Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps are those you download from the Microsoft Store. Unlike desktop software, you don’t need to install UWP apps with setup files. The UWP apps you download automatically get installed to a default WindowsApps restricted location.
The usual way to create shortcuts for desktop apps is to right-click their EXE files within installation directories and selectSend to Desktop. So, some users may wonder how they can create desktop shortcuts for UWP apps that are in an inaccessible WindowsApps folder. You can still create shortcuts for UWP apps with the methods below.
1. Drag and Drop UWP Apps From the Start Menu Onto the Desktop
A simple way to create shortcuts for UWP apps is to drag and drop them from the Start menu onto the desktop. To do that, open the Start menu and clickAll apps. Then click a UWP app on the menu, hold the left mouse button, and drag its icon onto the desktop. Release the left mouse button when you see aLinkbox to add the desktop shortcut.
2. Create Desktop Shortcuts for UWP Apps From the Applications Folder
Windows 11 has an accessible Applications folder that includes your installed UWP apps. you may select to create shortcuts for MS Store apps from that folder as follows:
3. Create Desktop Shortcuts for Pre-Installed UWP Apps With the Create Shortcut Wizard
The pre-installed UWP apps have Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) addresses with which you may open them. For example, inputtingms-clock:in Run will open the Alarms and Clock app. You can add pre-installed UWPs to the desktop by creating shortcuts with their URIs as follows:
This method will add a URL (web document) shortcut for opening the app to the desktop. These are some of the URIs with which you can create UWP desktop shortcuts:
Incidentally, you can also create shortcuts with URIs for Settings pages much the same. Check out thishow to set up Settings page shortcutsguide for further details.
4. Pin UWP Desktop Shortcuts to the Taskbar
You can select to pin UWP apps to the taskbar with their desktop shortcuts. To do so, right-click the UWP app’s desktop shortcut and selectShow more options>Pin to taskbar. Then you can open the app from the taskbar instead.
Note that you can’t pin web document desktop shortcuts to the taskbar. The context menus for desktop shortcuts created with URI commands don’t include thePin to taskbaroption.
5. Assign Hotkeys to UWP App Desktop Shortcuts
After creating a UWP app desktop shortcut, you can also assign a hotkey to it. Pressing that hotkey will activate the shortcut to launch the UWP app. You can create a hotkey for a UWP app desktop shortcut like this:
Create Shortcuts for All Your Favorite UWP Apps
It’s quick and simple to create desktop shortcuts for UWP apps with the methods above. Then you’ll be able to access all your favorite MS Store apps directly from the desktop. Or create taskbar and hotkey shortcuts with their desktop icons.
