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

 

[Brink]

You're welcome. Yeah, Quick Launch is perfect for something like this.

 

[Brink]

Tutorial has been updated for the Windows 8 Consumer Preview.

 

[IownAmoneyPit]

Tutorial has been updated for the Windows 8 Consumer Preview.

Thank's Brink.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

 

[puvenlin]

When an application creates shortcut under C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs it's automatically pinned to Metro. But when manually unpinned then reinstall the application again the shortcut is not pinned automaticlaly why?
The system appear to remember the original unpin status. Does anyone know the tweak what/where?

 

[Brink]

Hello Puvenlin, and welcome to Eight Forums.

It all depends on the application itself, and if the option (if available) to create a shortcut in the Start Menu or on Start screen was checked during installation. Otherwise, a shortcut will have to manually be created.

It's not going to remember an unpin status, since unpinning only removes a shortcut of the app from the hidden Start Menu folder location below for current user. Of course, pinning an app to Start, would add a shortcut of the app to the location below.

[B]C:\Users\[COLOR=#ff0000](User-Name)[/COLOR]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\StartMenu[/B]

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[puvenlin]

Thanks Shawn!

StartMenu does not exist but there's only "ImplicitAppShortcuts" & "TaskBar" folders present?
C:\Users\(User-Name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\

Simply placing or removing the shortcut of an AP in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs displays/removes it on Start/Metro.

Eg.
Simply delete an existing shortcut under C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs then verify the shortcut disappears on Start/Menu

Simply copy and existing shortcut, rename then paste into C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs then verify it does not creates the new shortcut on Start/Menu for the existing AP


The system remembers the unpin status of an AP.
Eg.
- Install an AP ensure shortcut created on Start Menu folder as well as exist on Start/Metro
- Go to Start/Metro then right click the shortcut on Start/Metro and click Unpin from Start
- Uninstall the AP
- Reinstall the AP and check there's no shortcut on Start/Metro. Need to Pin it again manually due to previously it was unpinned manually

 

[Brink]

Continued from: http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...pp-folder-drive-windows-8-a-5.html#post112368

Thanks Shawn!

StartMenu does not exist but there's only "ImplicitAppShortcuts" & "TaskBar" folders present?
C:\Users\(User-Name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\

Simply placing or removing the shortcut of an AP in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs displays/removes it on Start/Metro.

Eg.
Simply delete an existing shortcut under C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs then verify the shortcut disappears on Start/Menu

Simply copy and existing shortcut, rename then paste into C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs then verify it does not creates the new shortcut on Start/Menu for the existing AP


The system remembers the unpin status of an AP.
Eg.
- Install an AP ensure shortcut created on Start Menu folder as well as exist on Start/Metro
- Go to Start/Metro then right click the shortcut on Start/Metro and click Unpin from Start
- Uninstall the AP
- Reinstall the AP and check there's no shortcut on Start/Metro. Need to Pin it again manually due to previously it was unpinned manually

I think you may have the Start screen confused with the Apps screen a bit. If you want it to work properly, then you must use the method in the tutorial.


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

For Windows 7: All users Start Menu -> All Programs
For Windows 8: All users "Apps" screen​

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

For Windows 7: Current user Start Menu -> All Programs
For Windows 8: Current user "Apps" screen​

 

[puvenlin]

Was referring to "Start" screen and not "Apps" screen. Unable to locate which part of the tutorial benefit to this question on getting around on how the system remembers the original unpin status?

 

[Brink]

Puvenlin,

Windows 8 doesn't remember an unpin status. Only what is currently pinned.

It sounds most likely that when you were installing the app again, you may have just missed the option (if there was one) to have it create a shortcut on Start.

 

[puvenlin]

Do you happen to try the following?
1) Install any AP and ensure shortcut exist on Start/Metro (DO NOT PIN the shortcut manually it should appear automatically based on AP installation)
2) UNPIN the shortcut on Start/Metro manually
3) Uninstall the AP
4) Reinstall the AP again

Check result: Shortcut is not Pinned on Start/Metro.

Question: If step#1 by default shortcut exist automatically on Start/Metro screen then why it does not appear again when manually Unpin, Uninstall then Reinstall the same AP again if the system does not rememeber the Upin status?

 

[Brink]

Got me. What app was this for?

 

[puvenlin]

Any random AP meant for Win8 is fine.

Try Apple - QuickTime - Download

 

[Brink]

Odd, I guess Windows does remember the unpin status, or there may be a remnant of the uninstalled program left behind somewhere that remembers it.

 

[qwetymikey]

hi, may i ask why is the store icon different ??? also where is that fish wallpaper from ?? i have seen this wallpaper in a magazine in my country which also showed the icons as in your screen shot (different).... where are these from ?

 

[Brink]

Hello Mikey,

Sure thing. Those screenshots were from the prerelease and beta builds of Windows 8.

They are the same other than the icon color for the current Windows 8, so it was felt that there was no need to update the screenshots for just that.

 

[qwetymikey]

Hello Mikey,

Sure thing. Those screenshots were from the prerelease and beta builds of Windows 8.

They are the same other than the icon color for the current Windows 8, so it was felt that there was no need to update the screenshots for just that.

what about the fish wallpaper ?? its really cute, can you share were there any other wallpapers ??

also, i can confirm puvenlin problem :S

i am not on my windows 8 now but I remember when i installed office and unpinned some of the programs, then i uninstalled and reinstalled again, the unpinned icons werent in the start screen, also the icons were on the exact same position as they were before uninstalling.

 

[Brink]

You could go directly to the .exe files of the programs, right click on them, and click on "Pin to Start" to add them back.

Here's a 1920x1080 copy of the Windows 8 beta fish wallpaper in the ZIP below.

View attachment 1920x1080_W8_Beta_Wallpaper.zip

 

[qwetymikey]

thanks

 

[Brink]

You're welcome.