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Creating an Icon for PC Manager

by | Oct 15, 2025 | Tech How-to

🖥️ How to Create a Desktop Shortcut for Microsoft PC Manager

Works on Windows 11 when the EXE is hidden and Start menu options are missing.

âś… Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Open the Run dialog: Press Windows + R.
  2. Type: shell:AppsFolder and press Enter.
  3. Find “Microsoft PC Manager” in the list of apps.
  4. Right-click → Create shortcut
    Windows will prompt: “Windows can’t create a shortcut here. Do you want the shortcut to be placed on the desktop instead?”
    → Click Yes.
  5. Done! You now have a working desktop shortcut.

🧠 Why This Works

  • PC Manager is a sandboxed MSIX app with no exposed EXE.
  • Start menu “More → Open file location” is unavailable.
  • Shell URIs like shell:AppsFolder\Microsoft.PCManager_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App often fail silently.
  • This method uses the app’s internal registration to create a valid shortcut.

🧰 Troubleshooting

Click to expand common issues
Problem Solution
PC Manager doesn’t appear in shell:AppsFolder Uninstall and reinstall from the Microsoft Store.
Shortcut opens wrong folder (e.g., Documents/startbackup) Delete it and use the method above.
Want to customize the icon Right-click shortcut → Properties → Change Icon. Use SHELL32.dll or extract from the running app.

 

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