Windows 10: How Do I Remove an Orphaned Menu Item from the All Applications List?

After the latest 3/2023 Windows 11 update, I discovered I had a program menu entry in my All Apps menu that I could not remove. I removed the offending program through the recommended uninstall method and rebooted to clear any remnants that might have remained. The program still shows up on the All Apps menu and when I select it it takes me to the Microsoft Store. It was NOT shown as installed in the Microsoft Store. I went ahead and re-installed the application from the store in the hopes I could delete the item again. It turns out that a new menu item for the application is now shown next to

:)

 

How Do I Remove an Orphaned Menu Item from the All Applications List?

After the latest 3/2023 Windows 11 update, I discovered I had a program menu entry in my All Apps menu that I could not remove. I removed the offending program through the recommended uninstall method and rebooted to clear any remnants that might have remained. The program still shows up on the All Apps menu and when I select it it takes me to the Microsoft Store. It was NOT shown as installed in the Microsoft Store. I went ahead and re-installed the application from the store in the hopes I could delete the item again. It turns out that a new menu item for the application is now shown next to the orphaned menu item.

How can I clean up orphaned menu items from All Apps. My searches in this space and across the Internet do not give me the necessary insights. Here is what I have tried:

1) Uninstalled through the accepted method

2) Navigated to the Users and Admin directories where links are stored (it does not show in these lists)

3) Used PowerShell with elevated privileges to uninstall through the command line (command completed with no feedback or effect)

4) Searched the registry looking for the application in any Menu-related key (no success)

The current situation is that I have the application re-installed, but I still have the orphaned menu entry--so two menu items for the application in which only one works.

 

How Do I Remove an Orphaned Menu Item from the All Applications List?

Tried that and no luck. There is the version I reinstall and no other icon for the second instance that is orphaned.

Back on the menu, both application links show and the only options for the orphaned one are (right click):

Pin the Start

More > App Settings

Uninstall

Selecting Uninstall does nothing. And the menu item remains.

App Settings only takes me to the Settings section where you uninstall applications. The application is no longer there, so there is nothing to do.

 

How to remove item from alphabetical start menu

It's called the All Apps list. There are actually two, a personal one per user, and an all users list. These are combined to show as the list of apps in Start. Ghot has pointed you to the personal one (Option One in this tutorial). The All User list is in Option Three.

Add or Remove Items for All Apps in Start menu in Windows 10