To move an app from the taskbar to the desktop in Windows 11, select Start > All, find the app in the list, and drag it onto the desktop. Windows creates a desktop shortcut for it. If you no longer want it on the taskbar, right-click its taskbar icon and select Unpin from taskbar.
Applies to: Windows 11. No downloads or administrator rights needed. Checked against Microsoft Support on September 29, 2026.
Why you can’t drag icons off the taskbar
In Windows 11, dragging an icon from the taskbar to the desktop doesn’t do anything. The taskbar only lets you rearrange its own icons. To get an app onto the desktop, you create a desktop shortcut for it in one of the ways below.
A shortcut is just a small link that opens the app. It doesn’t copy or move the app itself, and it takes up almost no space. Deleting a shortcut later doesn’t uninstall anything. Files, folders and websites can have shortcuts too; see how to add an icon to the desktop in Windows 11.
Method 1: Drag the app from Start
This is the method Microsoft describes, and it works for nearly every app, including apps from the Microsoft Store.
- Select Start.
- Select All (or All apps) in the top-right corner of the Start menu to see the full list of installed apps.
- Find the app you want. Apps are listed alphabetically.
- Drag the app from the list onto an empty part of the desktop, then let go.
A shortcut with the app’s icon appears where you dropped it. Drag from the All list, not from the Pinned section at the top of Start. Pinned icons can only be rearranged inside Start.
Method 2: Use the Applications folder
If dragging from Start is awkward, for example on a touchscreen or when Start keeps closing, use the Applications folder instead. It lists every app on your PC, and a volunteer moderator on Microsoft Q&A recommends it for Microsoft Store apps.
- Press Windows logo key + R to open Run.
- Type shell:AppsFolder and press Enter.
- Right-click the app and select Create shortcut.
- Windows says it can’t create a shortcut in this folder and asks if you want it placed on the desktop. Select Yes.
Method 3: Copy the taskbar shortcut
Many apps you pin to the taskbar keep a shortcut in a hidden folder. You can copy it straight to the desktop:
- Press Windows logo key + R, paste %AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar, and press Enter.
- Right-click the app’s shortcut and select Copy.
- Right-click an empty part of the desktop and select Paste.
Some apps from the Microsoft Store don’t appear in this folder. For those, use Method 1 or Method 2. Don’t delete anything in this folder, or the matching taskbar icon may stop working.
Method 4: Send the app to the desktop from its folder
This works for classic desktop apps that were installed with a setup program:
- Select Start and type the app’s name.
- Right-click the app in the results and select Open file location. File Explorer opens with the app’s shortcut selected.
- Right-click the shortcut, select Show more options, then Send to > Desktop (create shortcut).
If Open file location isn’t in the menu, the app is probably from the Microsoft Store. Use Method 1 or Method 2 instead.
Remove the app from the taskbar
Making a desktop shortcut doesn’t change the taskbar. To finish the move:
- Right-click the app’s icon on the taskbar.
- Select Unpin from taskbar.
If the app is open, its icon stays on the taskbar until you close it. You can pin it again any time from Start: right-click the app and select Pin to taskbar.
Tidy up your desktop shortcuts
- Rename a shortcut. Right-click it, select Rename, type a new name and press Enter. Many shortcuts end in “- Shortcut” when you make them.
- Line them up. Right-click the desktop, select View, and turn on Auto arrange icons and Align icons to grid.
- Change their size. Right-click the desktop, select View, and choose Large icons, Medium icons or Small icons. Microsoft also points out you can hold Ctrl and scroll the mouse wheel on the desktop.
- Change a shortcut’s icon. Right-click it, select Properties > Change Icon, and pick a new one. This works for shortcuts to classic apps.
For more ideas, see how to change desktop icons in Windows 11.
If the shortcut doesn’t appear
- All desktop icons are hidden. Right-click the desktop, select View, and check Show desktop icons. See where did my desktop icons go in Windows 11.
- You dragged from Pinned. Open All first, then drag the app from that list.
- The shortcut went to another folder. Using Create shortcut in File Explorer puts the shortcut in the same folder, not on the desktop. Drag it to the desktop, or use Send to > Desktop (create shortcut) instead.
- Your desktop is backed up with OneDrive. Shortcuts still work, but they’re saved in your OneDrive Desktop folder and can show up on your other PCs too.
- Your work or school manages the PC. Some organizations lock the desktop. Ask your IT department.
Put a desktop shortcut on the taskbar
To go the other way, right-click a desktop shortcut, select Show more options, and then Pin to taskbar. You can also open the app and right-click its taskbar icon to select Pin to taskbar.
Frequently asked questions
Does moving an app to the desktop move the app’s files?
No. A desktop shortcut only points to the app. The app stays where it was installed.
Can I delete the desktop shortcut without uninstalling the app?
Yes. Select the shortcut and press Delete. The app stays installed and is still in Start. For more, see how to remove desktop shortcuts in Windows 11.
Why is there an arrow on the icon?
The small arrow shows it’s a shortcut rather than the app itself.
Can I put a website on the desktop?
Yes. Microsoft says you can drag the padlock or site information icon next to the address in your browser onto the desktop. To put a site on the taskbar instead, see how to pin a website to the taskbar in Windows 11.
Next steps
To change what else is on the taskbar, see how to customize the taskbar in Windows 11. Microsoft covers desktop shortcuts in Customize the Desktop Icons in Windows.
Related: How to pin Chrome to the taskbar in Windows 11.
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.