Personalization Add or Remove User Program Groups from Start Menu in Windows 11


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Apps_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to add or remove the User 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 :win:. 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.
If you like, you can enable the Remove user's folders from the Start Menu policy to remove the User (program groups) shortcuts from the Start menu > All apps list for all or specific users.


You must be signed in as an administrator to add or remove the User program groups items from the Start Menu.



Contents

  • Option One: Add or Remove User Program Groups from Start Menu for All or Specific Users in Local Group Policy Editor
  • Option Two: Add or Remove User Program Groups from Start Menu for All Users using REG file


EXAMPLE: All apps on Start menu

Start_Menu_All_apps-1.jpg
Start_Menu_All_apps-2.jpg






OPTION ONE

Add or Remove User 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

Start_menu_user_programs_group_gpedit-1.png

3 In the right pane of Start Menu and Taskbar, double click/tap on the Remove user's folders from the 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 User 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)​

Start_menu_user_programs_group_gpedit-2.png

6 Remove User Program Groups from Start Menu

A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)​

Start_menu_user_programs_group_gpedit-3.png

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 User 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 User 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_user_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]
"NoStartMenuSubFolders"=-

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoStartMenuSubFolders"=-


3 Remove User 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_user_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]
"NoStartMenuSubFolders"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoStartMenuSubFolders"=dword:00000001

4 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

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  • Add_user_program_groups_to_Start_menu_for_all_users.reg
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  • Remove_user_program_groups_from_Start_menu_for_all_users.reg
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Last edited:
I'd like to see a tutorial for a simple registry edit to remove "page 1" from the START Menu.
Page 1, being everything that "isn't" the All Apps list.


000000 Win 11 START menu.jpg





Either that, or a simple registry edit to give us back the Windows 10 START menu, without breaking anything...

Image1.png
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win 11 Home ♦♦♦22631.3374 ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦23H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Ghot® [May 2020]
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
    Motherboard
    Asus Pro WS X570-ACE (BIOS 4702)
    Memory
    G.Skill (F4-3200C14D-16GTZKW)
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA RTX 2070 (08G-P4-2171-KR)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC1220P / ALC S1220A
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U3011 30"
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1600
    Hard Drives
    2x Samsung 860 EVO 500GB,
    WD 4TB Black FZBX - SATA III,
    WD 8TB Black FZBX - SATA III,
    DRW-24B1ST CD/DVD Burner
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling 750W Quad EPS12V
    Case
    Cooler Master ATCS 840 Tower
    Cooling
    CM Hyper 212 EVO (push/pull)
    Keyboard
    Ducky DK9008 Shine II Blue LED
    Mouse
    Logitech Optical M-100
    Internet Speed
    300/300
    Browser
    Firefox (latest)
    Antivirus
    Bitdefender Internet Security
    Other Info
    Speakers: Klipsch Pro Media 2.1
  • Operating System
    Windows XP Pro 32bit w/SP3
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Ghot® (not in use)
    CPU
    AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ (OC'd @ 3.2Ghz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition
    Memory
    TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX (2 x 1GB, DDR2 800)
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA 256-P2-N758-TR GeForce 8600GT SSC
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ViewSonic G90FB Black 19" Professional (CRT)
    Screen Resolution
    up to 2048 x 1536
    Hard Drives
    WD 36GB 10,000rpm Raptor SATA
    Seagate 80GB 7200rpm SATA
    Lite-On LTR-52246S CD/RW
    Lite-On LH-18A1P CD/DVD Burner
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad EPS12V
    Case
    Generic Beige case, 80mm fans
    Cooling
    ZALMAN 9500A 92mm CPU Cooler
    Mouse
    Logitech Optical M-BT96a
    Keyboard
    Logitech Classic Keybooard 200
    Internet Speed
    300/300
    Browser
    Firefox 3.x ??
    Antivirus
    Symantec (Norton)
    Other Info
    Still assembled, still runs. Haven't turned it on for 13 years?

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