How to organize apps in Start menu on Windows 11
Here are the easy steps to make the Start menu more personal on Windows 11.
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Although the new Start menu onWindows 11has a simple design that ditches the Live Tiles in favor of traditional icons, you have several ways to organize the experience for easier access to your apps.
For example, you can add, remove, and rearrange your apps. You can group your favorite apps into folders, and while you can’t remove the recommendations, it’s possible to change the layout to show more pins.
Thisguidewill walk you through the easy steps to organize your apps in the Start menu on Windows 11.
How to organize apps in the Windows 11 Start menu
Windows 11 offers several ways to organize your apps in the Start menu, and the steps below will show you how.
Manage pinned apps
To pin and arrange apps in the Start menu, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, the new organization will make it easier to launch your favorite apps.
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Create app folder
Starting withversion 22H2, you can create folders to organize apps into groups that take up less space in the same area, much like you group apps on your phone.
To create a new app folder in the Start menu, use these steps:
After you create the folder, it’ll generate a thumbnail with the icons of the first four apps. If you want to customize the preview, you need to arrange the first four apps with the ones you want to see in the preview.
Assign folder name
To assign a name for the app folder, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, the folder will reflect the new name.
Remove app folder
To remove a folder from the Start menu, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, the app folder will no longer be available in the Start menu.
Change recommendations
To show more apps in the Pinned section on Windows 11, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, you will be able to see more pins (or recommendations) based on layout configuration.
Show recently used and recently installed apps
To show recently used and installed apps in the All apps menu, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, the “All apps” menu will show recently installed and more frequent apps.
On Windows 11, it’s not possible to disable the “Recommended” section, but if you can select the"More pins"layout and disable the"Show recently added apps," “Show more used apps,“and"Show recently opened items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer"options to stop showing recommendations while displaying most pins.
If you can’t find some of the features, such as the app folder and the ability to change the Start menu layout, it’s because you not running the latest version ofWindows 11 (2022 Update).
More resources
For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:
Mauro Huculak has been a Windows How-To Expert contributor for WindowsCentral.com for nearly a decade and has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides. He also has an IT background and has achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, and CompTIA. He has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years.
