'Pin to Start' and 'Unpin from Start' items in Windows 10  

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    'Pin to Start' and 'Unpin from Start' items in Windows 10

    'Pin to Start' and 'Unpin from Start' items in Windows 10

    How to 'Pin to Start' and 'Unpin from Start" items in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Customization
    26 Aug 2021
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to "Pin to Start" and "Unpin from Start" items in Windows 10


    You can pin to Start any apps, contacts (People app), folders, drives, Settings, library, network, OneDrive, and Recycle Bin so you can open them quickly, and see updates on live tiles for modern apps at a glance.

    By default, the only type of files that you can "Pin to Start" are .exe (application) files.

    This tutorial will show you how to Pin to Start and Unpin from Start an app, contact (People app), folder, drive, homegroup, library, network, and OneDrive on your Start menu in Windows 10.


    Contents







    OPTION ONE

    How to "Pin to Start" in File Explorer


    1 While in File Explorer (Win+E), right click or press and hold on an item (ex: C: drive) you want to pin, and click/tap on Pin to Start. (see screenshot below)

    'Pin to Start' and 'Unpin from Start' items in Windows 10-pin_to_start_file_explorer.png






    OPTION TWO

    How to "Pin to Start" in Start Menu


    1 Open the Start menu, and do step 2 or step 3 for how you would like to "Pin to Start" an app while in the Start menu.

    2 "Pin to Start" using Context Menu

    A) Right click or press and hold on an app (ex: OneDrive) on the left side, and click/tap on Pin to Start. (see screenshot below)

    'Pin to Start' and 'Unpin from Start' items in Windows 10-pin_to_start_menu.jpg


    3 "Pin to Start" using Drag and Drop

    A) Drag an app (ex: Internet Explorer) from the left side to where you want it's tile on Start (right side), and drop the tile to "Pin to Start". (see screenshots below)

    'Pin to Start' and 'Unpin from Start' items in Windows 10-drag_pin_to_start-1.png
    'Pin to Start' and 'Unpin from Start' items in Windows 10-drag_pin_to_start-2.png
    'Pin to Start' and 'Unpin from Start' items in Windows 10-drag_pin_to_start-3.png






    OPTION THREE

    How to "Unpin from Start" in Start Menu


    1 Open the Start menu , right click or press and hold on any pinned item (ex: website) on the right side that you want to unpin, and click/tap on Unpin from Start. (see screenshot below)

    'Pin to Start' and 'Unpin from Start' items in Windows 10-unpin_from_start_menu.jpg






    OPTION FOUR

    How to "Pin to Start" in Settings


    1 Open Settings.

    2 Right click or press and hold on an icon in Settings, and click/tap on Pin to Start. (see screenshot below)

    'Pin to Start' and 'Unpin from Start' items in Windows 10-settings_pin_to_start-1.png

    OR

    3 Click/tap on a category on the Settings home page, right click or press and hold on a setting page on the left side, and click/tap on Pin to Start. (see screenshot below)

    'Pin to Start' and 'Unpin from Start' items in Windows 10-settings_pin_to_start-2.png






    OPTION FIVE

    How to "Pin to Start" or "Unpin from Start" in Windows Search Box


    1 Open Search (Win+S).

    2 Search for an app (ex: notepad), and select it in the search results in the left pane of the Search Box. (see screenshots below)

    3 In the right pane, click/tap on the expansion arrow, and click/tap on Pin to Start or Unpin from Start depending on what's available and what you want.

    'Pin to Start' and 'Unpin from Start' items in Windows 10-pin_to_start_from_search.png 'Pin to Start' and 'Unpin from Start' items in Windows 10-unpin_from_start_from_search.png


    That's it,
    Shawn Brink


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  2. Tony K
    Posts : 5,833
    Dual boot Windows 10 FCU Pro x 64 & current Insider 10 Pro
       New #1

    Hi, Shawn. Will you have a "Pin to Start" for a file in the File Explorer context menu by any chance? You made one for 8/8.1. I found that very useful and quick.
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  4. Brink
    Posts : 68,837
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #2

    HippsieGypsie said:
    Hi, Shawn. Will you have a "Pin to Start" for a file in the File Explorer context menu by any chance? You made one for 8/8.1. I found that very useful and quick.
    I'll have to test it again, but I don't think it worked in the preview builds.
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  5. ArtP
    Posts : 5
    Windows 10
       New #3

    How can I remove an item from the start menu that refuses to be unpinned? I accidentally pinned a folder to the start menu and selecting unpin from start does nothing. Also left clicking on the item does nothing.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  6. Cliff S
    Posts : 27,180
    Win11 Pro, Win10 Pro N, Win10 Home, Windows 8.1 Pro, Ubuntu
       New #4

    ArtP said:
    How can I remove an item from the start menu that refuses to be unpinned? I accidentally pinned a folder to the start menu and selecting unpin from start does nothing. Also left clicking on the item does nothing.
    Hi ArtP welcome to Ten Forums:)
    Try going to C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs and deleting the shortcut icon.

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1...dows-10-a.html

    An easier way is right click the folder icon, click "More" and click "Open File Location" (takes you to the same place) and then delete the shortcut icon.
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  7. ArtP
    Posts : 5
    Windows 10
       New #5

    Cliff S said:
    Try going to C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs and deleting the shortcut icon.

    An easier way is right click the folder icon, click "More" and click "Open File Location" (takes you to the same place) and then delete the shortcut icon.
    Thanks Cliff. The first suggestion didn't work because the shortcut icon is not listed. The second easier suggestion didn't work because right-clicking does not include "Open File Location" as an option, only "Unpin from Start" and "Resize". Screenshots are included. "xmltobgl" is the culprit icon.

    'Pin to Start' and 'Unpin from Start' items in Windows 10-shortcuts.jpg'Pin to Start' and 'Unpin from Start' items in Windows 10-menu.jpg
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  8. Cliff S
    Posts : 27,180
    Win11 Pro, Win10 Pro N, Win10 Home, Windows 8.1 Pro, Ubuntu
       New #6

    Ouch! It looks like a case where an icon sticks around after a file has been moved or deleted. If you have Ccleaner or some other all in one cleaner, try checking the start menu shortcuts and running.
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  9. ArtP
    Posts : 5
    Windows 10
       New #7

    Thanks Cliff. CCleaner took care of it.

    Art
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  10. Cliff S
    Posts : 27,180
    Win11 Pro, Win10 Pro N, Win10 Home, Windows 8.1 Pro, Ubuntu
       New #8

    ArtP said:
    Thanks Cliff. CCleaner took care of it.

    Art
    Good to hear
    I have had a similar problem with a desktop folder icon,
    where I deleted it, but had it open in a program,
    so for Windows it was still there,
    but... not,
    at the same time.
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  12. ArtP
    Posts : 5
    Windows 10
       New #9

    Cliff S said:
    where I deleted it, but had it open in a program,
    Would such a program be Windows Explorer? Best to close all windows when deleting start menu icons?

    Art
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

 

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