How To Manage Apps And Programs In Windows 11

W‌indows 11, Microsoft's latest operating system, brings a fresh and modern user interface with enhanced functionality for managing apps and programs. Whether you're installing, uninstalling, or organizing apps and programs, Windows 11 offers several ways to take control of your software environment. In this guide, we'll cover how to install, uninstall, manage, and optimize the apps and programs on your Windows 11 PC, ensuring you have a streamlined and efficient system.

1. Installing Apps and Programs

There are multiple ways to install apps and programs in Windows 11, depending on whether you're downloading software from the Microsoft Store, third-party websites, or using traditional executable files.

A. Installing Apps from the Microsoft Store

Windows 11 has an updated Microsoft Store, which is a centralized place for downloading and installing apps, games, and even desktop programs like Microsoft Office. The Microsoft Store ensures that the apps are safe and compatible with your system.

1. Open Microsoft Store:

•    Press Windows + S and type Microsoft Store to search for and open the Microsoft Store.

2. Browse or Search for Apps:

•    Once in the store, use the search bar to find specific apps, or browse through categories like Top Apps, New Releases, and Productivity.

3. Install the App:

•    Click on the app you want to install and hit the Get or Install button. The app will be downloaded and automatically installed on your device.

 B. Installing Desktop Programs from Executable Files

Many traditional desktop programs like Adobe Photoshop, VLC Media Player, or Steam are still distributed outside the Microsoft Store. These programs are often downloaded as .exe or .msi files from the developer’s website.

1. Download the Program:

•    Visit the official website of the program you want to install and download the executable file.

2. Run the Installer:

•    Once the download completes, locate the file in your Downloads folder and double-click it. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.

3. Pin to Start or Taskbar:

•    After installation, you can easily access the program by pinning it to your Start Menu or Taskbar. Right-click the program in the Start menu or the desktop shortcut, and select Pin to Start or Pin to Taskbar.

 C. Installing Apps from Third-Party App Stores or Package Managers

Windows 11 supports package managers like Winget and third-party app stores like the Amazon Appstore (which also enables Android apps). These provide alternative ways to install and manage programs.

 

• Using Winget: Winget is a command-line tool for installing programs. Open Windows Terminal or Command Prompt and type `winget install [app_name]` to install apps from the Winget repository.

 2. Uninstalling Apps and Programs

At some point, you may need to remove apps or programs to free up space or declutter your system. Windows 11 provides several ways to uninstall apps, both through the Settings menu and the Control Panel.

A. Uninstalling Apps via Settings

This is the most straightforward way to remove both Microsoft Store apps and traditional desktop programs.

1. Open Settings:

•    Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.

2. Navigate to Apps:

•    In the Settings window, click on Apps in the left-hand menu and then select Installed apps.

3. Uninstall the App:

•    Scroll through the list of installed apps or use the search bar to find the app you want to uninstall.
•    Click the three-dot menu next to the app and choose Uninstall. Follow the on-screen prompts to remove the app or program.

 B. Uninstalling Programs via Control Panel

Some older desktop programs may not appear in the Apps & Features section of Settings but can be uninstalled using the traditional Control Panel.

1. Open Control Panel:

•     Press Windows + S, type Control Panel, and select it from the search results.

2. Go to Programs and Features:

•    In the Control Panel window, click on Uninstall a program under the Programs category.

 

3. Uninstall the Program:

•    Locate the program you want to uninstall, click on it, and then select Uninstall. Follow the uninstallation wizard to complete the process.

C. Using Third-Party Uninstallers

While Windows 11 provides built-in methods for uninstalling apps and programs, you can also use third-party tools like Revo Uninstaller or IObit Uninstaller to remove stubborn software and clean up leftover files and registry entries.

3. Managing Startup Apps

Startup apps are programs that launch automatically when you start your computer. Managing which apps run at startup can help improve system performance and reduce boot times.

A. Disable Startup Apps via Settings

1. Open Settings:

•    Press Windows + I and navigate to Apps.

2. Startup Apps:

•    Click on Startup. Here, you’ll see a list of all the apps that are set to run at startup.

3. Toggle Off Unnecessary Apps:

•    Use the toggles to disable apps you don’t need to start automatically. Turning off non-essential apps can significantly improve boot speed.

 B. Managing Startup Apps via Task Manager

You can also manage startup programs through Task Manager:

1. Open Task Manager:

•     Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.

2. Go to the Startup Tab:

•    Click on the Startup tab to view a list of apps that launch during startup.

3. Disable Apps:

•    Right-click any app and choose Disable to prevent it from launching at startup.

 4. Organizing and Managing Apps on the Start Menu

Windows 11's Start Menu is central to accessing your most-used apps. You can organize and customize your Start Menu to improve your workflow.

 A. Pinning Apps to Start Menu

1. Pin Apps:

•    To pin an app to the Start Menu, right-click the app from the All Apps list in the Start menu and choose Pin to Start.

2. Organize Pinned Apps:

•    Drag and drop pinned apps to organize them within the Start menu. You can also group apps by creating folders. Simply drag one app on top of another to create a folder.

B. Removing Apps from Start Menu

If you want to declutter your Start menu, you can easily remove apps:

1. Unpin Apps:

•    Right-click any app pinned to the Start Menu and choose Unpin from Start to remove it from the pinned section.

5. Optimizing and Updating Apps

Keeping your apps up to date is important for security and performance. Windows 11 offers both automatic and manual update options for apps installed through the Microsoft Store, as well as tools for managing software updates for desktop programs.

 A. Updating Apps via Microsoft Store

1. Open Microsoft Store:

•    Open the Microsoft Store by searching for it in the Start menu.

2. Check for Updates:

•    Click your profile icon in the top-right corner, then select App settings or Downloads and updates.
•    Click on Get updates to check for any available updates for your installed apps.

 

3. Automatic Updates:

•    Ensure that automatic updates are enabled in the App settings section, so apps are updated without manual intervention.

 B. Updating Desktop Programs

For programs installed outside of the Microsoft Store, you will need to manually check for updates within the program itself or visit the developer’s website.

• Most desktop programs have a Check for updates option in the Help or About section of the app.
• You can also use third-party software update tools like Patch My PC or  Ninite to automatically check and update multiple programs.

6. Managing App Permissions

Windows 11 offers granular control over app permissions, allowing you to decide which apps can access system resources such as the microphone, camera, location, and more.

A. Adjusting App Permissions via Settings

1. Open Settings:

•    Press Windows + I and navigate to Privacy & security.

 

2. App Permissions:

•    Under Privacy & security, you’ll find sections for App permissions like Location, camera, Microphone, etc. 

3. Manage Permissions:

•    Select the resource (e.g., Camera) and toggle app permissions on or off depending on whether you want to allow the app to access that specific resource.

7. Using Task Manager to Monitor App Performance

Task Manager in Windows 11 provides insights into how apps and programs are impacting your system performance. You can use it to monitor resource usage and close unresponsive apps.

1. Open Task Manager:

•     Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to launch Task Manager.

2. View Resource Usage:

•    Under the Processes tab, you can view how much CPU, Memory, Disk, and Network resources each app is using.

3. End Unresponsive Apps:

•    If an app is frozen or using Conclusion

Managing apps and programs in Windows 11 is both intuitive and flexible, allowing you to maintain an efficient, personalized, and organized computing environment. From installing apps through the Microsoft Store or via executable files, to uninstalling unwanted software, Windows 11 gives users multiple ways to manage their digital workspace. By customizing startup apps, pinning important programs to the Start menu, managing app permissions, and keeping software up to date, you can optimize system performance and enhance productivity.

 

Tools like the Settings app, Task Manager, and third-party utilities offer additional ways to fine-tune your apps and programs, ensuring that your system runs smoothly. Whether you're aiming to declutter, improve startup times, or manage notifications, Windows 11 provides the necessary options to control and tailor your software environment. With these steps, you can ensure that your PC remains secure, organized, and functioning at its best. excessive resources, right-click on it and select End task.

 Conclusion

Managing apps and programs in Windows 11 is both intuitive and flexible, allowing you to maintain an efficient, personalized, and organized computing environment. From installing apps through the Microsoft Store or via executable files, to uninstalling unwanted software, Windows 11 gives users multiple ways to manage their digital workspace. By customizing startup apps, pinning important programs to the Start menu, managing app permissions, and keeping software up to date, you can optimize system performance and enhance productivity.