Moving apps to your desktop on Windows 11 isn’t as straightforward as just dragging icons around, surprisingly. But here’s a way that usually works, maybe not immediately but after a couple of tries or a reboot. Basically, the goal is to create shortcuts for your apps so that they’re sitting right there for quick launch. Sounds simple enough, but Windows can be kinda stubborn about it sometimes, especially with pesky Microsoft Store apps.
So, here’s the scoop—step by step. First, open the Start menu. You can do this by clicking the icon or hitting the Windows key. Once it’s up, find your app. If it’s a standard desktop app, it should be there, but if not, you might need to search for it.
Next, right-click on the app icon. You should see options pop up, and if you’re lucky, there’s an option called “Open file location”. On some setups, this might be grayed out or missing — especially with Microsoft Store apps. If that’s the case, and you really want that app on your desktop, then you’ll have to do it a different way, like pinning it to Start or Taskbar, then creating a shortcut from there.
Suppose “Open file location” is available; click it. It opens up a folder where the actual shortcut or executable lives. Be aware, sometimes it points to a deeper directory or a system path, which can be confusing. Now, find the shortcut or app there, right-click again, and select “Send to”, then pick “Desktop (create shortcut)”. Bam! There’s your icon sitting pretty on your desktop.
Of course, this might not work for everything — especially with newer apps or some Microsoft Store ones that hide their files. A workaround is to pin the app to your taskbar or start menu, then right-click the icon there, pick “More”, and choose “Open file location”— again, if possible. Sometimes, you gotta get a bit creative; for example, creating a custom shortcut pointing directly to the executable if you know the path.
And just a heads-up, it’s worth checking the settings if you can’t find the option: go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps or Start > All apps. Some apps can be pinned or moved only through the Start menu pinning options or by using third-party tools if you’re feeling adventurous.
Oh, one more thing — don’t panic if deleting a shortcut on the desktop seems to do anything weird. It’s just a shortcut, not the app itself. You can always recreate it if needed. And yeah, moving a shortcut doesn’t affect app performance at all, just access.
So yeah, that’s the deal. Not perfect, cause Windows sometimes makes it hard, but with these tricks, you should get there eventually. Just remember, the key is trying to get that “Open file location” option, and if it’s not there, you might need a different approach altogether.
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Good luck, and don’t forget to organize your shortcuts if you get a ton — a cluttered desktop is a productivity killer too!
Summary
- Find the app in Start or search for it.
- Right-click and see if “Open file location” is available.
- If yes, open that folder.
- Right-click the app and pick “Send to” > “Desktop (create shortcut)”.
- If no, consider pinning to Start or Taskbar and creating a shortcut from there.
Fingers crossed this helps. Moving apps isn’t always smooth, but these tricks usually get the job done.