How To Add Items To 'All Apps' In The Start Menu

The new and Improved Windows 10 Start Menu, combines the look and feel of the classic menu In Windows 7, as well as a few bits and pieces of the Start Screen In Windows 8.1. Along with this, Is the ability to customize It by adding your favorite programs and applications In the All apps section, however some apps simply fail to register. As such, In this tutorial, I will show you how to add Items to the All apps list In the Start menu.


Before I make a start, here's what I'm referring to. Upon clicking on the Start Button at the leftmost area of the Taskbar, the All apps section Is displayed as per the Image below.

When you've clicked on All apps, It will expand with a list of Installed and pre-Installed applications, as Illustrated and highlighted In orange below.

Whilst It's easy enough to pin an app to the actual Start Menu, the same cannot be said for each and every application that you wish to add to All apps. Well, not until now. I will demonstrate how to add any program and application, with Incredible ease. So without further delay, let's rip Into this tutorial.

Step One:

The first thing you need to do, Is open File Explorer and In the Address bar, enter the following command.

%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

Then hit the Enter key on your keyboard.

Step Two:

The directory will now open, with the folder containing the Start Menu shortcuts. This Is where you'll be adding your applications. The contents In the Image below, Is at It's default state.

Step Three:

I shall copy & paste two shortcut Items from my computer's desktop, namely Control Panel and my Classic Start Menu Settings In the directory above. Both of these will appear In the All apps list. Remember, the Items must be shortcuts.

Step Four:

My shortcut Items are now located In the Start Menu shortcuts folder/directory, thus have been added to the All apps list In the Windows 10 Start Menu. We'll checkout the Start Menu In the next step.

Step Five:

I've opened the Windows 10 Start Menu, clicked on All apps and as you can see, my Classic Start Menu Settings and Control Panel Items have been successfully applied. Let's make sure they're functional. I've decided on clicking Control Panel.

Last Step:

As expected, Control Panel has executed, hence all has gone according to plan.

Final Thoughts:

You'll probably be surprised that the entire process to add your Items to the All apps list In the Start Menu, only takes around a minute or so. Evidently, It depends whether the shortcuts are readily available, or If you need to create them. Don't forget that shortcuts to your favorite apps must be added, and not the executable files.