This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the ability to uninstall apps from the Start Menu for all or specific users in Windows 11.
By default, you can right click on an app in the Start Menu to see an Uninstall (if applicable) option in the context menu.
You can remove the "Uninstall" context menu item from the Start Menu to prevent uninstalling apps from the Start Menu. This can be handy to prevent uninstalling apps by mistake from the Start Menu.
You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable uninstalling apps from the Start Menu.
This will not prevent users from uninstalling apps using other options.
Contents
- Option One: Enable or Disable Uninstall Apps from Start Menu for All or Specific Users in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Two: Enable or Disable Uninstall Apps from Start Menu for All Users using REG file
EXAMPLE: "Uninstall" app context menu in Start Menu
Enable or Disable Uninstall Apps 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 you want in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below step 3)
(All users)
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar
OR
(Specific user or group)
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar
3 In the right pane of Start Menu and Taskbar in the Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Prevent users from uninstalling applications from Start policy to edit it. (see screenshot below)
4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you want.
5 Enable Uninstall Apps from Start Menu
This is the default setting.
A) Select (dot) Not Configured. (see screenshot below)
B) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 7.
6 Disable Uninstall Apps from Start Menu
A) Select (dot) Enabled. (see screenshot below)
B) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 7.
7 You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.
1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.
2 Enable Uninstall Apps from 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.
Enable_uinstall_apps_from_Start_Menu_for_all_users.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"NoUninstallFromStart"=-
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"NoUninstallFromStart"=-3 Disable Uninstall Apps 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.
Disable_uinstall_apps_from_Start_Menu_for_all_users.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"NoUninstallFromStart"=-
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"NoUninstallFromStart"=dword:000000014 Save the REG file to your desktop.
5 If you have Smart App Control turned on, you will need to unblock the downloaded REG file.
6 Double click/tap on the downloaded REG file to merge it.
7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
8 Either restart the explorer process, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.
9 You can now delete the downloaded REG file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Last edited:
