Windows 11 doesn’t have a “home screen” like a phone. To put an app where you can reach it quickly, pin it to the Start menu, pin it to the taskbar, or add a shortcut to the desktop. To pin it to Start, type the app’s name in Search, right-click it, and select Pin to Start. To put it on the desktop, open Start, select All, and drag the app onto an empty spot on the desktop.
These steps follow Microsoft’s current Windows 11 Start menu and taskbar guides (the newest release is Windows 11 version 26H2). On older Windows 11 builds, the full app list button is labeled All apps instead of All. Windows 10 has the same three options, but its Start menu uses tiles.
If an old Dell computer still shows the Dell Dock launcher at the top of the screen, you can remove the Dell Dock and use these built-in options instead.
Which Spot Should You Use?
| Spot | Best for | How you open it |
|---|---|---|
| Taskbar | The 5 to 10 apps you open every day | One click, always visible |
| Start menu | Apps you use weekly, grouped in folders | Press the Windows key, then click |
| Desktop | A few apps, files, or folders you want in plain sight | Double-click, but windows can cover it |
Most people use a mix: daily apps on the taskbar, the next tier pinned to Start, and a few shortcuts on the desktop. Pins and shortcuts are only links, so putting an app in all three places doesn’t make a copy of it or use extra space.
Pin an App to the Start Menu
- Select Start or the search box on the taskbar and type the app’s name. The app appears at the top of the results.
- Right-click the app in the results. A menu opens.
- Select Pin to Start. The app now shows in the Pinned section the next time you open Start.
You can also pin from the full app list: open Start, find the app under All, right-click it, and select Pin to Start. Microsoft covers these steps in Customize the Windows Start menu.
Common locations like Downloads and Documents don’t need a pin: you can add Start folders next to the Power button instead.
Organize Your Start Menu Pins
- Move a pin: drag it to a new spot, or right-click it and select Move to front.
- Make a folder: drag one pinned app on top of another. Windows creates a folder you can rename. Drag more pins in, or drag them out to remove them. When only one pin is left, the folder goes away.
- See every pin: select Show all in the Pinned section. Start remembers this the next time you open it.
- Remove a pin: right-click it and select Unpin from Start. The app stays installed.
The All section below your pins can show apps by Category, in a Grid, or in a List, and Start remembers the view you pick.
Make More Room for Pins
The Recommended section can take up a lot of the Start menu. Microsoft says that if you turn off all of its recommendation sources, the section collapses and your pins get the space.
- Right-click the bottom of the Start menu and select Start settings, or open Settings > Personalization > Start.
- Turn off the switches that fill Recommended, such as Show recently added apps, Show most used apps, and Show recommended files in Start. The exact wording can be a little longer on some builds.
- Open Start again. The Recommended area is smaller or gone.
Pin Folders, Files, and Websites to Start
- Folder: right-click it in File Explorer and select Pin to Start.
- Website: open it in Microsoft Edge, select Settings and more (…) > More tools > Pin to Start.
- Common folders next to the power button: right-click the bottom of Start, select Start settings, select Folders, and turn on Documents, Downloads, Pictures, or others.
Pin an App to the Taskbar
- Open Start and type the app’s name.
- Right-click it and select Pin to taskbar. The icon appears on the taskbar right away.
If the app is already open, right-click its icon on the taskbar and choose Pin to taskbar. Drag pinned icons left or right to change their order. Pinned apps can also be opened with the Windows key plus their position number, such as Windows key + 1 for the first one. Websites, folders, and files can be pinned too; pinning to the taskbar in Windows 11 covers those.
Put an App on the Desktop
- Open Start and select All.
- Find the app in the list.
- Drag it onto an empty spot on the desktop and let go. An icon with a small arrow appears, which marks it as a shortcut.
Windows creates a shortcut, and the app stays in Start. This drag method comes from Microsoft’s desktop icons guide. For other methods, read about making a desktop shortcut in Windows 11. This PC, Recycle Bin, and other system icons are added a different way, covered in adding desktop icons in Windows 11.
If an App Won’t Drag to the Desktop
Some Microsoft Store apps and system apps don’t drag out of Start, and they have no program file to point to. The hidden Applications folder works for almost every installed app:
- Press Windows key + R to open Run.
- Type shell:AppsFolder and press Enter. A folder with every installed app opens.
- Right-click the app and select Create shortcut.
- Windows says it can’t create a shortcut there and asks to put it on the desktop instead. Select Yes.
Make a Shortcut to a Program File or Website
- Right-click an empty part of the desktop and select New > Shortcut.
- Select Browse to find the program, or type a web address such as https://www.microsoft.com.
- Select Next, type a name, and select Finish.
Website shortcuts open in your default browser. There are more ways to make a desktop shortcut for a website in Windows 11.
To rename a desktop shortcut, right-click it and select Rename. You can also change the shortcut’s icon to a different picture.
Remove App Pins and Desktop Shortcuts Without Uninstalling
- Start pin: right-click it and choose Unpin from Start.
- Taskbar pin: right-click the icon and choose Unpin from taskbar. A running app stays on the taskbar until you close it. Unpinning is also covered on Microsoft’s taskbar customization page.
- Desktop shortcut: delete only the shortcut, or move it into a folder. Don’t move the app’s program files.
The app stays installed and still opens from Start search. Removing pins and shortcuts doesn’t hide or secure an app, which still shows in All, search, and Settings. To get quick access back, pin it again.
If Something Doesn’t Work
- Your desktop icons are all gone: they may only be hidden. Right-click an empty part of the desktop, select View, and check Show desktop icons.
- Icons are too big or too small: right-click the desktop, select View, and pick Large icons, Medium icons, or Small icons, or hold Ctrl and scroll. Here’s more on how to change icon size in Windows 11.
- Pin to Start or Pin to taskbar is missing: try the All list instead of search results, or open the app and right-click its taskbar icon. A few system items can’t be pinned; make a desktop shortcut for them with shell:AppsFolder.
- Pins keep coming back or can’t be changed on a work or school PC: your organization can lock the Start and taskbar layout. Ask your IT department.
- The shortcut says the item can’t be found: the app was moved or uninstalled. Delete the shortcut and make a new one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a limit to how many apps I can pin to Start?
Microsoft doesn’t list a limit. The Pinned section scrolls or expands with Show all, so you can keep adding apps. Grouping them into folders keeps the list manageable.
Does pinning an app to Start also put it on the desktop?
No. Start pins, taskbar pins, and desktop shortcuts are separate. You add each one on its own, and removing one leaves the others in place.
How do I remove an app from the desktop without uninstalling it?
Delete the shortcut. That removes it from the desktop without uninstalling, as shown in removing apps from the desktop without deleting them.
Can I move the Start menu to the left like Windows 10?
Yes. Right-click the taskbar, select Taskbar settings, expand Taskbar behaviors, and set Taskbar alignment to Left.
Will too many desktop shortcuts slow down my PC?
Shortcuts are tiny files, so a normal number of them won’t affect speed. A crowded desktop is mostly harder to scan, so folders or Start pins work better once you have more than a screenful.
Can’t find an app to pin? Here’s how to find installed apps in Windows 11.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are checked step by step against the device or app maker’s own documentation and tested on his own devices whenever he has the hardware or software, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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