Hide or Show Administrative Tools on "Start" Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1
Information
Administrative tools in the Administrative Tools folder in Control Panel help system administrators and advanced users manage system settings, view system information, troubleshoot problems, and more.
This tutorial will show you how to hide or show administrative tools on your Start screen in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1.
In Windows 8 and Windows RT, administrative tools will show on the Start screen if turned on.
In Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1, administrative tools will show on Apps view of the Start screen if turned on.
This tutorial will show you how to hide or show administrative tools on your Start screen in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1.
In Windows 8 and Windows RT, administrative tools will show on the Start screen if turned on.
In Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1, administrative tools will show on Apps view of the Start screen if turned on.
Note
The Administrative Tools folder is located at:
%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools
If this hidden Administrative Tools folder is missing, then it may cause you not to be able to hide the Administrative Tools on your Start or Apps screen until this Administrative Tools folder is restored and a restart of the PC.
Some common administrative tools in this folder include:
• Component Services - Configure and administer Component Object Model (COM) components. Component Services is designed for use by developers and administrators.
• Computer Management - Manage local or remote computers by using a single, consolidated desktop tool. Using Computer Management, system administrators can perform many tasks, such as monitoring system events, configuring hard drives, and managing system performance.
• Defragment and Optimize Drives - Use Defragment and Optimize drives to help your computer run more efficiently. Windows automatically defragments and optimizes drives as part of regular maintenance.
• Disk Cleanup - Reduce the number of unnecessary files on your computer's drives. It deletes temporary files, empties the Recycle Bin, and removes many other items that you might no longer need. Windows automatically runs Disk Cleanup as part of regular maintenance.
• Event Viewer - View information about significant events, such as a program starting or stopping, or a security error, which is recorded in event logs. This information is mostly used by administrators and advanced users to track down specific events for troubleshooting.
• iSCSI Initiator - Configure advanced connections between storage devices on a network.
• Local Security Policy - View and edit Group Policy security settings.
• ODBC Data Sources (32-bit and 64-bit) - Use Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) to move data from one type of database (a data source) to another.
• Performance Monitor - View advanced system information about the central processing unit (CPU), memory, drives, and network performance. This tool can help administrators and advanced users analyze how well a computer is functioning. Another place to view this information is on the Performance tab in Task Manager.
• Print Management - Manage printers and print servers on a network, and perform other administrative tasks.
• Resource Monitor - See how your system resources are being used by processes and services. Resource Monitor can help you analyze unresponsive processes, identify which apps are using files, and manage processes and services.
• Services - Control the different services that run in the background on your computer. You can also view this information on the Services tab in Task Manager.
• System Configuration - Identify problems that might be preventing Windows from running correctly. For more info, see What is System Configuration?
• System Information - View details about your computer, operating system, hardware, and software, including drivers—also known as msinfo32.exe. For more info, see What is System Information?
• Task Scheduler - Schedule programs or other tasks to run automatically.
• Windows Firewall with Advanced Security - Configure advanced firewall settings on both this computer and remote computers on your network.
• Windows Memory Diagnostic - Check your computer's memory to see if it's functioning properly. Built on the .NET Framework, Windows PowerShell helps IT professionals and power users control and automate the administration of the Windows operating system and applications that run on Windows.
• Windows Power Shell - A task-based command-line shell and scripting language designed especially for system administration.
• Windows Power Shell ISE (32-bit and 64-bit) - The Windows PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE) is a host application for Windows PowerShell. In Windows PowerShell ISE, you can run commands and write, test, and debug scripts in a single Windows-based graphic user interface with multiline editing, tab completion, syntax coloring, selective execution, context-sensitive help, and support for right-to-left languages. You can use menu items and keyboard shortcuts to perform many of the same tasks that you would perform in the Windows PowerShell console.
%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools
If this hidden Administrative Tools folder is missing, then it may cause you not to be able to hide the Administrative Tools on your Start or Apps screen until this Administrative Tools folder is restored and a restart of the PC.
Some common administrative tools in this folder include:
• Component Services - Configure and administer Component Object Model (COM) components. Component Services is designed for use by developers and administrators.
• Computer Management - Manage local or remote computers by using a single, consolidated desktop tool. Using Computer Management, system administrators can perform many tasks, such as monitoring system events, configuring hard drives, and managing system performance.
• Defragment and Optimize Drives - Use Defragment and Optimize drives to help your computer run more efficiently. Windows automatically defragments and optimizes drives as part of regular maintenance.
• Disk Cleanup - Reduce the number of unnecessary files on your computer's drives. It deletes temporary files, empties the Recycle Bin, and removes many other items that you might no longer need. Windows automatically runs Disk Cleanup as part of regular maintenance.
• Event Viewer - View information about significant events, such as a program starting or stopping, or a security error, which is recorded in event logs. This information is mostly used by administrators and advanced users to track down specific events for troubleshooting.
• iSCSI Initiator - Configure advanced connections between storage devices on a network.
• Local Security Policy - View and edit Group Policy security settings.
• ODBC Data Sources (32-bit and 64-bit) - Use Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) to move data from one type of database (a data source) to another.
• Performance Monitor - View advanced system information about the central processing unit (CPU), memory, drives, and network performance. This tool can help administrators and advanced users analyze how well a computer is functioning. Another place to view this information is on the Performance tab in Task Manager.
• Print Management - Manage printers and print servers on a network, and perform other administrative tasks.
• Resource Monitor - See how your system resources are being used by processes and services. Resource Monitor can help you analyze unresponsive processes, identify which apps are using files, and manage processes and services.
• Services - Control the different services that run in the background on your computer. You can also view this information on the Services tab in Task Manager.
• System Configuration - Identify problems that might be preventing Windows from running correctly. For more info, see What is System Configuration?
• System Information - View details about your computer, operating system, hardware, and software, including drivers—also known as msinfo32.exe. For more info, see What is System Information?
• Task Scheduler - Schedule programs or other tasks to run automatically.
• Windows Firewall with Advanced Security - Configure advanced firewall settings on both this computer and remote computers on your network.
• Windows Memory Diagnostic - Check your computer's memory to see if it's functioning properly. Built on the .NET Framework, Windows PowerShell helps IT professionals and power users control and automate the administration of the Windows operating system and applications that run on Windows.
• Windows Power Shell - A task-based command-line shell and scripting language designed especially for system administration.
• Windows Power Shell ISE (32-bit and 64-bit) - The Windows PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE) is a host application for Windows PowerShell. In Windows PowerShell ISE, you can run commands and write, test, and debug scripts in a single Windows-based graphic user interface with multiline editing, tab completion, syntax coloring, selective execution, context-sensitive help, and support for right-to-left languages. You can use menu items and keyboard shortcuts to perform many of the same tasks that you would perform in the Windows PowerShell console.
Tip
EXAMPLE: Show Administrative Tools on Start
OPTION ONE
To Show or Hide "Administrative Tools" on Start using Charms Bar
1. From the Start screen, open the Charms bar, and click/tap on the Settings charm. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If you are not on the Start screen, then you can press the Windows key :winkey: to go to it.
2. In the right pane, click/tap on Tiles at the top, then do step 3 or 4 below for what you would like to do. (see screenshot below)
3. Show Administrative Tools on your "Start" Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1
A) Move the Show administrator tools slider to the right to say Yes, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)
4. Hide Administrative Tools on your "Start" Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Move the Show administrator tools slider to the left to say No, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)
5. Click/tap on a empty area on the Start screen to see the change.
NOTE: You may need to scroll the Start screen to the right to see the administrative tools if set to show.
OPTION TWO
To Show or Hide "Administrative Tools" on Start using a BAT File
Note
The .bat files below are for the registry key and value below.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
StartMenuAdminTools DWORD
0 = Hide Administrative Tools
1 = Show Administrative Tools
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
StartMenuAdminTools DWORD
0 = Hide Administrative Tools
1 = Show Administrative Tools
1. Do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.
2. Hide Administrative Tools on your "Start" Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .bat file below, and go to step 4 below.
Hide_Administrative_Tools_on_Start.bat
3. Show Administrative Tools on your "Start" Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .bat file below, and go to step 4 below.
Show_Administrative_Tools_on_Start.bat
4. Save the .bat file to your desktop, and run it.
5. If prompted, click/tap on Run.
NOTE: If you like, you can stop getting the Run prompt by unblocking the downloaded .bat file.
6. You will now notice your screen flicker as explorer is restarted.
7. After a slight delay, your setting for administrative tools will be applied on your Start screen.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Restore Missing Default Administrative Tools Shortcuts in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Open the "Start" Screen in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
- How to Open the "Apps" Screen in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
- Set to Show "Start" or "Apps" View when Opening Start Screen in Windows 8.1
- Set Start Screen to Open on Last or Main Display when Pressing Windows key in Windows 8.1
- How to Turn On or Off Show more apps in Apps view in Windows 8.1 Update
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