To create a WhatsApp shortcut on the desktop in Windows 11, select Start > All, find WhatsApp, and drag it onto the desktop. If dragging doesn’t work, press Windows logo key + R, type shell:AppsFolder and select OK, then right-click WhatsApp, select Create shortcut, and select Yes to put the shortcut on the desktop.
Applies to: Windows 11 and the WhatsApp app for Windows from the Microsoft Store. Checked on September 30, 2026.
WhatsApp for Windows is installed from the Microsoft Store, so it doesn’t have a program file you can right-click like older desktop apps. These methods work for WhatsApp and any other Store app. If you haven’t installed WhatsApp yet, open Microsoft Store, search for WhatsApp, and select Get or Install.
- Select Start, and then select All (or All apps) to see every app.
- Scroll to WhatsApp.
- Select and hold WhatsApp, drag it onto an empty part of the desktop, and let go when you see Link.
Windows adds a WhatsApp shortcut to the desktop. The app itself stays where it is. On some versions of Windows 11, dragging from Start doesn’t work. If nothing happens, use Method 2.
Method 2: Use the Applications folder
The Applications folder lists every app on your PC, including Store apps, and lets you create a shortcut for any of them.
- Press Windows logo key + R to open Run.
- Type shell:AppsFolder and select OK. The Applications folder opens in File Explorer.
- Right-click WhatsApp and select Create shortcut. On some PCs you need to select Show more options first.
- Windows says it can’t create a shortcut in this folder and offers to put it on the desktop instead. Select Yes.
The shortcut appears on the desktop as WhatsApp – Shortcut. To rename it, right-click it, select Rename (the icon that looks like a text box), and type WhatsApp.
Method 3: Pin WhatsApp to the taskbar or Start instead
A pinned app is often quicker than a desktop icon, because it’s visible even when windows cover the desktop.
- Taskbar: open WhatsApp, right-click its icon on the taskbar, and select Pin to taskbar. Or, in Start > All, right-click WhatsApp and select More > Pin to taskbar.
- Start: in Start > All, right-click WhatsApp and select Pin to Start.
Method 4: Make a shortcut to WhatsApp Web
If you’d rather not install the app, you can use WhatsApp in a browser and give it its own icon.
- Open Microsoft Edge and go to web.whatsapp.com.
- Select Settings and more (…) > Apps > Install this site as an app, and then select Install.
- When Edge asks, choose to create a desktop shortcut or pin it to the taskbar.
You’ll need to link WhatsApp Web to your phone by scanning the QR code it shows. For the same steps with other sites, see how to pin Google to the taskbar in Windows 11.
Make a WhatsApp Web Shortcut in Google Chrome
If you use Chrome instead of Edge, open web.whatsapp.com, select the menu (three dots) > Cast, save, and share > Install page as app (or Create shortcut). Tick Open as window if you want it to look like a separate app, then select Install or Create. Chrome adds a shortcut to the desktop and the Start menu.
Open WhatsApp With a Keyboard Shortcut
Once WhatsApp is pinned to the taskbar, you can open it without the mouse. Press the Windows logo key together with the number that matches its position on the taskbar, counting from the left. For example, if WhatsApp is the third pinned app, press Windows logo key + 3. Pressing the same keys again switches to WhatsApp if it is already open.
If the shortcut doesn’t work
- The icon is blank or generic. Windows sometimes takes a moment to load the icon for Store apps. Restart your PC. If it’s still blank, delete the shortcut and create it again with Method 2.
- The shortcut does nothing. WhatsApp may have been uninstalled or updated to a new version. Delete the shortcut and create a new one.
- WhatsApp isn’t in the Applications folder. It isn’t installed for your account. Install it from the Microsoft Store while signed in to your own Windows account.
- You can’t see desktop icons at all. Right-click the desktop, select View, and make sure Show desktop icons is checked. To change icon sizes or which system icons appear, see how to change desktop icons in Windows 11.
Remove the shortcut
Right-click the WhatsApp shortcut on the desktop and select Delete (the trash can icon). This only removes the shortcut. WhatsApp stays installed, and your chats aren’t affected.
Frequently asked questions
Why can’t I find WhatsApp’s program file?
Store apps are installed in a protected system folder that you can’t browse. That’s why you create the shortcut from Start or the Applications folder instead.
Does a desktop shortcut use extra storage?
No. A shortcut is a tiny file that points to the app.
Can I start WhatsApp automatically when Windows starts?
Yes. Open Start > Settings > Apps > Startup and turn on WhatsApp, if it’s listed. WhatsApp may also have its own setting to open at sign-in.
Will this work for other Microsoft Store apps?
Yes. Methods 1 and 2 work for any app in the Start menu. For another example, see how to put Spotify on the desktop in Windows 11.
Next steps
On a Windows 10 PC, see how to create a desktop shortcut in Windows 10.
Related: how to download WhatsApp on a Windows 10 laptop.
Related: how to get WhatsApp group contacts into Excel.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.