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In Windows 11, “home screen” usually means the desktop. To add an app shortcut, open Start, select All, and drag the app onto the desktop. For a file, folder, or website, use the desktop’s New → Shortcut command; Start and the taskbar are separate places where you can pin items.
Method 1: Drag an app from Start to the desktop
- Select Start on the taskbar, or press the Windows key.
- Select All to display the installed-app list.
- Find the app alphabetically.
- Drag the app from the list onto an empty area of the desktop.
Windows creates a desktop shortcut. The original app remains installed in its usual location. You can move the new shortcut anywhere on the desktop, rename it by right-clicking it and selecting Rename, or remove it without uninstalling the app.
Method 2: Create an app shortcut through the Apps folder
Some apps do not drag successfully from Start. Use Windows’ special Apps folder instead:
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- Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
- Enter shell:AppsFolder.
- Press Enter.
- Find the app you want to add.
- Right-click the app. If you are using the keyboard, select it and press Shift + F10.
- Select Create shortcut.
- When Windows displays “Do you want to place the shortcut on the desktop?”, select Yes.
The shortcut should now appear on the desktop. The command is not case-sensitive, so shell:appsfolder also works.
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Method 3: Create a shortcut for a file, folder, or website
For a file or folder already visible in File Explorer, use the context menu:
- Open File Explorer and locate the file or folder.
- Right-click it.
- Select Show more options.
- Select Send to → Desktop (create shortcut).
For a website, or for an item whose location you know, use the shortcut wizard:
- Right-click an empty area of the desktop.
- Select New → Shortcut.
- Enter the file path, folder path, or web address in the location box.
- Select Next, enter a name, and select Finish.
Entering a web address creates a shortcut that opens the site in your default browser. This wizard is also useful when an installed desktop program is missing from both Start and the Apps folder, provided you can locate its executable file.
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Install a website as an Edge app
If you want a website to open in its own app-like window, open it in Microsoft Edge and select Settings and more → More tools → Apps → Install this site as an app. Then visit edge://apps, select Details for the site, and choose Create Desktop shortcut, Pin to Start, or Pin to taskbar. Microsoft notes that an installed site opens in a separate app window.
Find an app if it is not obvious in Start
Select Search on the taskbar and type the app’s name. Alternatively, press the Windows key and start typing. Windows Search may show apps, documents, and web results, so check that the result is labeled as an app before opening its location or attempting to create a shortcut.
Desktop shortcut, Start pin, and taskbar pin are different
| What you want | Windows 11 path | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop shortcut | Start → All, then drag the app to the desktop | Desktop |
| Start-menu shortcut | Start → All → right-click the app → Pin to Start | Start menu |
| Taskbar shortcut | Search for the app, right-click it, and select Pin to taskbar; you can also pin an already-open app from its taskbar icon | Taskbar |
| Website as an app | Edge → Settings and more → More tools → Apps → Install this site as an app, then use edge://apps | Separate app window, desktop, Start, or taskbar |
Pinning an app to Start or the taskbar does not create a desktop icon. Likewise, creating a desktop shortcut does not make the app launch automatically when you sign in.
If the desktop shortcut is not visible
First, check whether desktop icons are hidden:
- Right-click an empty area of the desktop.
- Select View.
- Make sure Show desktop icons is enabled.
If icons are enabled, press F5 while viewing the desktop to refresh it. Also check whether Windows placed the shortcut behind an open window or on another monitor’s desktop.
If the app is missing from Start and AppsFolder
If an app does not appear in Start → All or in shell:AppsFolder, Windows is not exposing it as an installed application entry. Locate its executable file in File Explorer, right-click it, select Show more options → Send to → Desktop (create shortcut), or use the New → Shortcut wizard with the executable’s full path.
If the program is not installed, install it first.
Do not use Startup settings for a desktop shortcut
The setting at Start → Settings → Apps → Startup controls whether an app opens automatically when you sign in. It does not put an icon on the desktop. Use one of the shortcut methods above when you only want a clickable desktop icon.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.FAQ
What is the fastest way to add an app to the Windows 11 home screen?
Open Start, select All, and drag the app from the alphabetical list onto the desktop. Windows creates a shortcut and leaves the installed app unchanged.
Why can’t I drag an app from Start onto the desktop?
Open Run with Windows key + R, enter shell:AppsFolder, and press Enter. Right-click the app, select Create shortcut, then select Yes when Windows asks to place it on the desktop.
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In File Explorer, right-click the folder, select Show more options, select Send to, and then select Desktop (create shortcut).
How do I add a website shortcut to the desktop?
Right-click an empty desktop area, select New → Shortcut, enter the web address, and finish the wizard. In Edge, you can instead install the site as an app and create a desktop shortcut from edge://apps.
How do I pin an app to the Windows 11 Start menu instead?
Open Start, select All, right-click the app, and select Pin to Start. This creates a Start-menu pin, not a desktop shortcut.
How do I add an app to the taskbar in Windows 11?
Search for the app, right-click it, and select Pin to taskbar. If it is already open, right-click its taskbar icon and select Pin to taskbar.
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Right-click the desktop, select View, and enable Show desktop icons. The shortcut may already exist even if desktop icons are hidden.
The Bottom Line
For most installed apps, open Start → All and drag the app onto the desktop. If that fails, run shell:AppsFolder and create the shortcut from there. Use the File Explorer or shortcut wizard methods for files, folders, and basic website links, or install a site as an Edge app when you want a separate window and additional pinning options.
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