Create Shortcuts to Store Apps in Windows 11

This guide shows you how to create desktop shortcuts to apps from the Microsoft Store on Windows 11. You’ll learn three methods that work for most Store apps, plus how to fix common issues when a shortcut won’t launch.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows 11 PC with the app already installed from the Microsoft Store.
• Administrator rights are not required for these methods.
• If the app is a legacy desktop app (like many Adobe or Steam titles), you can skip the Store-specific steps and just use the standard “Send to Desktop” method.

Step-by-Step

Method 1: Drag from Start Menu (Easiest)

1. Click the Start button (or press the Windows key).
2. Click All apps in the top-right corner of the Start menu.
3. Scroll to find the Store app you want. If you have many apps, use the search bar at the top.
4. Click and hold the app icon, then drag it to your desktop. Release the mouse button when you see the “Link” tooltip.
5. A shortcut appears on the desktop. Double-click it to test.

Method 2: Use “Open File Location”

1. Open the Start menu and click All apps.
2. Right-click the app you want (e.g., “Spotify” or “Netflix”).
3. Select Open file location. This opens a File Explorer folder containing the app’s shortcut (usually in %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs).
4. Right-click the shortcut in that folder and choose Send to > Desktop (create shortcut).
5. The shortcut appears on your desktop. You can rename it if you like.

Method 3: Create a Shortcut Manually

1. Right-click an empty area of your desktop.
2. Select New > Shortcut.
3. In the location field, type or paste the app’s App User Model ID (AUMID) in this format:
   explorer.exe shell:AppsFolder\PackageFamilyName!AppId
   For example, for the Windows Calculator:
   explorer.exe shell:AppsFolder\Microsoft.WindowsCalculator_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App
4. Click Next, type a name for the shortcut (e.g., “Calculator”), and click Finish.

To find the correct AUMID for any Store app:

1. Open PowerShell (right-click Start and select “Windows Terminal” or “PowerShell”).
2. Type Get-StartApps and press Enter. This lists all apps with their AUMIDs in the second column.
3. Copy the AUMID for your app and paste it into the shortcut location as shown above.

Common Mistakes

• Dragging the wrong icon: In the Start menu, some tiles are just folders or groups. Make sure you drag the actual app icon, not a group header.
• Using the wrong AUMID: If you type the AUMID manually, a single typo will break the shortcut. Always copy-paste from PowerShell.
• Creating a shortcut to the Store page instead of the app: Some web shortcuts open the Store listing, not the app. Use the methods above to avoid that.
• Forgetting to remove the “ – Shortcut” suffix: Not a big deal, but you can rename it to just the app name.

Tips

• Pin to taskbar instead: If you prefer a taskbar icon, right-click the app in Start and select “Pin to taskbar”. This works even for Store apps.
• Use the Start menu search: Press Windows and type the app name, then drag the result to the desktop. This is often faster than scrolling.
• Organize shortcuts into folders: Create a folder on your desktop and drag your app shortcuts into it to keep things tidy.
• Change the icon: Right-click the shortcut, select “Properties”, then “Change Icon”. You can browse to the app’s executable or use a custom .ico file.

Troubleshooting

Shortcut does nothing when double-clicked.
If the shortcut was created via drag-and-drop, it may point to a temporary location. Delete it and use the “Open file location” method instead.

“Windows cannot find the file” error.
This usually means the AUMID is incorrect. Re-run Get-StartApps in PowerShell and copy the exact AUMID again.

The app opens but shows a blank window.
Some Store apps (especially games) need to be launched from the Store first to complete setup. Open the app from Start once, then try the shortcut again.

The shortcut appears but has a generic icon.
Right-click the shortcut, go to Properties > Change Icon, and browse to the app’s executable (usually in C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\ – but you may need to unhide it). Alternatively, use the icon from the shortcut in the Start Menu folder.

Can’t find the app in “All apps”.
If the app is hidden, use the search bar in Start to find it, then drag it to the desktop. If it still doesn’t appear, the app may be corrupted – try reinstalling it from the Store.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I create a shortcut to a Store app on the taskbar?
A: Yes, right-click the app in Start and choose “Pin to taskbar”. This does not create a desktop shortcut, but it gives you a one-click launch icon.

Q: Why does dragging from Start sometimes not work?
A: In some Windows 11 versions, dragging from the Start menu may be disabled or only works for certain apps. Use the “Open file location” method instead.

Q: Do I need admin rights to create these shortcuts?
A: No, all methods work with a standard user account.

Q: Can I move the shortcut to another folder?
A: Yes, desktop shortcuts are just files. You can cut and paste them anywhere, including into a folder on your desktop or into a different drive.

Q: What if the app is a “legacy” desktop app (like Chrome)?
A: For traditional desktop apps, you can simply right-click the program’s .exe file and choose “Send to” > “Desktop (create shortcut)”. The Store methods are only needed for UWP or MSIX apps.

Q: How do I remove a shortcut?
A: Right-click the shortcut and select “Delete”. This does not uninstall the app.

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