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If I right-click any .EXE file, it has the Pin to Start option:

But, if I right-click any file, it doesn't have the Pin to Start option:

Is there any trick/workaround to pin files to the Start Screen?

2
  • 1
    Can you pin a .bat file? If so you could create a .bat file to launch whatever file you really want to have pinned.
    – corwin01
    Oct 29, 2012 at 23:16
  • 1
    @user168067 No, I didn't see the option on bat files. Very inconvenient indeed.
    – mtone
    Oct 30, 2012 at 20:56

4 Answers 4

15

Here is a solution

  1. Make a shortcut to the file

  2. Navigate to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

  3. Place your shortcut in the folder

  4. Press Windows Key+Q and search the name of your shortcut

  5. Right click on the file and select "Pin to Start"

Good Luck!

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  • 1
    Or to C:\Users\yourloginname\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs folder if you want the shortcut to appear just for your login. Aug 23, 2013 at 17:04
3

For folders, the Pin to start option still exists without installing any additional software

Pin folder to start

For individual files, you will probably have to use additional software like that recommended by @Root. Full details on pinning to the start screen are covered in the article linked.

3

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I found a great utility called Start Screen Pinner which lets you pin files, folders, libraries and even special folders to the Start Screen.

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  • 2
    You don't even need a 3rd party utility, see my answer below.
    – corwin01
    Oct 31, 2012 at 16:45
0
  1. Right click on the file you want to pin and select "Create Shortcut"

  2. Right click the short-cut and select "Pin to Start"

Related link: How to pin a control panel item to start?

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  • came here to say this. :)
    – Prasanth
    Oct 31, 2012 at 16:36
  • 4
    this doesn't seem to work anymore (at least, Windows 8 doesn't show me "Pin to start" on shortcuts)
    – Achal Dave
    Dec 12, 2012 at 23:29
  • Shame on Microsoft for not allowing users to pin items of their choice to the Start screen in Windows 8. This is deliberate on their part, and there is no excuse for it. Jul 5, 2013 at 2:22
  • certainly doesn't work with shortcuts in Windows 10
    – interstar
    Jun 17, 2016 at 18:19

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