Pin or Unpin Programs from Start Menu

Updated 14 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Pinning a program to the Start menu puts its tile or icon in a fixed spot so you can open it with one click, instead of hunting through the app list. Unpinning removes it without uninstalling the program. You only need a Windows PC with the Start menu open — no admin rights or extra tools required.

What You’ll Need

A Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer
The program you want to pin must be installed (it can be a desktop app, a Microsoft Store app, or a game)
Your user account (standard accounts can pin/unpin their own Start menu)

Step-by-Step

Pin a Program to the Start Menu

Open the Start menu by pressing the Windows key or clicking the Start button (Windows logo) in the taskbar.
Find the program you want to pin. You can scroll through the alphabetical list of apps, or type its name in the search box at the top (Windows 10) or bottom (Windows 11).
Right-click the program in the search results or in the app list.
Choose “Pin to Start” from the context menu. (On Windows 10, the option says “Pin to Start”; on Windows 11 it’s the same.)
Check the Start menu — the program now appears as a tile (Windows 10) or a smaller icon (Windows 11) in the pinned area. You can drag it to reorder it.

Unpin a Program from the Start Menu

Open the Start menu and locate the pinned program you want to remove.
Right-click the tile or icon of that program.
Select “Unpin from Start” (or “Unpin from Start menu” on some versions).
Confirm if a confirmation dialog appears (usually it doesn’t). The program disappears from the pinned area but remains installed in your app list.

Alternative: Pin from the Desktop or File Explorer

If the program has a desktop shortcut, you can right-click the shortcut and choose “Pin to Start” directly.
If you have the program’s executable file (e.g., notepad.exe), you can right-click it in File Explorer and select “Pin to Start” — but this only works for some apps; most modern apps require the Start menu method.

Common Mistakes

Clicking “Uninstall” instead of “Unpin” — they are close together in the right-click menu. Read carefully before clicking.
Pinning a shortcut that points to a webpage or a file — you can only pin programs, not individual files (like a PDF) or websites (unless using Edge’s “Pin to Start” for a site).
Dragging an icon from the desktop to the Start menu — this often doesn’t work; use right-click instead.
Expecting the program to be removed from the computer — unpinning only removes the shortcut, not the software.

Tips

Group your pinned apps in Windows 10 by dragging tiles into folders; in Windows 11 you can create folders by dragging one icon onto another.
Resize tiles in Windows 10 by right-clicking a tile and choosing “Resize” (Small, Medium, Wide, Large). Windows 11 doesn’t offer tile sizes, but you can drag to reposition.
Pin frequently used apps like your browser, email, or file explorer to save time.
Use the keyboard shortcut: after searching for an app, press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to pin it to Start (works in Windows 10 and 11).
Unpin multiple items quickly by right-clicking each one — there’s no bulk unpin, but you can do it fast.

Troubleshooting

“Pin to Start” option is grayed out or missing

This happens for system apps that cannot be unpinned (like Settings or File Explorer on some versions). Try a different app.
If the app is a portable program (no installer), it may not appear in the app list — you can still pin its executable by right-clicking the .exe file in File Explorer and choosing “Pin to Start” (if available).
Restart Windows Explorer: press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, find “Windows Explorer”, right-click it, and choose “Restart”.

The program doesn’t appear in the pinned area after pinning

Check if you accidentally pinned it to the taskbar instead — the option “Pin to taskbar” is right below “Pin to Start”.
Look at the bottom of the Start menu — sometimes new pins appear at the end of the list, not at the top.
If the tile is there but not visible, try scrolling down in the pinned section.

Unpinning doesn’t work (the tile stays)

Make sure you clicked the correct icon — sometimes there are two similar icons (e.g., a web shortcut vs. the app).
Try restarting the Start menu process: open Task Manager, find “Start” (Windows 10) or “Windows Explorer” (Windows 11), right-click and restart.
If it’s a group policy restriction (on a work computer), you may not have permission to unpin — contact your IT admin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does unpinning a program delete it?

No. Unpinning only removes the shortcut from the Start menu. The program remains installed and can be found in the app list or by searching.

Can I pin a program to the Start menu for all users?

Yes, but it requires admin rights. You can create a shortcut in the “All Users” Start menu folder (C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs) and it will appear for all users, but pinning to the Start screen itself is per-user in Windows 10/11.

How do I pin a website to the Start menu?

Use Microsoft Edge: open the site, click the three-dot menu, choose “Apps” → “Install this site as an app”, then pin that app to Start. Other browsers may have similar options, but not all support direct pinning.

Why can’t I pin some apps like Settings or Control Panel?

Certain system apps are restricted by Windows and don’t allow pinning/unpinning. You can still create a desktop shortcut and then pin that, but it may not show as a proper tile.

Can I move pinned apps around?

Yes. In Windows 10, drag the tile to a new position; in Windows 11, drag the icon to reorder. You can also create folders by dragging one icon onto another in Windows 11.

What’s the difference between pinning to Start and pinning to the taskbar?

Pinning to Start places the app in the Start menu’s pinned area. Pinning to taskbar places a button on the taskbar at the bottom of the screen. Both are shortcuts — neither uninstalls the app.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.