Hi Luke,
You should be able to remove the leftover shortcuts by going into these locations:
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
How to remove an app shortcut from the Start Menu App List that has been leftover from an uninstall?
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(262.40000000000003, 11%, 35%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3ELK%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Luke Kernan
0
Reputation points
I have two instances of the Instagram Application in my Start Menu App list. I cannot find entries for them in the Windows common program folder in the C drive. They were uninstalled from the program list in Control Panel. How can I reset the app list and remove apps from the Start Menu?
Windows for home | Windows 10 | Desktop, Start, and personalization | Start Menu
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Luke Kernan 0 Reputation points
2025-12-14T02:24:19.62+00:00 Here is a screenshot.
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6 answers
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![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(182.40000000000003, 36%, 27%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EPG%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Paulo GM 56,875 Reputation points Independent Advisor2025-12-14T02:39:38.02+00:00 -
Luke Kernan 0 Reputation points
2025-12-14T02:52:33.29+00:00 I saw that online, but the shortcuts were not there. I will check again.
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Luke Kernan 0 Reputation points
2025-12-14T02:57:29.4433333+00:00 Triple checked. There is nothing for Instagram there.
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Luke Kernan 0 Reputation points
2025-12-14T03:04:12.19+00:00 There seems to be another glitch causing this issue for me, likely due to the uninstall process from the older duplicate versions of the Instagram application.
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Paulo GM 56,875 Reputation points Independent Advisor
2025-12-14T03:34:31.7533333+00:00 Did you install it from the Microsoft store? If so, try to install it again then uninstall it from the Settings app instead. If that doesn't correct it, you can also check if you have it on your browsers. In Edge, go to
edge://appsand remove it from there if it’s listed. As for Chrome, go tochrome://apps/-
Luke Kernan 0 Reputation points
2025-12-14T03:42:00.0966667+00:00 There were three instances of the Instagram App. One of them uninstalled, but I am now left with two versions that will not entirely remove their shortcut icon. Yes, one of them was from the Microsoft Store, but it was uninstalled. I will check the Edge Apps. Only the Messenger App is installed in Edge; no instance of the Instagram app there.
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Paulo GM 56,875 Reputation points Independent Advisor
2025-12-14T04:09:09.4533333+00:00 That's odd. What are your options when you right-click on them?
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Luke Kernan 0 Reputation points
2025-12-14T04:18:12.7066667+00:00 - Pin to Start
- More >
- Run as Administrator
- App Settings
- Uninstall
None of those options does much. And hitting Uninstall will not remove them.
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Paulo GM 56,875 Reputation points Independent Advisor
2025-12-14T04:25:52.2833333+00:00 If you see the App settings, it only means the app is installed from the Microsoft Store. Try to install the app again from the Store, then uninstall it using winget through Command Prompt
- Run CMD as admin
- Paste this command:
winget uninstall 9NBLGGH5L9XT
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Luke Kernan 0 Reputation points
2025-12-14T04:35:45.3633333+00:00 I think that this action reinstalled the IG app from the Microsoft Store, but it did not affect the other two instances of the IG application shortcuts. I think they are older builds of the application.
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Paulo GM 56,875 Reputation points Independent Advisor
2025-12-14T04:51:24.57+00:00 I agree but what I was aiming for is to get rid of its folder in WindowsApps which might contain the older builds that's why I suggested uninstalling it through the command prompt. If it still doesn't work, another method to completely remove the app and its folder in WindowsApps is through PowerShell.
https://thegeekpage.com/how-to-uninstall-any-built-in-apps-with-powershell-in-windows-10/
Disclaimer: This is a non-Microsoft site. The information seems reliable, but be careful with ads. Research any product before downloading.
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Luke Kernan 0 Reputation points
2025-12-14T05:04:42.7733333+00:00 I ran the PowerShell command. Instagram is not listed among the programs. I think it did uninstall, but the process never removed the entry in the Start Menu. I am not sure what is keeping it there. This is a remnant element.
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