. Instead, Windows dynamically generates this list by scanning two separate system directories every time the user logs in or modifies the file system. Understanding the division between user-specific and system-wide paths is critical before adding or removing shortcuts. If you need assistance navigating system drives, check our guide to get help with File Explorer in Windows.

The first location stores shortcuts exclusive to your current user account. Shortcuts added here will only appear when you log in. The physical path resides inside your hidden AppData structure at C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs. You can access this instantly by executing shell:programs inside the Run dialog box.

The second location stores shortcuts that appear for every user account configured on the machine. This directory requires administrator access to modify. Its physical path is located at C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs. You can open this location directly by running shell:common programs.

When you browse the All Apps list, Windows merges the contents of both directories into a single alphabetical view. If an app shortcut resides in the common programs folder, standard users cannot delete it directly through File Explorer without elevated permissions. You can also adjust system navigation preferences by setting single-click or double-click to open item folder files in Windows 11.

Managing All Apps Shortcuts in Windows 11

In Windows 11 (including current 25H2 updates), opening the Start Menu displays pinned applications and recommended files. To view the complete list, you click the All apps button near the top right. Managing items inside this list requires navigating the underlying storage directories or using built-in context options.

Adding Custom Portable App Shortcuts in Windows 11

Portable applications often ship as raw .exe files without an installation wizard, meaning they do not auto-populate in your Start Menu. Adding them to All Apps requires creating a standard desktop shortcut and moving it into the user programs folder. If you want quick access to system paths, you can also learn how to create a shortcut for desktop background settings.

1. Locate the target executable file (e.g., utility.exe) inside File Explorer.
2. Right-click the executable, select Show more options (or press Shift + F10), and choose Create shortcut.
3. Press Win + R to bring up the Run command box.
4. Type shell:programs and press Enter to launch your personal Start Menu Programs directory.
5. Cut and paste your newly created shortcut into this directory. The application will instantly appear under its corresponding letter in the All Apps index.

Ethan points out that in Windows 11, folder structures created inside shell:programs do not render as expandable tree folders inside All Apps. Instead, Windows 11 extracts all individual shortcuts contained within nested subfolders and presents them flat in alphabetical order, appended with their parent folder context where necessary.

Removing Unwanted Items from Windows 11 All Apps

Removing items directly from the Start Menu interface can be done cleanly depending on whether you want to unpin, uninstall, or delete the physical shortcut.

1. Open the Start Menu and click All apps.
2. Right-click the unwanted app item.
3. If you wish to remove the software entirely, select Uninstall. This redirects to the modern Settings app under Apps > Installed apps to complete full software removal.
4. If the option displays More > Open file location, click it to open the exact folder containing the shortcut.
5. Delete the shortcut file from that folder. The item disappears from your All Apps view without affecting the software binaries.

Managing All Apps Shortcuts in Windows 10

Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. While computers running Windows 10 22H2 continue to boot and operate normally, managing their desktop interfaces remains vital for users maintaining legacy systems or hardware awaiting replacement.

Customizing Shortcuts on Windows 10

Unlike Windows 11, Windows 10 presents the All Apps list directly inside the left column of the main Start Menu layout. It also supports collapsable folder groups within the menu list. If you are managing main Start Menu or taskbar tiles, see our tutorial on how to pin an app to the Start Menu in Windows 10 as well as how to unpin an app from the Start Menu or taskbar.

1. Press Win + R to launch the Run dialog box.
2. Type shell:common programs and click OK to modify shortcuts for all system profiles.
3. To group related utilities, create a new folder (e.g., Shop Diagnostics) inside the Programs directory.
4. Place your application shortcuts inside this new folder.
5. Open the Windows 10 Start Menu. Your custom folder will appear in the alphabetical list as an expandable drop-down menu containing all placed shortcuts.

"On Windows 10, folder grouping gave us clean drop-down containers," Ethan explains. "If you are organizing dozens of tools for a team, creating subdirectories inside shell:common programs keeps the root menu short and clean."

Comparing All Apps Modification Methods

Choosing the right technique depends on whether you are working with portable desktop applications, standard win32 software, enterprise deployments, or pre-installed UWP packages. The table below outlines how each method behaves across user privileges and OS editions.

Managing Modern UWP and System App Shortcuts

When you inspect shell:programs, you will notice that pre-installed modern apps such as Xbox, News, or Weather do not have visible .lnk shortcut files in those folders. Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps store their operational manifests inside dynamic system packages.

To view all registered application IDs—including UWP apps, Win32 apps, and Control Panel applets—in one single virtual folder, open the Run dialog box (Win + R) and execute:

shell:AppsFolder

This opens the hidden Applications shell window. From here, you can right-click any item (including UWP apps) to create desktop shortcuts or pin them to the Start Menu Pinned area.

If you wish to remove unwanted pre-installed UWP apps from the All Apps list for the logged-in user, you must use PowerShell.

1. Right-click the Start menu button and select Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin).
2. To list installed user packages, run: Get-AppxPackage | Select Name, PackageFullName
3. To remove a specific app (for example, Bing News) for the active user, run: Get-AppxPackage *bingnews* | Remove-AppxPackage
4. To prevent the provisioned package from reinstalling when new user accounts are created, execute: Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online | Where-Object {$_.DisplayName -like "*bingnews*"} | Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online

Troubleshooting All Apps Sync and Indexing Failures

Sometimes you paste a shortcut into shell:programs or delete a dead link from shell:common programs, but the Start Menu All Apps list fails to update. Understanding common failure modes helps resolve indexing locks quickly. If you accidentally delete a shortcut while tidying up, you can easily enable the hidden Recycle Bin on your desktop to restore it.

Symptom 1: Added Shortcut Does Not Appear in All Apps

If a newly created shortcut does not show up, Windows Search indexing or the Start Menu experience host may be lagging.

• Cause: The shortcut targets an invalid file path or missing network drive, causing Windows Search to discard the link during validation.
• Fix: Right-click your created shortcut, choose Properties, and verify that the Target path points to a valid local executable. Then restart Windows Explorer by opening Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), selecting Windows Explorer, and clicking Restart.

Symptom 2: Deleted Shortcut Still Appears in All Apps

You deleted the shortcut file from shell:programs, but the icon remains visible in the menu.

• Cause: A duplicate copy of the shortcut exists inside the second directory (shell:common programs), or the Start Menu cache database has not refreshed.
• Fix: Press Win + R, type shell:common programs, and check if the duplicate shortcut lives in the system-wide folder. Delete it using administrator privileges.

Symptom 3: All Apps Icons Show Generic Blank Sheets

Application names are present, but their graphical icons display as generic blank document shapes. You can also review how to show or hide desktop icons in Windows to manage overall visual layout.

• Cause: Corrupted Windows icon cache database (IconCache.db).
• Fix: Open Command Prompt, run ie4uinit.exe -show, or delete %localappdata%\IconCache.db and restart Explorer.

Locking Down All Apps in Enterprise Environments

System administrators often need to restrict users from modifying Start Menu options or prevent specific application groups from populating on work workstations. If you are securing individual workstations, check our guide on how to remove PIN sign-in from user accounts.

On Windows Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions, Group Policy Editor provides direct controls. Note that Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) is not available on Windows Home editions.

1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar.
3. To hide the All Apps list entirely in Windows 10/11, locate Remove All Programs list from the Start menu, double-click it, select Enabled, and click OK.
4. To prevent users from modifying common shortcuts, enable Prevent users from customizing their Start Menu layout.

Symptom Triage: Common Start Menu Issues

Use this reference table to quickly diagnose and fix issues related to missing, stubborn, or corrupted shortcuts in the All Apps list.

Related Guides and Further Reading

Explore our additional Windows customization and performance tutorials from the archive:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the All Apps section in the Start Menu?

The All Apps section is an indexed list that displays all win32 applications, UWP packages, and system shortcuts installed on your Windows computer. It serves as the complete application catalog beyond your pinned desktop shortcuts.

Does deleting a shortcut from All Apps uninstall the application?

No. Deleting a shortcut file (.lnk) from shell:programs or shell:common programs simply removes the icon pointer from your Start Menu. The original software binaries and application files remain fully intact on your hard drive.

How do I open the current user Start Menu folder in File Explorer?

Press Win + R to open the Run command box, type shell:programs, and press Enter. This instantly opens your profile's Start Menu Programs folder.

How do I open the all-users Start Menu folder?

Press Win + R, type shell:common programs, and press Enter. You will need administrator privileges to add or delete items in this location.

Why can't I delete certain app shortcuts from the Start Menu?

If a shortcut resides in the system-wide shell:common programs directory, standard user accounts will receive an "Access Denied" prompt. You must provide administrator credentials to modify files inside that folder.

Can I add subfolders to organize shortcuts in Windows 11 All Apps?

While you can physically create folders inside shell:programs, Windows 11 flattens the All Apps list and displays shortcuts individually rather than as collapsible folder trees. Windows 10 retains collapsible folder trees.

How do I remove pre-installed Windows apps like News or Weather?

Pre-installed UWP apps cannot be deleted via simple folder shortcut removal. You can uninstall them through Settings > Apps > Installed apps or use the PowerShell command Remove-AppxPackage.

How do I add a portable app EXE to the Start Menu?

Create a desktop shortcut for your portable .exe file, press Win + R, type shell:programs, and move your shortcut into that folder.

How do I restore a shortcut I accidentally deleted from All Apps?

Open your Desktop Recycle Bin to restore the deleted .lnk file. Alternatively, navigate to the application's installation directory in C:\Program Files, right-click the executable, select Create shortcut, and move it back into shell:programs.

What is shell:AppsFolder and how is it used?

Executing shell:AppsFolder opens a virtual shell window containing every installed software application, UWP app, and Windows tool. It provides a single dashboard to drag and drop shortcuts onto your desktop.

Can I pin web links or website shortcuts to All Apps?

Yes. You can create a internet shortcut (.url file) targeting any web address and paste it into shell:programs. It will appear in the All Apps index under its assigned name.

Why do some applications install shortcuts for all users automatically?

Software installers configured with administrative setup scripts place their shortcuts into %programdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs so that the application is immediately available to every account on the PC.

Will modifying Start Menu folders affect Windows Search performance?

No. Windows Search automatically monitors changes to shell:programs and shell:common programs. Removing unnecessary shortcut clutter actually improves search index accuracy by eliminating dead links.

How do I hide the entire All Apps list using Group Policy?

Open gpedit.msc, navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar, and enable Remove All Programs list from the Start menu.

Can I back up my Start Menu shortcut layout?

Yes. Copy the entire folder content inside %appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs to an external drive or cloud storage to safeguard your customized shortcut hierarchy.

Does Windows Home support disabling the All Apps list via registry?

Yes. In regedit, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer and set the DWORD NoStartMenuMorePrograms to 1.

Revision note. Originally published August 29, 2015. Fully updated August 15, 2026 for Windows 11 (25H2) and Windows 10. Microsoft updated the Start Menu layout in Windows 11 by shifting to a pinned grid layout and flattening nested folders, though the underlying filesystem shell paths remain consistent. Taking control of your Start Menu workspace gives you back a clean, efficient desktop experience tailored exactly to your daily workflow.