Apps Create Desktop Shortcut of Microsoft Store Apps in Windows 11

Mirko · Mar 25, 2023

The second one was great.
Thanks

Clover · Jan 20, 2024

The two methods described here do indeed create shortcuts to the corresponding Microsoft Store apps, but the associated icon is faulty: it is smaller and the icon is in a blue square instead of being cropped (see the penultimate image above). But even worse: If such a shortcut is located in the folders C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs or the alternatives C:\Users\...\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs, an empty icon is displayed in the taskbar when the app is started. This problem has bothered me (and many others) for 2 years, only now have I found the solution. If you create a shortcut not as described here, but using the URI (see List of URI Commands to Open Microsoft Store Apps in Windows 11 Tutorial), then there are no problems with blue squares or empty icons in the taskbar.

OAT · Jan 20, 2024

Clover said:
The two methods described here do indeed create shortcuts to the corresponding Microsoft Store apps, but the associated icon is faulty: it is smaller and the icon is in a blue square instead of being cropped (see the penultimate image above). But even worse: If such a shortcut is located in the folders C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs or the alternatives C:\Users\...\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs, an empty icon is displayed in the taskbar when the app is started. This problem has bothered me (and many others) for 2 years, only now have I found the solution. If you create a shortcut not as described here, but using the URI (see List of URI Commands to Open Microsoft Store Apps in Windows 11 Tutorial), then there are no problems with blue squares or empty icons in the taskbar.

I am glad it works for you. and thank you for sharing.
I must admit however that I never had small or empty icons as you describe, regardless of being a UWP app or an ordinary executable shortcut.

Clover · Jan 20, 2024

As I wrote, I also had the problem for 2 years with a Win10 computer. I hoped that the problem was solved when I bought a Win11 laptop a week ago, but I was wrong. Two days ago I asked the IT service of my university, where I teach, for a laptop with very freshly installed Win10 (version 22H2) and the very first thing I did was to create two shortcuts on the desktop, one created as described above, the other using URIs as described in the other tutorial I mentioned:

And if I copy the shortcut with the small picture to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs, the Calculator has an empty icon in the taskbar:

Three times the same result, and I'm not the only one with this: here or here or etc.

I almost can't believe that you don't have this effect on your computer. I would almost bet ...

OAT · Jan 20, 2024

Clover said:
As I wrote, I also had the problem for 2 years with a Win10 computer. I hoped that the problem was solved when I bought a Win11 laptop a week ago, but I was wrong. Two days ago I asked the IT service of my university, where I teach, for a laptop with very freshly installed Win10 (version 22H2) and the very first thing I did was to create two shortcuts on the desktop, one created as described above, the other using URIs as described in the other tutorial I mentioned:

View attachment 84618

And if I copy the shortcut with the small picture to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs, the Calculator has an empty icon in the taskbar:

Three times the same result, and I'm not the only one with this: here or here or etc.

I almost can't believe that you don't have this effect on your computer. I would almost bet ...

I remove the shortcut arrow on all shortcuts, but as you can see, I created the camera shortcut and it looks fine to me.

Clover · Jan 20, 2024

Hm, I'm completely at a loss (can you explain this?). Only: In the penultimate screenshot of the original post, the camera icon also has a blue square. My experience is (without exception) that the shortcut on the desktop looks exactly like the one in the applications folder, if created with Windows. I therefore claim more precisely that at least on this computer (Shawn Brink's) the shortcut on the desktop would also have the wrong icon...

OAT · Jan 20, 2024

Clover said:
Hm, I'm completely at a loss (can you explain this?). Only: In the penultimate screenshot of the original post, the camera icon also has a blue square. My experience is (without exception) that the shortcut on the desktop looks exactly like the one in the applications folder, if created with Windows. I therefore claim more precisely that at least on this computer (Shawn Brink's) the shortcut on the desktop would also have the wrong icon...

Got you!
I modified the icon.
Come on, I had you going didn't I and you fell for it like a blind roofer.

But seriously, I have never had a blank icon on my taskbar.
The calculator one is fourth from the right side.

Clover · Jan 20, 2024

You joker

. But it could have been... So a Windows bug?

OAT · Jan 20, 2024

Clover said:
You joker . But it could have been... So a Windows bug?

There might have been a need to differentiate between UWP apps & standard executables.
I am only guessing there and I don't like doing that.

Clover · Jan 20, 2024

That's right: there are no problems with the old .exe. Many of the UWP's have the mentioned problem, but not all of them. The preinstalled "Sticky Notes" app e.g. is still unresolved for me, as it apparently has no URI...

Edwin · Jan 20, 2024

I think the problem with most Apps is..., the app manifest is still telling it to use a lousy 50x50px logo asset...

... plus the default background, and you get...

If you enable software that has pathed, or created the proper dll...
(MS just doesn't think of these things!!!)

Clover · Jan 20, 2024

@Edwin Thanks for this input (which tool did you use to analyze apps?). I've never observed icons that small, but that could be a clue.
But the real reason for my observed problem is the wrong method that Win10/11 offers for creating shortcuts. Somewhere I read that shortcuts to UWP's have to be internet shortcuts (and indeed the shortcuts created with URI are essentially just a URL, as you can check with a hex editor). However, the first two (of the now three) methods of the tutorial above create ordinary shortcuts with all the usual informations, e.g. path of the icon.

It is a little "miracle" that these (common) shortcuts still work. It would be better if Win10/11 no longer offered this option of creating shortcuts, as they can produce completely unpredictable effects (such as missing icons in the taskbar).