This tutorial will show you how to add or remove the All Users items from the Start Menu > All apps list for specific or all users in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
The Start menu is comprised of three sections: Pinned, All apps, and Recommended.
All apps appears when a user clicks on All apps in the upper-right corner of the Start menu
. All Apps is a comprehensive list of shortcuts, in alphabetical order, of all installed apps. Some of these shortcuts are grouped into folders with the expandable folder in the list.The Start Menu > All apps list for an account will include items (ex: app shortcuts) from the following locations:
- New Users - This profile includes items from the C:\Users\Default\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs folder that only get added for new accounts.
- All Users (common program groups) - This profile includes items from the C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs folder that are shared by all accounts on the PC.
- User - This profile includes items from the C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs folder for a specific user.
You must be signed in as an administrator to add or remove the All Users (common program groups) items from the Start Menu.
Contents
- Option One: Add or Remove Common Program Groups from Start Menu for All or Specific Users in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Two: Add or Remove Common Program Groups from Start Menu for All Users using REG file
EXAMPLE: All apps on Start menu
OPTION ONE
Add or Remove Common Program Groups from Start Menu for All or Specific Users in Local Group Policy Editor
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option Two to configure the same policy.
1 Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.
2 Navigate to the policy location below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)
User Configuration/Administrative Templates/Start Menu and Taskbar
3 In the right pane of Start Menu and Taskbar, double click/tap on the Remove common program groups from Start Menu policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you would like to do.
5 Add Common Program Groups to Start Menu
This is the default setting.
A) Select (dot) Not Configured, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
6 Remove Common Program Groups from Start Menu
A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
7 Close the Local Group Policy Editor.
8 Either restart the explorer process, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.
OPTION TWO
Add or Remove Common Program Groups from Start Menu for All Users using REG file
1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.
2 Add Common Program Groups to Start Menu for All Users
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Add_common_program_groups_to_Start_menu_for_all_users.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoCommonGroups"=-
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoCommonGroups"=-3 Remove Common Program Groups from Start Menu for All Users
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Remove_common_program_groups_from_Start_menu_for_all_users.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoCommonGroups"=dword:00000001
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoCommonGroups"=dword:000000014 Save the REG file to your desktop.
5 Double click/tap on the downloaded REG file to merge it.
6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7 Either restart the explorer process, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.
8 You can now delete the downloaded REG file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Attachments
Last edited:
