Loading
search-img
Title
Pinning to the Start Menu or Taskbar Programmatically

Summary

Information on why programmatic pinning to the Start Menu or Taskbar is not allowed

Synopsis

This article provides information on why Microsoft does not permit programmatic pinning icons/shortcuts to the Start Menu or Taskbar.

Discussion

As mentioned in this MSDN article, Microsoft has stated that only the user can further pin applications to the taskbar and that programmatic pinning by an application is not permitted.

Microsoft's intention is to only allow the user to put their favorite icons to the pin list, and it is not a place for a program to decide to pin itself. This is further explained in this blog post by Microsoft's Raymond Chen.

Additional Information

In Windows 8, Microsoft allowed programmatic pinning to the Metro Start Screen. This feature is reflected in InstallShield with the setting mentioned here. However, this is no longer the case for Windows 8.1 and later. More information can be found here:

Unable to Pin Shortcut to Windows 8.1 Startscreen during Installation
Was this helpful?
Support Hub
Create a case with Support
0/255
Upload Attachment
File Upload
Maximum file size allowed is 3 MB.
File type not supported.
Supported file types:
Documents (.txt, .doc, .docx, .pdf), Images (.jpg, .png), Comma Separated Files (.csv) Speadsheets (.xlsx, .xls)

Are you sure you want to cancel the case creation?

Are you sure you want to close this case

Get Hotline support
Products Region Phone Numbers
FlexNet Operations
FlexNet Embedded
FlexNet Publisher
FlexNet Connect
FlexNet Code Insight
InstallAnywhere
InstallShield 		North America  * +1 630-332-2513 (toll)
+1 877-279-2853 (toll-free in North America)
Europe  * +44 1925 944367 (toll)
+44 800 047 8642 (toll-free in Europe)
Japan  * +81 3-4540-5335 (select option 2)
Australia  * +61 3 9895 2177
+61 1800 560 603 (toll-free in Australia)
Usage Intelligence (formerly Revulytics)
Compliance Intelligence 		Please use the Case Portal to submit your support ticket or reach out to your Revenera contact.
Book an Appointment
File Upload
Maximum file size allowed is 3 MB.
File type not supported.
Supported file types:
Documents (.txt, .doc, .docx, .pdf), Images (.jpg, .png), Comma Separated Files (.csv) Speadsheets (.xlsx, .xls)
+1.800.374.4353
CONTACT US REVENERA.COM FLEXERA.com
© 2026 Flexera Software. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy policy Terms and conditions Flexera Community Contact Us
Loading
Pinning to the Start Menu or Taskbar Programmatically