2 Best Ways to Remove Windows 10 Start Menu Tiles and Programs

The Start menu is one of the most used features of Windows 10. Indeed, the Start menu houses a collection of applications, files and tools. It also houses Windows power options and other setting shortcuts. In addition, it can contain redundant apps and shortcuts that you barely use. In this tutorial, we will explain two ways to remove and filter unwanted applications from your Windows PC Start menu.

On the Windows 10 operating system, the Start menu is often preinstalled with application shortcuts known as application tiles. Usually these tiles are Windows Store apps and programs as well as some native Windows utility apps like Calendar, Calculator, Weather app, etc. Windows also gives you the freedom to further customize and populate the Start menu by manually adding additional tiles – say, for example, that you want to add several different time zone clocks.

If, however, you are minimalist (like me) and like to keep your Start menu clean and free from distractions, then find out 2 ways to remove programs and application thumbnails from your Windows PC Start menu. We have also added some additional tips to help you organize the Start menu on your PC.

Method 1: Remove Applications Individually

If there is an application, tool, or shortcut you want to remove from the Start menu on your PC, doing so is fairly easy.

Step 1: Press the Start button or the Windows key to launch the Start menu.

2nd step: Right-click the program or application thumbnail that you want to delete. In this tutorial, we will remove the OneNote app.

Step 3: Click on the option “Ungroup from start”.

And that’s all. The tile will be immediately removed from the Start menu on your PC.

You can remove any tile from the Start menu by following the steps above. It doesn’t matter if the thumbnail contains an application, a shortcut or a utility. Just right click on it and detach it from the Start menu. Easy wind.

Method 2: deleting a group (several applications)

In a typical Start menu on each Windows PC, similar applications or utilities are organized into categories called Groups. For the context, if several games are pinned to your Start menu, Windows will most certainly organize them under the same group. In the image below, you can see that the multiple clocks in my Start menu are classified into a group called Timzones. Calendar, mail, photos, etc. are classified in the “Life at a glance” group. While the Xbox app, Money, Music, etc. appear under the “Play and explore” group.

The first method above is effective when you need to remove an application / program from your Start menu. However, if you want to delete a group (of several tiles) simultaneously, or if you want to completely erase the applications from the Start menu of your PC, deleting them separately and successively is a total waste of time. There is a faster and easier way to do this, and we have listed the steps below.

Step 1: Press the Start button or the Windows key to launch the Start menu on your PC.

2nd step: Hover your mouse over the group whose applications you want to remove from the Start menu.

You should see some sort of navigation icon appear next to the group title.

Step 3: Now right click on the group title or on the navigation icon.

Step 4: Click on the option “Ungroup the group from the beginning”.

This will remove all applications from the group from the Start menu.

In the image below, all of the apps in the “ Life at a glance ” group have been removed from the Start menu.

Extra: Start menu organization tips

1. Move a group

To move a group of applications to a new position in the Start menu, simply move your cursor over the group’s title / name and drag the navigation icon to the position of your choice. You can also move apps to the Start menu by dragging and dropping them.

2. Rename a group

Want to change the name of an application group in the Start menu on your PC? It’s super easy too. Just tap on the group title and enter a new name.

3. Resize an application / tile

If you’re having trouble locating an app in the Start menu, perhaps because it’s too small (or perhaps too large), you can adjust the size accordingly. Right-click on the application, press Resize and select a new size – small, medium, large or large.

Clean the Start menu on your PC

If you access the Start menu on your PC every day, you need to restructure it to increase your productivity. One way to do this is to remove the redundant apps that you barely use. Another way is to resize applications or organize them into named groups. Take charge today and make your computer’s Start menu better, cleaner and more organized.