Start Screen - Pin or Unpin App, Folder, or Drive in Windows 8

How to Pin or Unpin App, Contact, Folder, Library, or Drive on Start Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

This tutorial will show you how to pin or unpin a app, contact from People app, folder, library, or drive on your Start screen in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.

OPTION ONE

To "Unpin from Start" from the Start Screen

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1. Open your Start screen.​

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2. Right click or swipe down on one or more apps, folders, libraries, or drives that you want to unpin to select (check) them, then click/tap on Unpin from Start in the bottom options bar. (see screenshots below)​

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See also: How to Open Context Menu and Options Bar on Start Screen in Windows 8.1​

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OPTION TWO

"Pin to Start" or "Unpin from Start" from Apps Screen

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1. Open the Apps screen, and do either step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.​

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2. To Unpin an App from the "Start" Screen from "Apps" Screen ​

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A) Right click or swipe down on a listed app that you would like to unpin from your "Start" screen to select (check it), and click/tap on Unpin from Start in the bottom options bar. (see screenshot below)​

NOTE: If you do not see the Unpin from Start icon, then the app is not pinned to the "Start" screen and you would see Pin to Start instead.​

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See also: How to Open Context Menu and Options Bar on Start Screen in Windows 8.1​

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B) Go to step 4 below.​

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3. To Pin an App to the "Start" Screen from "Apps" Screen​

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A) Right click or swipe down on a listed app that you would like to pin to your "Start" screen to select (check it), and click/tap on Pin to Start in the bottom options bar. (see screenshot below)​

NOTE: If you do not see the Pin to Start icon, then the app is already pinned to the "Start" screen and you would see Unpin from Start instead.​

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See also: How to Open Context Menu and Options Bar on Start Screen in Windows 8.1​

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B) Go to step 4 below.​

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   Tip

If the app is not listed in the "Apps" screen, then go to the hidden Start Menu system folder below in Windows Explorer, create a shortcut from the app's .exe file in the Start Menu folder path you want below, close Windows Explorer, then go back to step 2A to select the app.

   Tip

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How to Add or Remove Items on "Apps" Screen in Windows 8​

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For Your Account Only:​

C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs​

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For All User Accounts: (must be administrator)​

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs​

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4. The selected App will now be pinned or unpinned from the Metro "Start" screen.​

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5. Repeat these steps if you would like to pin or unpin another app from the "Start" screen.​

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OPTION THREE

To "Pin to Start" from File Explorer

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1. Open File Explorer, and navigate to the app, folder, library, or drive that you would like to pin to your "Start" screen.​

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2. Right click or swipe down on the app, folder, library, or drive, and click/tap on Pin to Start. (see screenshot below)​

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3. The app, folder, library, or drive will now be pinned to the Metro "Start" screen.​

OPTION FOUR

"Pin to Start" or "Unpin from Start" a Contact in People app

1. On your Start screen, click/tap on the People app to open it.

2. While on the home page or all contacts page in People, click/tap on a contact you want to "Pin to Start" or "Unpin from Start" to open it.

3. Right click on an empty area or swipe up from the bottom edge of the opened contact, and do step 4 or 5 below. (see screenshots below)

4. To "Pin to Start" Contact

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A) Click/tap on the Pin to Start button at the bottom. (see screenshot below)​

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B) Select the tile size you want on your Start screen, enter a name for the tile, click/tap on Pin to Start, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)​

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5. To "Unpin from Start" Contact

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A) Click/tap on the Unpin from Start button at the bottom. (see screenshot below)​

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B) Click/tap on Unpin from Start, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)​

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6. When finished, you can close the People app if you like.

Related Tutorials

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• How to Open Context Menu and Options Bar on Start Screen in Windows 8.1
• How to Use "Find in Start" for Apps in Windows 8.1
• How to Open the "Start" Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add or Remove "Pin to Start" Context Menu for Files in Windows 8
• How to Pin and Unpin Websites from IE10 to Start Screen in Windows 8
• How to Pin Site Tile to Start Screen from Internet Explorer 11 (IE11) in Windows 8.1
• How to Add or Remove Items on "Apps" Screen in Windows 8
• How to Install Windows Store Apps in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Pin or Unpin Apps to the Taskbar in Windows 8
• How to Pin or Unpin Apps in Windows 8 "Search" Charm
• How to Create a Start Menu Toolbar on the Taskbar in Windows 8
• How to Open "Windows Store Apps" from the Desktop in Windows 8
• How to Switch Between Opened Apps with the "Switch List" Bar in Windows 8
• How to Use Snap Views to Display up to Four Apps Opened on each Display in Windows 8.1
• How to Name or Rename a Group of Apps in Windows 8 "Start" Screen
• How to Resize Start Screen App Tiles to be Smaller or Larger in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Change Start Screen Tile Icon and Name in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Organize Apps into Groups in Windows 8 "Start" Screen
• How to Turn Live Tile Notification Updates On or Off for Windows 8 Store Apps
• How to Set a Data Usage Limit for Live App Tile Notification Updates in Windows 8
• Clear Live Tile Notification Updates of Windows Store Apps on Start Screen in Windows 8
• How to Change the Number of Apps Rows on Metro "Start" Screen in Windows 8
• How to Reset Your Start Screen in Windows 8
• How to Backup and Restore Start Screen Layout in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Allow or Prevent Users from Customizing Start Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Pin an App to Start in Windows Phone 8
• How to Enable or Disable Start Screen Animation in Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[wecaan]

This is so weird. The metro UI Internet Explorer completely disappeared from my system. I am not sure what I had done. I don't even remember unpinning it. It doesn't show up in search. Oh well. No full screen browsing for me!

 

[Avalon]

This is so weird. The metro UI Internet Explorer completely disappeared from my system. I am not sure what I had done. I don't even remember unpinning it. It doesn't show up in search. Oh well. No full screen browsing for me!

That's weird... and one of the things I actually want to do. Ha.
Are you able to pin the non-metro one, or is IE disabled altogether?

 

[Brink]

This is so weird. The metro UI Internet Explorer completely disappeared from my system. I am not sure what I had done. I don't even remember unpinning it. It doesn't show up in search. Oh well. No full screen browsing for me!

Hello Wecaan, and welcome to Eight Forums.

You might be able to create the shortcut from the tutorial below to find the Metro IE10 in it to be able to add the Metro IE10 to the Apps screen, then pin to the Start screen again.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2778-metro-apps-open-desktop-windows-8-a.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[wecaan]

Thanks for the tutorial Shawn. I created the apps shortcut file on the Desktop and the internet explore that's in that file is the regular one. The Metro Style IE vanished without a trace.

A lot of people hate the Metro APPS, but I was looking forward to embracing the future. Why did this happen to me!

 

[Avalon]

Lucky for you... I've been trying to remove it (or at least keep the same icon and launch an explorer version) and have had no such luck...

 

[wecaan]

Lucky for you... I've been trying to remove it (or at least keep the same icon and launch an explorer version) and have had no such luck...

What is stopping you from removing it? I thought you just unpin and then pin the regular IE.

 

[Brink]

Thanks for the tutorial Shawn. I created the apps shortcut file on the Desktop and the internet explore that's in that file is the regular one. The Metro Style IE vanished without a trace.

A lot of people hate the Metro APPS, but I was looking forward to embracing the future. Why did this happen to me!

Wecaan,

Sorry for the late reply.

You should also be able to pin Metro IE10 to Apps using the method in the screenshot below. Afterwards, you can use this tutorial to pin it to the Metro Start screen, and drag/drop IE10 from the far right side of the Start screen to where you want it on the Start screen.

 

[sohointegration]

@mikedl: Did you ever find a way to pin CMD to the Metro screen? I use the command prompt all the time... I am lost without it so I need it in a handy place!

 

[Brink]

Hello Sohointegration,

You might see if this may work for you as well.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...metro-start-screen-windows-8-a.html#post31409

 

[sohointegration]

Brink: thanks so much! That works like a charm... guess I just didn't read everything close enough. Lovin' this Preview... so much fun to play with something different! Again, many thanks!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome. I'm happy to hear that it worked for you as well.

 

[JaidynM]

Very nice tutorial. +1

 

[Kynix]

Is it possible to pin any .exe files to the start menu like godmode?

 

[Brink]

Hello Kynix,

The .exe would have to be added to the "Apps" screen first, but after that yes you would be able to pin the .exe to the "Start" screen if you like.

 

[Windunce]

Oh well. No full screen browsing for me!

Function Key Number 11. That should get to you to full screen browsing again using the browser that remains.

Refresh will get everything back, but you do loose ALL the programs that you install and ALL your tweaks.
I have not yet tried System Restore. Why don't you be the guinea pig and let us now how it goes...ha ha

 

[Windunce]

Having no luck whatsoever with this one. It worked fine in XP/Vista/7. But I can't seem to pin to either the Metro Start screen nor
the Task Bar. So it's stuck on my desktop where it does work fine.

BUT....for eons I've had "Show Desktop Items" unchecked, so now I'm back to Win 3.0 icons.
So much for the future!

 

[Brink]

Hello Windunce,

What exactly are you trying to pin to the "Start" screen?

It would have to be a shortcut or application (.exe file) that was already pinned to the "Apps" screen. From the "Apps" screen, you would be able to pin it to the "Start" screen.

Think of it like this. The "Apps" screen is the Windows 8 version of the Windows 7/Vista Start Menu "All Programs" area. The "Start" screen is the Windows 8 version of the Windows 7/Vista Start Menu "pin to" area (top of Start Menu).

 

[Windunce]

Sigh. Sorry

I have no idea how to explain this in ten words or less. But I'll try to keep it as short as possible.
As in the bottom right of the picture, go to Control Panel-Network and Internet-Network and Sharing.

Then on the left click on the 'Text' Change Adapter Setting'

This will take you to the "Wired Internet Connection" or whatever type of connection adapter you are using.
Right click on it and choose "Create Shortcut"
A dialogue box comes up and states it cannot create a shortcut on that screen but it asks if you would
like to create a shortcut on the Desktop.

I chose to do just that and it placed the shortcut as pictured.
I then went to the properties and pasted that into the collage also.

Now, in Win XP-Vista-Win7 I simply drug it down to the Task Bar and it was a done deal.
Heck, try it yourself if you've a Win-7 box handy.

But in WDP when I try to drag/pin it to the taskbar, I get that red-circle VERBOTEN sign and it won't Pin.
So far, not luck with any of the other fixes as of yet.

I really do miss '2 click-Disable' and '1 click-Enabling' that I used very often in WinXP-Vista-Win7

But if it's impossible in WDP, I'll just 8 click and gitter dun

 

[Brink]

Gotcha. You will not be able to pin that shortcut since it's not an application shortcut just like in Windows 7.

If you like, you could use the "Network Connections" shortcut in the tutorial below instead to use to pin to the taskbar or "Start" screen in Windows 8.

Network Connections - Create Shortcut - Windows 7 Forums

 

[Windunce]

Back to the Future... "The Return Of QL"

just like in Windows 7.

I went totally WTF [Why That Face]. For I just KNEW I was using that shortcut constantly in Win7.
[I wish there was an ALT-TAB for OSes...ha ha

But I went file scrounging and it became quite clear. In Win7 I am still using Quick Launch and
the only 'app' Pinned to the Task Bar is Sticky Notes so I can 'toggle' them on and off quickly to
retain my pristine BLANK desktop. So there it was, clear as mud, the Network Adapter on/off
toggle was in Quick Launch and NOT Pinned to the taskbar.

I had been mucking about with this WDP for about a week or so now, and was trying to force myself
to avoid using Quick Launch. But it looks like this is the deal breaker.

I auto-hide the taskbar and in Win7 both the taskbar and Quick Launch, so real estate isn't an
issue anyway. But thanks and hats off to you for making me realize this fact, AND stopping my
madness at trying to accomplish the impossible!

Cheers
Windunce