Making a desktop shortcut for Minecraft on Windows 11 is pretty straightforward — but, of course, Windows likes to make things more complicated than they need to be sometimes. If you’ve installed Minecraft via the Microsoft Store, finding the actual executable can be a pain because it’s buried in the WindowsApps folder, which is kinda locked down. So, this guide is about showing a couple of different ways that actually work, depending on your setup. The goal? Double-click your desktop, and boom — straight into the game without digging through folders or menu clutter. Trust me, it saves a lot of hassle when you’re ready to jump into a quick session instead of hunting around.
How to Make a Desktop Shortcut for Minecraft on Windows 11
Find the Minecraft executable or shortcut location
First off, where the heck is Minecraft installed? If you installed through the Microsoft Store, the real game file isn’t sitting RIGHT out in your Program Files — it’s hidden in the WindowsApps folder. Because of that, the easiest way is to right-click the Minecraft icon in your Start menu, then select More > Open File Location. If that option isn’t there (which happens sometimes), you can try searching for MinecraftLauncher.exe directly in File Explorer using the search bar. This can take a few tries; on some setups it works better than others.
Alternatively, if you installed via the official launcher from the Minecraft website, it’s usually in C:\Program Files (x86)\Minecraft or similar. Once you find the .exe, great — that’s your target.
If you’re still stuck, you might want to check out this helpful tool: GitHub Repository: Winhance. It can help fix shortcuts or find the launcher more easily.
Create the shortcut file
Right-click on the Minecraft executable or launcher file, then select Create shortcut. Sometimes, Windows will protest and say it can’t create a shortcut in the current location, so just create it somewhere else — like your desktop or documents folder — then move it later. On a weird install, it might just create that shortcut in the same folder, which is fine.
What’s interesting is that, depending on the setup, this method sometimes doesn’t give you perfectly labeled shortcuts right away or might point to the wrong executable if you’re not careful. So double-check where the shortcut points.
Move that shortcut to your desktop
Grab your new shortcut and drag it onto your desktop or right-click and choose Send to > Desktop (create shortcut). Voila. On some setups, you might have to do a quick right-click — Properties > Shortcut — to make sure it launches the right executable or to tweak the target path if needed.
Rename and personalize the shortcut (your call)
Right-click the shortcut, select Rename, and give it something obvious like “Minecraft.” If you want, you can also change the icon to the classic Minecraft logo via Properties > Change Icon. Just browse your files or pick from the list. Because, of course, Windows has to make that part more complicated than it needs to be.
Sometimes, the launcher icon looks fine, but it’s nice to personalize your shortcuts, especially if you’re juggling different versions or modded installs.
TIP: Making it launch full screen or custom settings
If you want Minecraft to start in fullscreen every time or have other specific launch options, you might need to adjust the shortcut’s target. Right-click > Properties, then in the Target box, add command line arguments like --fullscreen if supported. Sometimes you need to poke around the launcher options or create a custom script depending on your setup. Not always straightforward, but it’s doable.
Extra tips if things seem wonky
- If your shortcut stops working, double-check the Target path. Minecraft updates can mess with shortcuts if the executable moves.
- Creating separate shortcuts for different versions or mods? Do that manually by pointing each shortcut to the specific launcher or jar files.
- If you use the Bedrock or Java version separately, make sure you’re linking to the right executable for each.
- Pro tip: Pin the shortcut to your taskbar after you get it set up for quicker launch — just right-click the shortcut and pick Pin to taskbar.
- Running Minecraft in admin mode? Sometimes that’s needed for certain skins or mods, so check Properties > Compatibility to enable that if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find the Minecraft installation folder if I installed via Microsoft Store?
Good luck. The folder lives in the hidden WindowsApps directory (C:\Program Files\WindowsApps), which needs special permissions to access. Instead, just rely on the Start menu > More > Open File Location method or create a shortcut from the launcher directly. Honestly, trying to dig in there manually is more trouble than it’s worth.
Can I make a shortcut for a specific version or modded Minecraft?
Yes, but you’ll need to have multiple launcher profiles or installs. Point each shortcut to the specific launcher or Java jar file for each version. Sometimes, you can even add command-line flags for mods or resource packs directly inside the shortcut target.
Why won’t my shortcut launch Minecraft?
Check if the target path points to the correct executable. Also, verify that the file isn’t missing or moved after updates. Sometimes, just recreating the shortcut helps—Windows updates or app re-installs can break those links.
How can I make Minecraft launch in fullscreen automatically?
Right-click the shortcut, go to Properties, then under the Shortcut tab, set the Run dropdown to Maximized. On some setups, you might need to add commands like --fullscreen in the Target box, but that depends on your launcher version.
Is there a way to revert the custom icon back to the default?
Absolutely. Just right-click → Properties → Change Icon, then select the original Minecraft icon from the list or browse your files for the default one. Not too complicated once you’ve done it a couple of times.
Summary
- Find the Minecraft launcher or executable (sometimes tricky if from the Store).
- Create a shortcut from that file.
- Move it onto your desktop.
- Optional: rename or change the icon.
- Pin it for quick access if you like.
Wrap-up
Creating a desktop shortcut might seem like a minor thing, but it really cuts down on the clicking and searching, especially if you play regularly. Quick access is the goal here, and with a bit of fiddling, it’s doable even if Windows throws you curveballs. Odds are, once you get it set up, launching Minecraft becomes smoother — no extra steps needed. It’s kinda satisfying when something simple like this actually works as intended, especially after messing around in Windows’ maze of folders and permissions. Fingers crossed, this does the trick for someone out there — it’s a small win but totally worth the effort.