No Categories

[Jason]

Fully agree! Patch My PC, as stated in this 2-page thread now. It was way better before this new version with Categories.

[jpldavidson]

Hi, I'm new here.  Been using Patch My PC for quite some time and must admit its my go to place when I want to try out new software and to rely on for updating existing software.

I've been using PC's, more or less since they became affordable and available to the general public and am considdered to be a bit of an expert.  I offer free advice and help to friends and collegues with both software and hardware.

I'm adding to this thread my support for the previous comments, please bring back catagories, they're invaluable to newbies and not so newbies alike.  I was recommending your software to people, but feel i cannot now, due to it just being a list of annonymous and meaningless software titles.

[ea]

I have been using Patchmypc for at least two years. I ignored the minor problems. I hoped it would improve in the next version. But I came here because I could not accept the removal of the categories. Categories are very useful when installing in a new pc. Also to discover beautiful apps

[theJazzman42]

I do the major work now with UCheck free. Recommended me three updates PatchMyPC didn't and has categories. And allows you to install new software you don't already have on your system.

[Jason]

Thanks let me have a look at that.

[LittlBUGer]

I do the major work now with UCheck free. Recommended me three updates PatchMyPC didn't and has categories. And allows you to install new software you don't already have on your system.

Though they do have a free and portable version of this to update already installed software, the ability to install new software is only available through their paid version. So, for me, it becomes nearly useless. Not that the Premium or Technician editions are expensive, but still, not the same.

[Omar (Patch My PC)]

I do the major work now with UCheck free. Recommended me three updates PatchMyPC didn't and has categories. And allows you to install new software you don't already have on your system.

Though they do have a free and portable version of this to update already installed software, the ability to install new software is only available through their paid version. So, for me, it becomes nearly useless. Not that the Premium or Technician editions are expensive, but still, not the same.

You can select and install from the home updater any software that isn't installed already...

[LittlBUGer]

I do the major work now with UCheck free. Recommended me three updates PatchMyPC didn't and has categories. And allows you to install new software you don't already have on your system.

Though they do have a free and portable version of this to update already installed software, the ability to install new software is only available through their paid version. So, for me, it becomes nearly useless. Not that the Premium or Technician editions are expensive, but still, not the same.

You can select and install from the home updater any software that isn't installed already...

The whole point of this thread is that PatchMyPC (the Home version) no longer has any categories, which is very confusing and off-putting. There is actually another thread with multiple people saying the same thing, on top of everyone in this thread (https://patchmypc.com/forum/index.php?topic=6224.0). The purpose of our recent replies with UCheck is that it was an alternative that DOES have categories. I just pointed out that UCheck Free does NOT allow you to install new software, only update currently installed software. We know that PatchMyPC DOES allow you to install new software, but that's not the point.

[robwolfe]

The thought occurs to that the latest version has numerous problems. Can the previous version be renumbered and replace the current version until the problems are fixed?
Robert

[Kurotaku]

Just saw there is an update from 30.12 and thought "hopefully the categories are comming back" ...

Still not this software is getting worse and worse, paint.net is already up to date and the app still don't recognize it and anydesk is getting still shown in the list even when the scanning for it is already disabled, since the 7.1.x version is a complete downgrade since aliases can be only used with a license.

Sad that there are no good alternatives

[linkhunter]

I'm using winget in powershell temporary until categories come back

[osmanelitok]

The thought occurs to that the latest version has numerous problems. Can the previous version be renumbered and replace the current version until the problems are fixed?
Robert

It is fixed when I change the date format to English. maybe an update is needed on this. thanks

[[email protected]]

I am of the same opinion.  I miss not having the apps sorted by category.  Please bring this feature bac, and if possible make it optional so that both camps can be satisfied.

[jpldavidson]

Well this has been going on for some time now.  I'm guessing that the free software didn't bring in enough sales for their professional product.  Its a shame, as it was really well executed and thought out, but that's the way of things

[snakepaws]

Categories made for easy installing of apps on a fresh install of Windows, going section by section and installing what's needed. It also made it "fun" to explore what apps were in each category to check out. I don't really understand the decision to remove the different categories. It just makes a giant mess of a list with no real indication of what each item is since there's no descriptions either. So you just kind of have to "know what you're looking for" - and it makes it easy to miss things since, you know, there's no categories to quickly skim through easily. Sigh.

[Jason]

Fully agree.
No clue why they changed it... Let's hope (have been) that the Categoties will come back. Hoping...

[jpldavidson]

Well, I see that despite all the posts, this inconvenience is being ignored altogether.

May I make a suggestion to all you people looking for something similar.  IOBIT Software Updater has similar functions, including a Recommended section with categories.

No, I don't work for them or any other software or even computer related business, I'm just a bus driver.

[Support Team (Patch My PC)]

Hi All,

We did collapse things into a single category. We appreciate the feedback and will review feedback for future improvements.

[Memphis]

I always recommended PatchMyPC to people with low-level PC knowledge to keep their apps up2date and to install new software

[topbanana]

Hi All,

We did collapse things into a single category. We appreciate the feedback and will review feedback for future improvements.

If any spectators (or mods) are wondering why some users (like myself) seem frustrated... This is what triggered it.

Becoming this:


On the 26th of October, 2022, version 4.5.0.0 was released.  And the striking new feature of that release was that the categories had been removed.  Leaving just a flat list of all the available apps that PMPC-HU supported.

It's the 20th of March 2025, 876 days, or2  years, 4 months and 25 days, since we had those wonderful categories taken from us.
We asked many times why they were removed, so obviously, many of us thought that this could just be a way of knee-capping PMPC-HU a bit to slow us down, to make it less useful, as it might have been doing too well, and stealing sales of their professional products...  Only much later, 6 months later, did Justin reply, with only this acknowledgement that yes, they did remove them.  But no justification, no reason why.
He did later explain that no, this app doesn't compete with their professional version they sell...  But this doesn't answer the question: Why did they remove them.

We hope that that these categories are returned to us.  To make PMPC as easy, or easier to use as it was before.

We just want it to be good, as useful, as easy to use as it was before.

[dking02]

Please note that a change to restore filtering apps by categories is in work. Justin has posted a "sneak peak" of the user interface  at https://ideas.patchmypc.com/ideas/PATCHMYPC-I-5565.

[topbanana]

Sadly, the 'Sneak Peak' is quite worrying.
Now they're hiding the categories away under a pull-down menu.

How on earth does no one working on this realise what they had before it was knee-capped!?!?!?!

Until we get the original style of the categories up front and centre, all on display, without the stupid triple line spacing, so that we can get more than 10 categories listed on one pay... Until then, we're stuck with a wonderfully expanded app list with an atrocious user experience.

What they had worked.
This does not.
And the sneak peak is shockingly bad.
Are they just trolling now?

[linkhunter]

I haven't used patch my pc since the category were removed, I have used WinGet through powershell updating my software

[Justin Chalfant (Patch My PC)]

Sadly, the 'Sneak Peak' is quite worrying.
Now they're hiding the categories away under a pull-down menu.

How on earth does no one working on this realise what they had before it was knee-capped!?!?!?!

Until we get the original style of the categories up front and centre, all on display, without the stupid triple line spacing, so that we can get more than 10 categories listed on one pay... Until then, we're stuck with a wonderfully expanded app list with an atrocious user experience.

What they had worked.
This does not.
And the sneak peak is shockingly bad.
Are they just trolling now?

@topbanana  I've reviewed your recent post and past communication on our forum (your post history here). While we value feedback from our users, it's clear that Patch My PC's free product isn't meeting your expectations.

You've been pretty vocal about not liking the changes we've made. You've shared frustration about the removal of categories, the increased spacing making it harder to navigate, and the lack of a "download only" mode. You also mentioned that the product feels "dumbed down" and harder to use, and you've suggested that we're intentionally making it worse to push people toward the paid version. You've even said it feels like we're "knee-capping" the product, which we can assure you isn't the case.

Your post above is also after we have directly shipped features you and others are asking for, like retaining downloaded files, adding the option to delete shortcuts after installing apps. We're also actively working on bringing back categories since we know that's been a major pain point for some users and making an option for portable again.

It's important to remember that this is a free product that we offer at no charge. We hire software engineers and invest time and resources into maintaining and improving it, time that could otherwise be spent on our paid product. We provide this because we believe it adds value and supports our purpose of giving back to communities, not just paying customers. If it's not working for you, that's totally fine. If you're not happy with it, you're free to stop using it.

At this point, I think it may be best for you to move on to another product that better fits your needs. If the communication style in your posts continues, we will need to remove your access to the forum. We're always open to constructive feedback, but the tone and pattern here have gone beyond that and aren't helping anyone.

Appreciate your understanding.

[topbanana]

Sadly, the 'Sneak Peak' is quite worrying.
Now they're hiding the categories away under a pull-down menu.

How on earth does no one working on this realise what they had before it was knee-capped!?!?!?!

Until we get the original style of the categories up front and centre, all on display, without the stupid triple line spacing, so that we can get more than 10 categories listed on one pay... Until then, we're stuck with a wonderfully expanded app list with an atrocious user experience.

What they had worked.
This does not.
And the sneak peak is shockingly bad.
Are they just trolling now?

@topbanana  I've reviewed your recent post and past communication on our forum (your post history here). While we value feedback from our users, it's clear that Patch My PC's free product isn't meeting your expectations.

The VERY important thing is, is that PatchMyPC - Home Updater v4.2.0.5, that you personally created (correct?), the features that it had, that absolutely DID meet almost ALL of our expectations!!!

It was near perfect.

• Lots of apps to install from
• Sorted logically into nice categories
• Updated the supported apps
• Installer caching
• Portable
• Download Only/Provisioning
• Simple, neat GUI
• easy to use

This is why we all used it!!!

PMPC-HU was famous for being THE app for installing load-outs & updating apps, WHILST caching the installers... Also allowing us to 'download only' to do provisioning of the installers.  No other app did this.  And this feature-set was actually very, very much needed by us home users!


It was AWESOME! 


 

You've been pretty vocal about not liking the changes we've made. You've shared frustration about the removal of categories, the increased spacing making it harder to navigate, and the lack of a "download only" mode. You also mentioned that the product feels "dumbed down" and harder to use, and you've suggested that we're intentionally making it worse to push people toward the paid version. You've even said it feels like we're "knee-capping" the product, which we can assure you isn't the case.

You removed the categories, lots of users ask where they've gone, complain.  Some self-report that they are dyslexic, are autistic, that the loss of categories makes it very difficult for them to use.  I also have both.  Some saying they won't be using it any more, others saying they won't be recommending its use to anyone... The removal of them was baffling to us all.  It's was completely illogical.
Only after 6 months did you reply, not with a reason, just an acknowledgement.
You left a vacuum... And vacuums will always get filled.
So yes, your users will start to think that you did it on purpose.  That it somehow stops people paying for your professional products.  So it must be knee-capped...  This is the impression that your lack of response, the 2 years plus of not restoring the most basic feature of dividing a large list of apps into logical categories, gives us, leaves us with the only option of having.
I acknowledged your recent reply explaining that it was NOT competing with your pro products...  I was happy with that as it was well justified...  But with v5 being released, stripped of the core features, your 'shock' that we want the features you'd previously blessed us with, restored... and now the wording of this reply...  What must i/we think now???

Your post above is also after we have directly shipped features you and others are asking for, like retaining downloaded files, adding the option to delete shortcuts after installing apps. We're also actively working on bringing back categories since we know that's been a major pain point for some users and making an option for portable again.

I am very, very relieved to see the features that you removed, being restored!
I am thankful to you for doing this...
It's just the process we've all had to go though to get them back!

From our side, it's very, very odd that you're acting all surprised, as if you didn't realise that we used the features that v4 had, that made it famous.  It's as if you personally didn't/don't use it yourself.  And then you ask us inquisitively to explain the details of our use-case, as if it's required to justify restoring that core functionality?!?!

It's important to remember that this is a free product that we offer at no charge. We hire software engineers and invest time and resources into maintaining and improving it, time that could otherwise be spent on our paid product. We provide this because we believe it adds value and supports our purpose of giving back to communities, not just paying customers. If it's not working for you, that's totally fine. If you're not happy with it, you're free to stop using it.

The reasoning that you've previously given for creating PMPC-HU in the first place, is awesome, and we greatly thank you!!!  I am greatly thankful for you for it.  Which is why i replied with thanks to your comment informing us that you were the one that created it.

But the issue here today, is that what you had given us, had been mostly taken away.
Yes, thankfully you've restored a few of the features that were removed, like caching the installers, arguably the defining feature of PMPC-HU!  But not all. And the effort from us required to get them back is larger than we could imagine should be needed.

At this point, I think it may be best for you to move on to another product that better fits your needs. If the communication style in your posts continues, we will need to remove your access to the forum. We're always open to constructive feedback, but the tone and pattern here have gone beyond that and aren't helping anyone.

Appreciate your understanding.

There isn't another product.  PMPC-HU fitted our needs perfectly!  It's the only one.

aren't helping anyone

We've got some of the core features restored.  That is helping everyone.

tone

That was a product of the crazy/illogical removal of the categories;  Plus the lack of response;  Plus the 2+ years of inaction;  Then plus the deletion of the core, defining features of PMPC-HU from v5;  Plus your 'amazement' that we actually did want/need/used the awesome features of v4;  Plus the insane "you have to vote for each of the core features to be restored"...!  You have to realise that all these things add up, create frustration!  The effort, reasoning from us that you are demanding is distressing!
You gave us something awesome, then you took it away.

If you're initially replied back in 2022 with:
"Sorry guys, our bad, we'll restore the categories in the next version... soz!"
Everything would have been fine.

And if you'd recently announced:
"We've re-written PMPC-HU from the ground up, modernised the GUI. Here's a beta version for you to see, play with.  Many of core features haven't been restored yes, they'll come later, before release.  We welcome your feedback!"
Everything would have been fine.

And if you're replied to that feedback, e.g.:
"Ah yes, it is a bit spaced out, we'll add an option for a nice tighten up spacing", etc.
That would have been fine.

It should have been a beta release.
And it absolutely should not be hunting down and deleting the v4 executable.

Asking us to 'vote' for core functionality is astonishing. Almost insulting.  Please realise this.

A decent number of your users make the effort to come to the forums, some making the extra effort to create accounts especially, they come to report that they really, really need the categories restored.

Some of those users are dyslexic or autistic, like me, and you ask them to 'move on' to another product...  Which doesn't exist.  PMPC-HU was unique!  It did what no other apps did!
Please don't ask this of your users.

Please re-read ALL the replies in this particular post, from 2022.  Then realise where we're coming from.
We don't want to have to fight this hard to get back what we had, what we need, what you'd given us.


The bottom line, is that we just want back what YOU had personally given us.

v4.2.0.5 was AWESOME!
Please give us back its functionality, usability, with the beautifully expanded app list!

Please.