See all your apps in Windows 10

You can customize your Start menu and taskbar. You can also make sure that installation errors, antivirus software, or pending Windows updates aren’t getting in the way.

Here’s how to customize what you see on the Start menu and taskbar:

To see a list of your apps, select Start and scroll through the alphabetical list. Some apps are in folders within the app list—like Notepad, which is in the Windows Accessories folder.

To choose whether your Start menu settings show all your apps or only the most used ones, select Start > Settings > Personalization > Start and adjust each setting you want to change.

To adjust which folders you see on your Start menu, select Choose which folders appear on Start and follow the instructions.

You can pin your favorite apps to the Startmenu or to the taskbar. Select and hold (or right-click) the app you want to pin. Then select Pin to Start or More > Pin to taskbar .

To quickly find a specific app, type the name of the app in the search box on the task bar. If an app you downloaded didn’t install correctly, it won’t show up in the Start menu or when you search for it. You can try to repair the app.

If you still don’t see the app you searched for, it’s possible the app’s installation is blocked by a pending Windows Update or your antivirus software. You can temporarily disable your antivirus software while you try to install the app again. If you do disable your antivirus software, make sure you turn Real-time protection back on after you’ve finished installing.

8 ways to close apps in Windows 10 like a Pro

Windows 10 offers several options to close apps using your mouse, keyboard, or touchscreen. We recommend closing any app you no longer need to prevent it from using system resources or cluttering the screen. This tutorial illustrates how to close apps in Windows 10 using touch, the mouse, or the keyboard, and it applies to both computers, laptops, and Windows 10 tablets, like the Surface Pro. Scroll down through the different ways shown to find the one that best fits your needs:

1. How to close apps with the mouse or touch using the red X button

The Close button is the most popular way to exit apps on a Windows 10 computer or device. It is located in the upper-right corner of any app and displays an X. Hovering your cursor over the button causes it to turn red and, for some apps, to display the Close tooltip.

While, in Windows 10’s desktop mode, any app’s title bar is shown by default and you click or tap on the X button to close it, things are a bit different in Tablet mode. If you’re using Windows 10’s Tablet mode, apps launch and remain completely expanded, so the standard Close button is not shown for some of them.

However, you can swipe downwards with your finger from the top or move the mouse cursor to the top of the screen to reveal an app’s Close button while in Tablet mode.

Click or tap on it, and the app is closed.

2. How to close apps using keyboard shortcuts in Windows 10

If you’re wondering how to close a window without a mouse, there is a popular keyboard shortcut designed just for that. With the app open, press the keys Alt + F4. The app is immediately closed.

A less-known way of closing apps with the keyboard involves first using the shortcut Alt + Spacebar.

This opens an app’s title bar menu. Press C on your keyboard when the menu is open, and the app’s window closes.

3. How to close apps with the mouse or touch from the title bar menu

Most apps can also be closed from their title bar menu in Windows 10. Right-click or tap-and-hold on the bar on top of an app to open a contextual menu. Then, click or tap on Close.

If you’re using Tablet mode, apps launch and remain completely expanded, so the standard title bar is not shown for all of them. To access it, swipe downwards from the top of the screen or move the mouse cursor to the top. Then, right-click or press-and-hold on the title bar to reveal the menu. Click or tap on Close to exit the app.

4. How to close apps with the mouse or touch from the taskbar

Whether you’re using Tablet mode or not on your device, an app’s taskbar menu is a surefire way to close it. To access it, right-click or press-and-hold on an open app’s icon from the taskbar. Then, press the Close window option displayed at the bottom of the contextual menu.

If more windows of the same app are open, the option at the bottom is called “Close all windows” instead. Clicking or tapping on it closes all the instances of an app running on your Windows 10 computer or device.

You can also hover your cursor over the icon of any open app to reveal a preview of its active window(s).

If you’re using a touchscreen device, previews are only shown when tapping on apps with multiple windows open. Press the X button in the upper-right corner of a preview to close that app window.

If you’re using a mouse, you can also right-click on any preview, and then click or tap on Close.

5. How to close apps with touch or mouse in Tablet mode

While in Tablet mode, you can also tap or click on an app’s top edge or title bar to grab it, and then drag it to the bottom of the screen to close it.

The app’s window starts shrinking as you move it towards the lower edge of your display. Release the window at the bottom to close it.

In Windows 10’s Tablet mode, access Task View by swiping inwards from the left side of your screen to see your open apps. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Windows + Tab to access Task View.

Choose the app window you want to get rid of, and then click or tap the X button in the upper-right corner to close it. Alternatively, you can also right-click or press-and-hold on a preview to open a contextual menu, and then press Close.

TIP: Apps from Task View can also be selected with the arrow keys. Press Delete on your keyboard to close the highlighted app.

6. How to close apps from the Task switcher in Windows 10

To get an overview of your open apps, you can use the keyboard combination Ctrl + Alt + Tab. Alternatively, you can press-and-hold Alt + Tab. This works in Windows 10’s desktop and Tablet mode.

In the Task switcher, you can see previews of all the open windows of your active apps. First, tap on an app window or hover your mouse cursor over it to reveal the Close button in its upper-right corner. Click or tap on the red X button, and the app is closed.

Alternatively, you can also use the arrow keys to switch focus between the apps. When the one you want to close is selected, press Delete on your keyboard to exit the app.

7. How to close apps from the Task Manager in Windows 10

The Task Manager is a tool that helps you keep an eye on your open apps or processes. We recommend it as a last resort, especially if the app you are trying to close is not responding to your commands. Learn about closing apps using this tool from our tutorial: 9 Things you can do from the Task Manager’s compact view in Windows 10.

8. How to close apps with the taskkill command in CMD or PowerShell

If you prefer Command Prompt or PowerShell, you can close an app using the taskkill command. For details, read our tutorial on how to View system information and manage processes from CMD or PowerShell.

How do you close apps in Windows 10?

We use most of the ways illustrated in this tutorial to close our apps, depending on the device and on what’s comfortable at the time. If we had to choose, Alt + F4 has always been a favorite for closing an app, but we prefer the taskbar when we’re closing multiple windows of the same app. What about you? How do you usually close apps? Did you find any new, useful methods for closing apps that you plan to use from now on? Let us know in the comments section.

Microsoft Store ‘Install’ Button Not Working

Replies (8) 

My name is Andre Da Costa; an Independent Consultant, Windows Insider MVP and Windows & Devices for IT MVP. I’m here to help you with your problem.

Option 1:
Click Start > Settings > Update & security > Windows Update > Check for updates
Download and install any pending updates
Restart your computer

Option 2:
Download and run the problem solver for applications and the Windows Store: http://aka.ms/diag_apps10

Option 3:
Press Windows key + X
Click Windows PowerShell (Admin)
At the command prompt, type the following then hit Enter:

Get-AppXPackage *WindowsStore* -AllUsers | Foreach

— Open the store, click on the elipses (3 dots) in the upper right corner
— Click on «settings»
— Scroll down and under account, click on «Manage your devices» (this will open the browser)
— Remove un-used devices from this list that shows up if you have 10 in there already.

Option 4:
Delete all files in

Restart your computer

Try installing again.

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Hi Tom
I’m Wilfredo S an Independent Advisor
Try with Troubleshoot

[Windows] + [i] Keys>Update & Security>Troubleshoot
Choose Windows Store Apps from the right pane and click Run the troubleshooter button.
Now follow the instructions on the screen.
Once the troubleshooter is finished, check if the problem is resolved.

Try Reinstall Store
Right click On Start, choose: Windows powershell (Admin)
At the command prompt, type the following then hit Enter:

Get-AppXPackage *WindowsStore* -AllUsers | Foreach

Exit Powershell then restart.

I hope it helps you

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OK so I tried Option 1 and my device is up to date. I tried Option 2 and the troubleshooter said this:

When I clicked the first option it gave me, it showed this but nothing happened and it just kept going around until I finally just clicked cancel:

I then tried Option 2 again but clicked Skip this step this time and this came up but the troubleshooter was unable to actually do anything about it:

After trying Option 3, a new problem has occurred — on the Microsoft Store, when I try to click on Minecraft for Windows 10 itself this just comes up:

So now I can’t even get to the Install button in the first place. I will not try Option 4 until I hear from you about this new problem. Thanks for your help so far please reply asap.

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Which version of Windows 10 is currently installed? See how to verify:

Could you confirm if this also happens in the default Administrator account?

Open Start
Type: cmd
Right click CMD
Click Run as administrator

At the command prompt, type:
net user administrator /active:yes

Close command prompt, restart, then try signing into the Administrator account.

Try downloading Minecraft again.

3 people found this reply helpful

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Sorry this didn’t help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

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Which version of Windows 10 is currently installed? See how to verify:

Could you confirm if this also happens in the default Administrator account?

Open Start
Type: cmd
Right click CMD
Click Run as administrator

At the command prompt, type:
net user administrator /active:yes

Close command prompt, restart, then try signing into the Administrator account.

Try downloading Minecraft again.

2 people found this reply helpful

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn’t help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

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How satisfied are you with this reply?

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Hi Tom
I’m Wilfredo S an Independent Advisor
Try with Troubleshoot

[Windows] + [i] Keys>Update & Security>Troubleshoot
Choose Windows Store Apps from the right pane and click Run the troubleshooter button.
Now follow the instructions on the screen.
Once the troubleshooter is finished, check if the problem is resolved.

Try Reinstall Store
Right click On Start, choose: Windows powershell (Admin)
At the command prompt, type the following then hit Enter:

Get-AppXPackage *WindowsStore* -AllUsers | Foreach

Exit Powershell then restart.

Already tried all this. Does not work. Thanks.

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn’t help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

My name is Andre Da Costa; an Independent Consultant, Windows Insider MVP and Windows & Devices for IT MVP. I’m here to help you with your problem.

Option 1:
Click Start > Settings > Update & security > Windows Update > Check for updates
Download and install any pending updates
Restart your computer

Option 2:
Download and run the problem solver for applications and the Windows Store: http://aka.ms/diag_apps10

Option 3:
Press Windows key + X
Click Windows PowerShell (Admin)
At the command prompt, type the following then hit Enter:

Get-AppXPackage *WindowsStore* -AllUsers | Foreach

— Open the store, click on the elipses (3 dots) in the upper right corner
— Click on «settings»
— Scroll down and under account, click on «Manage your devices» (this will open the browser)
— Remove un-used devices from this list that shows up if you have 10 in there already.

Option 4:
Delete all files in

Restart your computer

Try installing again.

Just tried option 4 and that new problem is still there when I just click on Minecraft for Windows 10: