Games Explorer Folder - Delete a Game

How to Delete a Game in Games Explorer Folder in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8​

   Information

This tutorial will show you how to delete a game that is displayed in the Games explorer folder in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.

This can be handy if you had uninstalled the game, but it is still displayed in the Games folder.

   Note

The Games folder is central repository for games on your computer that also offers game updates, statistics, news feeds, WEI requirements, and more.

For more information about the Games Explorer folder, see: Games Explorer - Microsoft Windows

   Tip

You will need to have the default game checked in Windows Features before it will be displayed in the Games folder. By default they are checked. You can also uncheck one of the default games to remove it from the Games explorer folder. This does not apply to installed 3rd party games.

EXAMPLE: Games explorer folder
NOTE: You can open the Games folder by clicking on the Games button on the dark right side of the Start Menu, typing shell:games in the Start Menu search box and pressing enter, or navigating to the hidden C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Games folder.


Here's How:
1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit.exe, and press Enter.

2. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes (Windows 7/8) or Continue (Vista).

3. Under the Games Registry Key
A) In regedit, navigate to the location below: (see screenshot below)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GameUX\Games

B) In the left pane under the Games key, select each long number subkey and look in the right pane for the AppExePath name data to see if that is the name of the game (ex: Solitaire) you want to delete. (see screenshot above)

   Warning

You should create a backup of this long number subkey to be able to restore it later if you ever wanted to. Once you delete it in step 3C below it will be permanently gone.


To create a backup:

• In the left pane, right click on the long number subkey for the correct game name and click on Export.
• Name the .reg file backup something to make it easy to remember what this is for.
• Save the .reg file somewhere safe to have it later if needed.

C) In the left pane, right click on the long number subkey for the correct game name and click on Delete. (See screenshot below)

D) Click on Yes to confirm. (See screenshot below)

4. Under the S-1-5-21.... SID Registry Keys
A) In regedit, go to the location below: (see screenshots below)
NOTE: Each S-1-5-21 key listed is a user account.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GameUX\[B][COLOR=red](long S-1-5-21-#####...)[/COLOR][/B]

B) In the left pane under each listed S-1-5-21 key, select each long number subkey and look in the right pane for the AppExePath name data to see if that is the name of the game (ex: Hidden & Dangerous 2) you want to delete. (see screenshot above)

   Warning

You should create a backup of this long number subkey to be able to restore it later if you ever wanted to. Once you delete it in step 4C below it will be permanently gone.


To create a backup:

• In the left pane, right click on the long number subkey for the correct game name and click on Export.
• Name the .reg file backup something to make it easy to remember what this is for.
• Save the .reg file somewhere safe to have it later if needed.

C) In the left pane, right click on the long number subkey for the correct game name and click on Delete.

D) Click on Yes to confirm. (See screenshot below)

5. Close regedit.

6. Close and reopen the Games explorer folder. The game (ex: Solitaire) has been deleted. (See screenshot below)

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Add Games to Games Explorer Folder in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Create a "Games Explorer" Shortcut in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• Hide or Unhide Games in Games Explorer Folder in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Restore the Default Games in Games Explorer Folder in Windows 7
• How to Customize the Windows 7 Games Explorer Context Menu
• Games Explorer - Edit with Game Explorer Builder
• Enable or Disable Game Updates in "Games Explorer" in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• Enable or Disable Last Play Time of Games in "Games Explorer" in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• Enable or Disable Game Updates in "Games Explorer" in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8

 

[Brink]

Another brilliant solution from SevenForums, worked perfectly!

Thanks.

P.S. The "games" i was trying to remove from the Games Explorer window were also Internet Shortcuts (IE) to an online game. I think that, although the system allows you to "Create a shortcut here" Internet shortcuts are incompatible with Games Explorer. They do not show the correct icon neither do they do anything - clicking on them does absolutely nothing. Windows should not let you copy them there, or should at least give you a warning message...

Thanks again,

Adam.

You're most welcome Adam, and welcome to Seven Forums.

 

[AAW007]

Thanks Brink.

I had found a number of good solutions and advice on Seven Forums so I just wanted to join to say so.

I regularly google for help on forums recently but have never been tempted to join, until now. (Mainly due to the experts like you rather than just the opinions of "stupid street" and not too technical like the MS Tech forums.)

Very user friendly

Anyway....,

Thanks again.

 

[TDSM]

finally found a thread that is just what I needed
I've been trying to delete the junk in that folder for a while but nothing worked until now,

Thank you

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome TDSM, and welcome to Seven Forums.

 

[Araaraart]

THANK YOU so very much!

I had been so frustrated about not being able to delete 3 pseudo shorcuts to the game Civilization V from the Games folder. The "shorcut" was actually a URL. I have tried 3 times to make a shorcut for my game there but without success. I ended up with 3 unclickable (left or right click) generic files with the correct name for the name but zero functionality. This all thanks to the program STEAM, which I believe to be sent from the proverbial Dark Side of the Force, to put it in Lucas terms. It appears one MUST go through their godforsaken program to access Civ V. Anyhow, that's another story.

I did a Google search about my problem and found this thread with the EXACT, and I really do mean EXACT, solution. THANK YOU SO MUCH. What a relief! Kudos to brilliant minds such as yours! With my deepest gratitude.



Araaraart
June 2012

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Araaraart, and welcome to Seven Forums.

 

[ricko99]

How about this one? This one has no name with generic icon. Can't click anything on it. Frustrated @@

 

[Brink]

Hello Rick, and welcome to Seven Forums.

While doing the tutorial, do you have a AppExePath registry entry without a name of a program for it's data?

 

[barberic]

Yeah! The regedit trick worked for me.
Thanks

 

[hannelius]

thank you for this!
i'm using windows 8.1 and uninstalled all the wildtangent games
and found all their links to their websites were still in the games folder
and on the apps screen too with no way to get rid of them...

i deleted the entire GameUX key and rebooted
and the entire games folder was gone!
solved everything...

 

[squirtmph]

This it's something I was looking for everytime I do clean restore, Now am ready to do it like a real PRO, Thank to you.
Got Corona?

 

[Brink]

A Corona sounds good.

 

[squirtmph]

Yay!

 

[Posidius]

OMG!!!! I have been looking all over the internet for a way to remove 2 dead icons from my games menu and found it here with easy, step by step instructions. It's almost embarrassing that I can build a rig from the case up but not handle something as simple as this was. This is the first help forum I felt compelled to actually join. THANKS BRINK!!!!!

 

[Brink]

Welcome to Seven Forums Posidius. I'm glad this was able to help.