How do you rename an installed application in Windows 10?
The Uninstall name is stored in the Windows Registry at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\... and/or HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\.... Change the DisplayName key value to change what is diplayed in Programs and Settings.
To rename the shortcut to Visual Studio:
- Right-click on the Start Menu item, e.g.
Visual Studio Professional 2019 (2). - Click on
More >. - Select
Open file location. [Contrary to expectations, this is the location of the shortcut, not the location of the executable. Go figure.] - Now, right-click the shortcut and select
Rename. - Note that Windows (ex-Metro) Apps cannot be renamed that way.
To simplify use of the Start menu and to provide more control, try a third-party tool such as the free Open-Shell-Menu.
I know this is an old thread, but for those looking for the information, you can change it following the steps here: Rename item in visual studio installer
In the .json file, you are looking for the string "nickname" it will be followed by the string "2", just delete the 2 leaving the empty string.
For posterity, here are the steps that the link references:
- Set the nickname in the *.isolation.ini files in %ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017[Version]\Common7\IDE\
- Set the nickname in the state.json file in %ProgramData%\Microsoft\VisualStudio\Packages_Instances[InstanceId]\state.json