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I want to create a new custom shortcut in the "All Programs" section of the Start Menu in Windows 10 Home.

I know the location for this is

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

But trying to create a shortcut in this folder (or any subfolder for that matter) results in the error message

Shortcuts cannot be created at this location. Do you want to create it on the Desktop instead?

(Freely translated from German)

What do I need to do to create that shortcut?

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2 Answers 2

Reset to default
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  1. Right-click on your desktop and create the shortcut that you want.
  2. After it is created and tested, copy it to %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
  3. If necessary, acknowledge the UAC prompt to copy it to that location.
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  • 2
    Works. Thanks. Windows is so weird at times...
    – F.P
    Commented Feb 18, 2017 at 11:08
  • You're welcome. I think it is simply an oddity regarding Windows security. The %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs folder is protected so that you need to have admin privileges before you can modify it. However, it looks like the Windows capability that allows us to create a shortcut doesn't function with UAC approval, while a simple file copy does.
    – Run5k
    Commented Feb 18, 2017 at 12:39
  • Sorry but this didn't work for me (I'm admin and full owner of the all start menu subfolders). But the answer did guide me to right direction. And I succeeded by opening start menu's sub-folder and there creating a new shortcut by right clicking and pointing towards desired location/folder on my disk.
    – Bathinda Helper
    Commented Apr 18 at 7:55
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    @BathindaHelper ...I just tested those procedures on a Windows 10 22H2 machine, and they still work perfectly. I am glad to hear that you still managed to resolve it in a different manner, but there must be something a bit different about what you were doing.
    – Run5k
    Commented Apr 18 at 18:18
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    @BathindaHelper I don't mind updating an answer with new information when it is pertinent, but your current situation seems to be very rare. This question has currently been viewed more than 5000 times, and you are the first person who has claimed they have that problem. Beyond that, I just tested my instructions on two separate Windows 10 22H2 computers that reside on different domains by utilizing the drag-and-drop method. Both of them work exactly as described within my answer, so something is "different" about your setup. Is UAC disabled or are you using the built-in Administrator account?
    – Run5k
    Commented Apr 23 at 17:24
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You need to be logged in as the local administrator to perform such copy paste .

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  • The other answer suggests that this needn't be the case, care to expand?
    – bertieb
    Commented Feb 18, 2017 at 12:09
  • I'm not sure why you people are down voting the answer it's an actual working way instead of the first answer
    – Elie
    Commented Feb 18, 2017 at 19:08
  • Well I only have one account on the machine, and it's administrator and it doesn't work.
    – F.P
    Commented Feb 18, 2017 at 19:52
  • Local admin is different, right click my computer > manage > users and enable the account administrator and set a password login and try that .
    – Elie
    Commented Feb 18, 2017 at 20:42
  • @Elie if you improve your answer with better instructions & more detail that may help a lot...
    – StayOnTarget
    Commented Feb 19, 2018 at 17:33

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