Pinning things to your desktop in Windows 11 is a ripper way to save time and avoid whacking around menus. If you’re sick of hunting through the Start menu or File Explorer to find your fave apps or files, this method might help — though, fair dinkum, it’s not always as simple as it sounds. Because of course, Windows loves to throw a spanner in the works now and then.
How to Pin Stuff to Your Desktop in Windows 11
Here’s the lowdown with a couple of sneaky tricks up your sleeve. Not the neatest way, but it gets the job done.
Step 1: Track Down What You Want to Pin
Start by finding the app, file, or folder you want quick access to. Check your Start menu, File Explorer, or just type it in the search bar. Sometimes, it might be a shortcut you made earlier or a folder you open all the time. Basically, find your target and get ready to pin it.
Step 2: Right-Click the Item
Once you’ve found it, right-click. A menu will pop up with options like Pin to Start, Unpin from Start, or Properties. But… here’s where it gets a bit tricky.
Step 3: Show More Options
In Windows 11, the full menu doesn’t always show straight away. Click Show more options, which is the old-school right-click menu from Windows 10. It reveals all the handy options, including creating shortcuts.
Step 4: Create a Shortcut
Look for Create shortcut and click it. If it’s not there, you might need to head to Send to > Desktop (create shortcut). On newer setups, just choosing Create shortcut usually does the trick. It’s a bit of a workaround, but it creates an icon you can move onto your desktop. Just watch out — Windows can get a bit confused if you’re doing this from a network location or a special folder.
Step 5: Drag the Shortcut to Your Desktop
Finally, drag that shortcut straight onto your desktop. Done! Now, a click on that icon opens your app or folder quick as. It might be a little off-centre sometimes or end up with duplicates, but you can tidy that up any time.
A heads up: these shortcuts might not stick around forever, especially after updates or restarts. But they’re handy for quick access most of the time.
Tips for Getting Your Pins on the Desktop in Windows 11
- Whack a nice wallpaper on to make shortcuts stand out.
- Create folders on the desktop to keep things tidy — less clutter, more focus.
- Don’t go overboard with shortcuts — too many can slow your PC down a bit.
- Check your pinned items now and then — sometimes they go a bit stale or useless.
- Use virtual desktops to keep different workspaces separate, so your pins stay relevant to what you’re up to.
Got Questions? We’ve Got Answers
Can I pin anything to the desktop in Windows 11?
Mostly, yep — apps, folders, files. But some system features or apps from the Microsoft Store might refuse to pin directly, especially those sneaky system bits.
Is there a limit to how many items I can pin?
Not really, but too many icons can make your desktop a bit of a mess and might slow things down. Keep it reasonable — a few handy shortcuts is perfect.
How do I unpin stuff from the desktop?
Right-click the icon and pick Delete. It doesn’t delete the actual file or app — just the shortcut. Easy as.
Are desktop pins shared across all user profiles?
Nah. Each user has their own desktop and pins. So, if someone else logs in, they won’t see your shortcuts.
Can I pin web pages to the desktop?
Sure can. Just create a shortcut in your browser — in Chrome or Edge, go to More tools > Create shortcut. Then, drag that shortcut to the desktop, or use Send to > Desktop (create shortcut).
Wrap-Up
- Find what you want on your desktop or in menus.
- Right-click and hit Show more options.
- Select Create shortcut.
- Drag that icon onto your desktop.
- Move or delete as you see fit — don’t go overboard.
Hopefully, this makes your life a bit easier. It’s not foolproof, but it’s worth a bash on most machines.