To put a mail icon on the Windows 11 desktop, select Start, select All, find Outlook in the app list, and drag it onto the desktop. Windows creates a shortcut that opens your mail with a double-click. If you read your email in a browser instead, you can drag the site from the address bar to the desktop, or install the site as an app and add a desktop shortcut for it.
Applies to: Windows 11 with the new Outlook for Windows, Microsoft Edge, or Google Chrome. Checked against Microsoft Support and Google Chrome Help on October 6, 2026.
Which mail icon do you need?
Older guides tell you to make a shortcut for the built-in Mail app. That advice no longer works. Microsoft ended support for Windows Mail, Calendar, and People on December 31, 2024, and those apps can no longer send or receive email. Microsoft’s page on the move from Mail and Calendar to Outlook says Windows 11 devices now ship with the new Outlook as the default mailbox app, and that it is free to use.
That leaves two kinds of mail icon you can put on the desktop:
- An Outlook shortcut. Choose this if you read your mail in the Outlook app. Outlook can also hold accounts from other providers, such as Gmail, Yahoo, or iCloud.
- A webmail shortcut. Choose this if you read your mail on a website, such as Outlook.com or Gmail, in Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome.
If Outlook isn’t set up with your account yet, do that first. Our guide on how to set up email on Windows 11 walks through adding an account.
Put the Outlook icon on the desktop
This is the method Microsoft documents for app shortcuts on Windows 11. Nothing is moved or removed from the Start menu.
- Select Start on the taskbar, or press the Windows key. The Start menu opens.
- Select All. Start shows a list of every installed app.
- Scroll through the list until you find Outlook. If you have more than one Outlook entry, pick the one you normally open.
- Press and hold the left mouse button on Outlook, drag it out of the Start menu to an empty part of the desktop, and let go. A shortcut for Outlook appears on the desktop.
- Double-click the new icon. Outlook should open to your inbox.
If Outlook isn’t in the list, it isn’t installed. Microsoft says you can download the new Outlook from the Microsoft Store. After it installs, repeat the steps above.
Put a webmail icon on the desktop by dragging it
If you check your mail in a browser, the quickest route is a web page shortcut. It opens your mail site in your default browser.
- Open your browser and go to your mail site, for example outlook.com or mail.google.com. Sign in so that you land on your inbox.
- Make the browser window smaller so that you can see part of the desktop behind it.
- Find the View site information icon next to the web address. Microsoft describes it as a padlock or sliders icon.
- Click and drag that icon to the desktop, and let go. A shortcut to the page appears on the desktop.
You can also start from the desktop. Right-click an empty area of the desktop, select New > Shortcut, and follow the prompts to create a shortcut to a web page. Enter the address of your mail site when you’re asked what the shortcut should point to. Both routes are described on Microsoft’s page about customizing desktop icons in Windows.
Install your webmail as an app in Microsoft Edge
Installing the site as an app gives you an icon that opens your mail in its own window, apart from your other browser tabs. Use this if you want webmail to behave more like a separate program.
- Open Microsoft Edge and go to your mail site.
- Select Settings and more (the three dots) > More tools > Apps > Install this site as an app. Edge installs the site and lists it on its apps page.
- Type edge://apps in the address bar and press Enter. Each installed app is shown as a card.
- Select Details on the card for your mail site.
- Choose Create Desktop shortcut. The mail icon appears on the desktop.
The same Details page also offers Pin to taskbar and Pin to Start. Some mail sites prompt you to install them as soon as you visit, in which case you can accept the prompt instead of step 2. Microsoft lists these options in its guide to installing and managing apps in Microsoft Edge.
Install your webmail as an app in Google Chrome
- Open Chrome and go to your mail site.
- At the top right, select More > Cast, save, and share > Install page as app… and follow the on-screen instructions. On some sites, an Install button also appears at the right of the address bar.
- If no icon appears on the desktop, open a new tab and go to chrome://apps.
- Right-click the mail app and select Create shortcut.
- Choose where you want the shortcut, making sure the desktop is included, and click Create.
Google covers these steps in Use web apps in Chrome.
Which method should you choose?
| Method | What the icon opens | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Drag Outlook from Start | The Outlook app | Anyone who uses Outlook for one or more accounts |
| Drag the site from the address bar | Your mail site in a browser tab | A quick webmail shortcut with nothing to install |
| Install the site in Edge or Chrome | Your mail site in its own window | Webmail that you want to keep apart from other tabs |
Confirm it worked, or remove the icon
Double-click the new icon. An Outlook shortcut should open Outlook. A webmail shortcut should open your inbox, or the sign-in page if you aren’t signed in.
A desktop shortcut only points to the app or the site. If you no longer want it, drag it to the Recycle Bin. That removes the icon and leaves Outlook, your account, and your messages alone.
An installed web app is different, because the browser added it. To remove one from Edge, go to edge://apps, select Details on the app card, and choose Uninstall. In Chrome, open the web app, then select More > Uninstall [app name] > Remove.
Troubleshooting
No icons show on the desktop at all
Desktop icons may be hidden. Right-click an empty area of the desktop, select View, and make sure Show desktop icons is checked.
Mail doesn’t appear in Start, or the Mail app won’t open your messages
That’s expected on a current Windows 11 PC. The old Mail app is no longer supported, so make the shortcut for Outlook instead. Microsoft recommends moving to the new Outlook or Outlook.com. If your AOL account used to live in the Mail app, move AOL Mail to Outlook first.
An older guide’s right-click steps don’t match what you see
Many older tutorials tell you to right-click the mail app in Start, open its file location, and send it to the desktop from there. People on Microsoft’s Q&A forum have reported that this option isn’t offered for the new Outlook. Dragging Outlook from the All list doesn’t depend on it.
The icon is too small or too large
Right-click an empty area of the desktop, select View, and choose Large icons, Medium icons, or Small icons. You can also hold Ctrl and turn the mouse wheel while the pointer is over the desktop.
The webmail icon opens a sign-in page
The shortcut stores only the address of the site. It doesn’t store your password. Sign in once in the browser or app window that opens, and use that same browser each time.
You can’t install apps or add shortcuts on a work or school PC
Your organization may manage the Microsoft Store, browser app installs, or the desktop itself. Ask your IT administrator which mail app you’re expected to use before you look for a workaround.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still put the old Mail app icon on the desktop?
There’s no point in doing so. Microsoft ended support for Windows Mail, Calendar, and People on December 31, 2024, and the Mail app can no longer send or receive email. Use an Outlook or webmail shortcut instead.
Can I pin mail to the taskbar instead of the desktop?
Yes. In the Start menu, right-click Outlook and select Pin to taskbar. Microsoft notes that on Windows 11 you may need to select Show more options first. For webmail installed through Edge, use Pin to taskbar on the app’s Details page at edge://apps.
Does deleting the desktop icon delete my email?
No. The icon is only a shortcut. Your messages stay in your mailbox, and the Outlook app stays installed.
Can I have Outlook and Gmail icons on the desktop at the same time?
Yes. Each shortcut is separate, so you can create one for Outlook and another for a webmail site. If you also want email links on web pages to open in Gmail, see how to set Gmail as the default email in Windows 11.
Will the same steps work for other apps?
Yes. Dragging from the All list in Start works for other installed apps as well. If you still use an older PC, the steps are slightly different, and our guide on creating desktop shortcuts in Windows 10 covers them.
Once the icon is on your desktop, drag it to wherever you’ll find it fastest, and consider pinning Outlook to the taskbar as well so that your mail is one click away even when windows cover the desktop.
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.