This tutorial will show you how to create a drive shortcut using its unique volume ID to access the drive in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
If you removed the drive letter of a volume to hide it so the drive doesn't show under File Explorer > This PC, this shortcut makes it possible to still open and access the drive as usual even though it doesn't have a drive letter assigned to it.
EXAMPLE: Drive unique ID shortcut opening drive without a drive letter
Here's How:
1 Open Windows Terminal, and select either Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt.
2 Copy and paste the command below into Windows Terminal, and press Enter. (see screenshot below step 3)
Windows PowerShell
Get-Volume | Format-List -Property FileSystemLabel,DriveLetter,UniqueId
OR
Command Prompt
powershell "Get-Volume | Format-List -Property FileSystemLabel,DriveLetter,UniqueId"
3 Make note of the UniqueId of the drive/volume you want to create a shortcut to. You will need this UniqueId (ex: "\\?\Volume{c31d4910-9759-4750-a1c6-ba9af884f747}\") at step 5. (see screenshot below)
4 Right click or press and hold on an empty area on your desktop, and click/tap on New and Shortcut. (see screenshot below)
5 Type the command below into the location area, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)
cmd /c start <volume ID>
Substitute <volume ID> in the command above with the actual UniqueId (ex: "\\?\Volume{c31d4910-9759-4750-a1c6-ba9af884f747}\") from step 3.
For example: cmd /c start \\?\Volume{c31d4910-9759-4750-a1c6-ba9af884f747}\
6 Type a name (ex: "Example Drive") you want for this shortcut, and click/tap on the Finish button. (see screenshot below)
7 If wanted, you can change the icon of this shortcut to any icon you want. (see screenshot below)
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This tutorial will show you how to change the icon of a LNK or URL shortcut for your account in Windows 10 and Windows 11. A shortcut is a link to an item (such as a file, folder, or app) on your PC. You can create shortcuts and then place them in a convenient location, such as on the desktop...
www.elevenforum.com
8 You can Pin to Taskbar, Pin to Start, add to Start menu All apps, assign a keyboard shortcut to, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy usage.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Last edited: