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How can I pin arbitrary programs to my Start Menu?
I can't create a shortcut in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs; Windows says:
Can't create shortcut here; create on desktop instead?
I can't drag and drop it onto the Start Menu itself.
If I drag it onto the Start icon, it asks me if I want to pin it, but it doesn't do anything.
mpen
Posted 2015-07-31T06:03:57.000
Reputation: 9 109
73
The C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs start menu is for all users, and you will need administrative access to install anything here. Anything here will appear on the start menu all users that login.
Instead use the %appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs location, which belongs to your user and no additional privileges are required.
Paul
Posted 2015-07-31T06:03:57.000
Reputation: 52 173
6I find I somtimes have to log out-log in before they show up... – Christy James – 2015-08-03T19:04:41.563
1@ChristyJames For me, doing a search (just by typing at the start menu) is enough to cause it to refresh its cache of entries. – Basic – 2016-10-15T23:43:21.460
Is this still accurate? Win10 Anniversary? I have added a shortcut (maybe the shortcut is the problem?) to %appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs, and restarted the computer. If I press windows key and start typing either the file name or the shortcut name, I get no results. – Mir – 2016-11-23T02:17:46.620
1@Mir Yes, it works for me on Anniversary. I used a shortcut (which is the way you should do it). It should also show up in the apps list if you just scroll through it. – Paul – 2016-11-23T04:09:47.717
Thanks for the confirm. I don't know why it's causing me a problem... I'll redo it from scratch, take some screenshots along the way, and post a new question if it's still giving me issues. – Mir – 2016-11-23T23:08:29.997
Unlike other answers, this also works with custom shortcuts that include command-line parameters or other settings. – Soren Bjornstad – 2020-02-18T13:59:55.160
9
If your program was installed "the right way", having a shortcut in "All apps", use ᔕᖺᘎᕊ's answer. If it is a simple exe file running without installation, why not simply right-click on the .exe file, choose "Pin to Start".
Mik
Posted 2015-07-31T06:03:57.000
Reputation: 510
1The program was installed "the right way" but it doesn't add the 64-bit version to the start menu; only the 32 bit version. – mpen – 2015-07-31T16:33:40.630
2Sorry, but this answer does not have any value. The issue here, is that the executable is not indexed for windows searching and the ask is HOW to index it. Right-clicking/Pin-to-start is not an option. Refer to Paul's answer. – Mario – 2018-09-19T05:43:21.323
The question was "How can I pin arbitrary programs to my Start Menu?". My answer explains how to do it. Paul's answer explains how to add it to the "All programs" list in the start menu. "All programs" appears on the left column, while pinned programs ar showed on the right one. My answer should be the accepted answer. – Mik – 2018-09-20T07:36:55.217
1
If you just want to pin a normal program to the start menu, you can simply:
Click the start menu logo > Click 'all apps' > Right click the program you want to be pinned > Click 'Pin to Start':
ᔕᖺᘎᕊ
Posted 2015-07-31T06:03:57.000
Reputation: 5 559
It's not listed in there. – mpen – 2015-07-31T16:32:43.610
The program? @Mark – ᔕᖺᘎᕊ – 2015-07-31T16:53:47.170
Correct. I know how to pin things that are listed, but I couldn't find it anywhere in the start menu at all, and I didn't know how to get it in there. Paul's solution seems to work. – mpen – 2015-07-31T20:06:23.650
@Mark hmm. it might just be a simple single executable that you downloaded (and not installed), so it won't be in the Start menu - but at least Paul's solution works! :) – ᔕᖺᘎᕊ – 2015-07-31T20:16:02.977
1No sir. It's PhpStorm. Used the installer. It only puts the 32-bit version in the start menu, but I prefer to run the 64-bit version. – mpen – 2015-07-31T22:05:10.013
ahh - ok well that explains it! @Mark :) – ᔕᖺᘎᕊ – 2015-08-01T08:27:49.847
1this worked quite well for me for an executable I dl'd with no installer. – orion elenzil – 2019-12-06T17:27:18.757
4That is the system start menu, how about your one:
%appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs– Paul – 2015-07-31T06:10:27.7471@Paul That seems to have worked. What's the "system" start menu? – mpen – 2015-07-31T06:47:36.637