Windows 11 uses the command Pin to Start to add an app to the Pinned area of the Start menu. Pinning does not install, copy, or move the app, and it does not pin the app to the taskbar.
You can pin Store apps and traditional desktop programs, although a desktop program may need a Start-menu shortcut before Windows can add it.
Pin an app to Start from the Start menu
This is the quickest method for most apps.
- Open Start by selecting the Windows logo on the taskbar, or press the Windows key.
- Find the app in the Start menu, or type its name into Start search.
- Right-click the app.
- Select Pin to Start.
Windows adds the app to the Pinned section at the top of Start. The app will still appear in All and in Search.
Pin an app from the All section
On the newer Windows 11 Start layout, All is part of the same scrollable Start screen. It is not necessarily an All apps button at the top-right, as older instructions often describe.
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- Open Start.
- Scroll down to the All section.
- Open the View menu if you want to change how the apps are displayed.
- Choose List, Grid, or Category.
- Locate the app, right-click it, and select Pin to Start.
List view is useful when you know the app name and want to work through an alphabetical list. Grid shows app icons, while Category groups apps by type.
Pin an app by searching for it
- Press the Windows key.
- Immediately type the app’s name.
- When the correct result appears, right-click it.
- Select Pin to Start.
Check the app name and icon before pinning if several search results appear. A document, web result, or installer may not have the same context-menu options as the installed application.
Move pinned apps or create a folder
To rearrange your pins, open Start and drag an app within the Pinned section to a new position.
You can also drag one pinned app onto another. Windows creates a folder containing both apps. Drag additional pinned apps into the folder, or drag them out again if you want to separate them.
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If all your pins are not visible, expand the Pinned section with Show all or scroll through the available pins. A pin can exist even when it is outside the initially visible area.
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Unpin an app without uninstalling it
- Open Start.
- Find the app in Pinned.
- Right-click it.
- Select Unpin from Start.
This removes only the Start-menu pin. It does not uninstall the app. The program should remain available in All and through Search. To remove the application itself, use its normal uninstall option in Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
Pin a desktop program that is missing from All
Some traditional desktop programs do not create a Start-menu shortcut when they are installed. A desktop shortcut alone does not guarantee that the program will appear in All.
Create or locate a Windows shortcut ending in .lnk, then add it to your user Start-menu Programs folder:
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- Enter
shell:programsand press Enter. - Copy or move the program’s
.lnkshortcut into the folder that opens. - Open Start and look for the shortcut in All.
- Right-click it and select Pin to Start.
The command opens the current user’s Start-menu Programs folder. Its usual path is:
%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
To add a shortcut for every user on the computer, press Windows + R, enter shell:common programs, and press Enter. The corresponding folder is:
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%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
Use a .lnk shortcut rather than placing the program’s .exe file or a script directly in the folder. A shortcut contains the target and launch information Windows expects for a desktop-app Start entry.
What to do if Pin to Start is missing
The app may already be pinned
If the context menu says Unpin from Start, Windows already considers the app pinned. Expand or scroll through Pinned; it may be outside the currently visible rows.
The app list may be restricted
On a managed PC, an administrator can hide or restrict the app list with Group Policy. The relevant policy is:
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Remove All Programs list from the Start menu
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Depending on its setting, this policy can collapse the list but leave an All apps button, collapse and disable the setting, or remove the list and disable the related setting. The equivalent policy is also available under Computer Configuration.
Start customization may be blocked
An administrator can also enable:
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Prevent users from customizing their Start
When this policy is enabled, users cannot pin or unpin Start items or rearrange them. A managed device may instead receive a complete Start layout through Group Policy or device management. With a full layout applied, you may be able to open the configured apps but not add new pins.
If this is a work or school computer, contact the administrator rather than changing policy settings yourself.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Start menu pinning versus taskbar pinning
These are separate Windows actions:
| Command | Where the app appears |
|---|---|
| Pin to Start | The Pinned section of the Start menu |
| Pin to taskbar | The Windows taskbar |
Pinning an app to Start does not add an icon to the taskbar. If you want both locations, perform each pinning action separately.
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Common mistakes
- Looking for “Pin to Start menu”: Windows uses the shorter label Pin to Start.
- Expecting every desktop program in All: Older programs may not install a Start shortcut. Add a
.lnkshortcut throughshell:programs. - Trying to reorganize All: The built-in All views are Category, Grid, and List. Use the Pinned section and folders for personal organization.
- Assuming unpinning uninstalls an app: Unpin from Start removes only the shortcut from Pinned.
- Searching only the visible pins: Use Show all or scroll through Pinned before concluding that an app is missing.
FAQ
Why can’t I see Pin to Start in Windows 11?
The app may already be pinned, in which case the command changes to Unpin from Start. If it is not pinned, a Group Policy or device-management rule may be blocking Start customization, or the app may not have a valid Start-menu shortcut.
Does pinning an app to Start install it?
No. Pinning creates a Start-menu entry for an app that is already installed. It does not download, copy, move, or reinstall the program.
How do I pin a program that is not in All?
Create or locate a .lnk shortcut, press Windows + R, run shell:programs, place the shortcut in the folder that opens, then locate it in All and select Pin to Start.
How do I pin an app to both Start and the taskbar?
Pin it to Start with the Pin to Start command, then separately right-click the app and choose Pin to taskbar. The two pins are independent.
Can I pin a website to the Windows 11 Start menu?
A browser can create an app-style shortcut for some websites, but the exact steps depend on the browser. Once Windows has a valid shortcut or installed web app entry, use the same Pin to Start command where it is offered.
The Bottom Line
Open Start, find the app through Search or All, right-click it, and choose Pin to Start. Rearrange pins by dragging them, remove one with Unpin from Start, and use a .lnk shortcut in shell:programs when a traditional desktop program does not appear in All.
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