Windows 10: AllApps menu alternative

I prefer the AllApps screen in Win8.1 to the alpha list in Win10. I've suggested a few variants to MS through feedback.

It looks as though the alpha list will be the defacto standard, although a leaked peek shows it is a little better (can be hidden) and the Start Screen is not cluttered with a list that's too small and not nearly granular enough to be useful.

Windows has always been friendly to customization, and if I get the time to learn the XAML coding pertaining to Start, I might build my own. I tried exporting Start though PS, but it failed - that's ok because if you go that route, the Start screen becomes static. The export serves companies who want to have the same screen for all users.

Until then, I made a poor man's AllApps screen

Download ~AllApps.zip folder and extract the shortcut

~AllApps.zip
After you have extracted the shortcut, check the properties of the shortcut and unblock it if it is marked blocked.

If you would rather a different icon or the icon I set did not make it through the transfer, change it while you're in properties.




I used the right arrow icon in %SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll
You can see it in the screen shots and if you have to 'fix' the icon, it's about in the middle of the slider displaying icons in shell32.dll

When you are finished with the shortcut properties
Move ~AllApps.lnk (the shortcut) to your personal Start menu

%Appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
When you look at the Start menu list, the new item, ~AllApps, will be first in the list since tilde ~ is lower in value that most other characters.

Pin ~AllApps to Start and place it where it's convenient to you. I mimicked the Win8.1 placement of an arrow at the lower left area.




When you're finished, you will have a pseudo AllApps screen. One of the niceties is that you can use all of the File Explorer organization features.

I set mine to
Hide the Navigation pane (organize button)
view as list (top view selector - press the icon to cycle through available views or press the down arrow to select the one you want)

Right click an open area of the main window
sort by name
group by none




There is one problem ... the settings do not stick.

I'll post an update once (if) I figure that out - I'd venture that some member will post the solution before I get back to it. It might be as simple as changing the shortcut target to call rundll shell32 or explorer.

:)

 

start menu is not working can't go my allapps.

start menu is not working can't go my allapps.

Changing the title

Old title – Outlook.com contacts

New title – start menu is not working and can't go my all apps.

 

No response from clicking on Windows 10 start>allapps>xbox or Microsoft Solitiare Collection

After upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 10, everything worked fine for several months. However, today (2015/09/27), when I click on START/ALLAPPS/XBOX or START/ALLAPPS/MICROSOFT SOLITIARE COLLECTION TILES there is no obvious activity. XBOX nor MICROSOFT
SOLITIARE COLLECTION will start up. All other functions of Windows 10 and associated applications (EXCELL, WORD, Control Panel, etc) function properly. Only the games are failing. Any recommendations to try to resolve the issue with the games?

 

Good stuff Bill, I appreciate your effort

 

Got it! Thanks. Looking forward to the update. *Smile

 

Thank Bill! I've pinned mine to the taskbar. If case anyone forgets in properties you can also set a shortcut key combination also.
Here's how it looks with a dark theme:
Attachment 18887

Edit: You might want to make this into a tutorial. I'll bet thousands, if not millions of users, will want to be able to do this after the Big Upgrade*Smile, and having it hidden under General Discussion just isn't worthy of so a useful tool.

 

Slartybart.
What a brilliant idea, like yourself I prefer the Allapps screen in W8.1.
Your suggestion gives one the option of either version, hopefully M$ will take note.

 

It needs spit and shine before a tut ... and Brink might already have one. I built a Control Panel and he had a better one *Wink

Having looked at that tut though, does lead me to believe that a change to the way it is called will solve the stickiness issue.

I'll test a bit more before I feel it meets the tut standard.

Cliff, thanks - I forgot to mention that you could also pin it to the Taksbar. Dark theme makes the white icons show nicely too.
I forgot to mention that 'other' issue, the icons are only good at smaller sizes - otherwise they are white. With a white background, they are essentially invisible.

Thanks to Dude, Wynona, Star Ferret, and dencal as well!

 

This morning (my time) I was trying to find a way for it to hold the View settings I like for it (medium), I even tried creating a library folder, but that and other things just didn't work(no big deal really) but in properties I did set it to open maximized every time.

 

There is one problem ... the settings do not stick.

=========================================

Bill, which setting is not "sticking"? I popped your allapps on my box and set it up, basically looking just like yours. Worked. Signed off and on. Still work like I had it set. reboot - same. What's not sticking?

 

He means the view settings( small, large, icons, list, tiles, details,...etc)you can change in File Explorer. They revert back to default every time you open it.

 

How did you apply the option to copy to the taskbar. I don't see it? - But a very welcome shortcut in the start menu!

 

In Start menu I right clicked and chose Pin to Taskbar. But I believe it's enough to just right click the icon where ever you have it and choose

 

A right click in the start menu does not , in this instance, offer me that option?

 

I have it hereAttachment 18944