Removing apps from the home screen in Windows 11 isn’t exactly rocket science, but sometimes it feels like Windows has to make it more complicated than it should be. So, here’s how to do it without pulling your hair out.
How to Remove Apps from Home Screen Windows 11
First off, the reason you’d want to do this is simple: clutter. If your Start menu is packed and your desktop looks like a digital hoarder’s paradise, unpinning apps can clear some space and make things more visual-friendly. If you’re noticing some icons that you don’t use anymore or just want a cleaner look, these steps are the way to go.
Method 1: Right-click and Unpin
This is the quick and dirty method, and it works in most cases. Find the app icon on your Start menu or desktop, right-click on it, and look for ‘Unpin from Start’. Clicking that will remove the shortcut from your home screen or start menu, and that’s pretty much it. No uninstalling, no deleting files, just a shortcut delete. Just keep in mind, the app is still on your computer. You’re just hiding the icon.
Pro tip: if that doesn’t work immediately, sometimes Windows gets a little slow or laggy. Restarting the Start menu (or sometimes the whole PC) can help it catch up, then try again.
Method 2: Use Settings for More Control
If you want to take it a step further or mess around with app icons in bulk, you can go into Settings > Personalization > Start. Here, you can toggle what shows up or remove pinned apps from a master list, especially if you’ve pinned a lot of third-party or cluttery apps. Not as quick as right-click, but gives you a better overview.
Method 3: Remove from Desktop (if applicable)
If you’re talking about desktop icons, right-click the icon and select Delete. Just be aware, sometimes these are shortcuts, not actual apps, so deleting them only removes the shortcut—app stays installed. For a nuke-it-from-orbit removal, you’ll have to uninstall from Settings > Apps > Installed Apps.
Extra Tips & Why It Helps
If things still look cluttered after unpinning, don’t forget you can also resize or rearrange tiles by dragging them around. Also, consider creating folders to group similar apps—kind of weird, but it saves space and keeps things tidy. On some setups, unpinning works perfectly on the first try, but on others, you might have to do it twice or reboot before it’s fully sorted. Windows can be quirky that way.
And because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary, sometimes the icons don’t disappear immediately, especially if pinned to the taskbar instead of the Start menu. In those cases, right-click > Unpin from taskbar is the way to go.
Tips for Removing Apps from Home Screen Windows 11
- Consider grouping apps into folders if you wanna keep quick access but reduce clutter.
- Remember, unpin = just hiding the shortcut, not actually uninstalling.
- You can always find unpinned apps via Start or the search bar if needed.
- Rearranging or resizing tiles can make your home screen look less hectic.
- Sometimes, a quick restart after unpinning helps things settle properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still use an app after unpinning it from the home screen?
Yep. It’s still installed, just not shown on the main screen. You can find it via the search or in the Start menu.
How do I uninstall an app completely?
To truly remove it, go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps, find the app, and hit Uninstall. Easy enough, but make sure you really don’t want it anymore because that’s the full delete.
Can I pin an app back after unpinning?
Sure thing. Just search for the app, right-click, and pick Pin to Start.
Is there an upper limit to pinned apps?
No official cap, but honestly, the more you pin, the messier it gets. Better to keep only the essentials and maybe group the rest.
Will removing icons improve my computer speed?
Unpinning doesn’t boost speed directly, but it definitely helps with mental clarity and workflow. Less visual noise, more focus, or so it seems.
Summary of How to Remove Apps from Home Screen Windows 11
- Right-click the app icon.
- Select Unpin from Start.
- Check your Start menu to confirm.
- Repeat for other apps if needed.
- Enjoy a cleaner, less cluttered workspace.
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Once everything’s cleaned up, it’s way easier to focus on what really matters, instead of hunting through a jungle of app icons. Just remember, if things get too crazy, you can always tweak stuff again later.