Getting your favorite apps onto the desktop in Windows 11 isn’t too complicated in theory, but it can be pretty frustrating if you’re used to just dragging icons around. Sometimes, apps installed via the Microsoft Store or system apps don’t give you the usual right-click options, making the process more convoluted than it should be. The idea is to create a quick shortcut so that launching your go-to programs is as simple as double-clicking an icon. Doing this can really speed things up, especially if you tend to access certain apps multiple times a day. But yeah, there are a few tricks here and there—because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary sometimes.
Step-by-Step Tutorial: How to Put Apps on Desktop Windows 11
Here’s the route that usually works, even if it’s a bit roundabout. The goal is to get a shortcut that sits nicely on your desktop so you don’t have to go digging through menus every time. Just follow along and you’ll find what works best for your setup.
Find the App
First off, you want to locate that app in the Start menu. Just click on the Start button (bottom-left corner) and start typing the app’s name. If it’s installed, it’ll pop right up. Sometimes, if it’s a Microsoft Store app, the right-click options aren’t so obvious, but you can still locate the app there anyway.
Right-Click the App & Look for “Open file location”
Right-click on the app in the search results or Start menu to open the context menu. If “Open file location” appears, great. Clicking this will usually open a folder in File Explorer with the app’s shortcut or executable. If you’re lucky, you’ll see an option called “Open file location”—this is the key step because it points to where the real app shortcut or executable lives. Keep in mind, with some apps, especially UWP (Universal Windows Platform) apps, this isn’t available, which is where things get messier.
Open File Location & Create a Shortcut
If you see “Open file location, ” click it. Now, in that folder, you might see the app’s icon or executable file. With that in view, right-click on it and choose “Create shortcut.” Windows might warn you that creating a shortcut here will put it in the same folder—if it asks, just confirm you want to create it. Sometimes Windows will say “The shortcut already exists, ” or it might not put it directly on the desktop automatically, but no worries—you can just drag that shortcut manually to your desktop afterward.
Drag the Shortcut to Your Desktop
If the shortcut isn’t on the desktop yet, click and hold it, drag it over to your desktop, and release. Voilà, now you’ve got quick access right there. It might not be perfect—sometimes if you do this with apps from the Microsoft Store, it gets weird and might require additional steps, like creating a new shortcut manually from the app’s EXE in the installed folder.
Tips for Putting Apps on Desktop Windows 11
- If “Open file location” isn’t showing up, try searching the app in the “All Apps” section of the Start menu—sometimes it’s easier to right-click from there.
- Because creating shortcuts from apps that aren’t full desktop programs can be hit-or-miss, consider pinning them to taskbar for even quicker access.
- Use folders on your desktop to keep things tidy. Just right-click > New > Folder and drag shortcuts in there.
- If an app is a desktop shortcut you no longer need, just right-click it and hit “Delete”—it won’t uninstall, promise.
- Some apps, especially from the Microsoft Store, might need you to manually browse to their installed location—usually under `C:\Program Files\WindowsApps`, but that folder is hidden, and you need permissions to open it. That’s a whole other story, so tread carefully.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t I find “Open file location”?
Because some app types (like Store apps) aren’t designed to show that option. They’re more sandboxed, so Windows doesn’t expose file paths easily.
How do I remove a shortcut from the desktop?
Just right-click and select “Delete”. The app itself stays installed; you’re just cleaning up icons.
Can I add websites to my desktop?
Yeah! Just open a site in your browser, and drag the icon from the address bar right to the desktop. That creates a shortcut, no fuss.
What if my desktop is chaos?
Time to organize. Create folders, pin apps to taskbar—whatever keeps your space less cluttered. Using a tidy desktop makes launching apps less annoying.
Can shortcuts be renamed?
Definitely. Right-click the shortcut, choose “Rename”, and type something that makes sense to you. Better labels mean less chaos later.
Summary
- Search for the app in the Start menu
- Right-click and try to find “Open file location”
- In the folder, right-click and choose “Create shortcut”
- Drag that shortcut to your desktop or right-click and select “Send to > Desktop”
Wrap-up
Moving apps to the desktop in Windows 11 isn’t quite as smooth as clicking and dragging—especially if apps are from the Microsoft Store or are system apps. But with a bit of poking around, most of the time you can get shortcuts working just fine. Once you’ve set it up, it makes launching your favorites way faster, which is definitely a small but mighty win for productivity.
Hopefully, this’ll save someone a bit of hassle and shave some steps off your routine. Just keep at it, and soon enough, your desktop will be a more manageable and personalized space that actually works for you.