Pin Custom Files in Windows 8 Start Screen

Question

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?

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 '12 at 23:16
@user168067 No, I didn't see the option on bat files. Very inconvenient indeed. — mtone, Oct 30 '12 at 20:56

score 15 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 11 '13 at 23:06

15

Here is a solution

Make a shortcut to the file
Navigate to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
Place your shortcut in the folder
Press Windows Key+Q and search the name of your shortcut
Right click on the file and select "Pin to Start"

Good Luck!

answered Jan 11 '13 at 23:06

Luke

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Or to `C:\Users\yourloginname\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs` folder if you want the shortcut to appear just for your login. – Endy Tjahjono Aug 23 '13 at 17:04

score 3 · Answer 2 · edited Oct 29 '12 at 21:10

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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.

edited Oct 29 '12 at 21:10

Gaff

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answered Oct 29 '12 at 18:18

Elmo

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You don't even need a 3rd party utility, see my answer below. – corwin01 Oct 31 '12 at 16:45

score 3 · Answer 3 · answered Oct 29 '12 at 18:28

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.

score 0 · Answer 4 · edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:17

0

Right click on the file you want to pin and select "Create Shortcut"
Right click the short-cut and select "Pin to Start"

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

edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:17

Community

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answered Oct 30 '12 at 22:29

corwin01

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came here to say this. :) – Prasanth Oct 31 '12 at 16:36
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this doesn't seem to work anymore (at least, Windows 8 doesn't show me "Pin to start" on shortcuts) – Achal Dave Dec 12 '12 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. – Dan Nissenbaum Jul 05 '13 at 02:22
certainly doesn't work with shortcuts in Windows 10 – interstar Jun 17 '16 at 18:19

Pin Custom Files in Windows 8 Start Screen

4 Answers4

Linked