Shortcuts are a great way to interact with programs, files, and folders on your computer. The user just needs to double-click on the icon, and the element he needs will immediately open. However, for some people, desktop shortcuts do not work on the Windows 10 operating system. Because of this, it is not possible to use the PC in the usual mode, and therefore, if the shortcuts are not pressed, you need to find a way to solve the problem of Shortcuts not working in Windows 10 as soon as possible.
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Causes Shortcuts Not Working In Windows 10
The absence of any reaction of the system to a double click of the LMB on the Shortcuts not working in Windows 10 is a fairly common problem, which can be caused by the following factors:
- lack of an application;
- antivirus blocking;
- conflict with other programs;
- wrong file association;
- The path to the application is incorrect.
These are the main causes of problems, but not a complete list. Less noticeable factors also make themselves felt, and they will also be discussed later in the material.
8 ways to fix Shortcuts Not Working In Windows 10
The solution to any problem is directly related to the cause that caused it. Therefore, it is further proposed to act, alternately considering the factors that cause problems.
Check app shortcut directory
The first thing you should do is check the folder where the program shortcuts are located. As a rule, it is located in the C:\Users\User Name\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Application Shortcuts directory, where instead of “User Name” you need to specify your account name.
In the root folder you will find several directories with program names. Open the application folders that do not open, and then remove the “Application” icon. The operation must be repeated for all “problem” programs. Here is the solution if you are facing a problem Machine Check Exception Windows 10.
Removing an antivirus
Often individual programs are blocked by the user’s antivirus, which recognizes them as a threat. To fix the error, it is enough to disable the security software or add the application to the list of exceptions. But if this does not help, you will have to completely get rid of the antivirus:
- Go to “Settings” (can be opened through the “Start” menu).
- Go to the “Applications” section, then “Applications and features”.
- Click on the antivirus displayed in the list with the left mouse button.
- Click on “Delete” and confirm the uninstallation.
Important. In this case, we are talking about a third-party antivirus. The built-in defender cannot be removed, but can be disabled in the “Options” through the security section.
After uninstalling the software, you need to check if the shortcuts located on the desktop will work. If positive changes do not occur, immediately proceed to the next steps of the instruction.
Performing a Clean Boot
Quite often, program shortcuts conflict with other applications. For this to happen, you need to start the computer in “clean” mode:
- Open the “Run” window with the “Win” + “R” combination.
- Type in the query “msconfig” and press the “Enter” key.
- In the “Services” tab, hide the Windows processes and click on the “Disable all” button.
- Through the “Startup” tab, open the “Device Manager”.
- Uncheck all marked applications.
- Save your changes.
Now, after turning on the computer, third-party applications will no longer run. And this means that you can eliminate the conflict factor by checking the functionality of the shortcuts immediately after the desktop appears. Do you want decide Google Password Manager Vs LastPass.
File association fix
It happens that icons do not respond to user requests due to file association changes. Therefore, it is recommended to return this parameter to its original state:
- Launch the Run window.
- Process the “regedit” request.
- Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts.lnk.
- Delete the “UserChoice” setting located here.
When the operation is completed, do not forget to restart the computer, otherwise the changes will not take effect. If everything is done correctly, then the “problem” shortcuts should work.
Recreating a shortcut
Also, during troubleshooting, you can try to recreate the shortcut by first deleting the old icon from the desktop. Once the preparatory steps are completed, proceed to the instructions:
- Open the root folder of the program.
- Find the launch file with the extension “.exe” in it and right-click on it.
- Click the “Create Desktop Shortcut” button.
On a note. You can also create an application icon directly from the desktop by right-clicking on an empty area of the screen. Next, select the “Create Shortcut” option.
If even now double-clicking the LMB on the icon does not lead to the launch, then you should think about the performance of the application. Try running it through an EXE file in the root folder. If the program does not open, then reinstall it, and only then proceed to the next steps. Here is best solution for Windows Has Blocked This Software Because It Can’t Verify The Publisher.
Leave homegroup
If your computer is on a local network, try leaving your homegroup:
- Open the “Control Panel” using the search bar.
- Go to the “Homegroup” section.
- Click the Leave Homegroup button.
Then it remains to confirm your intentions, and you will immediately leave the Home Group. Therefore, the problem will be solved. And if it doesn’t, consider the final troubleshooting options.
PowerShell
The PowerShell console will help you fix the shortcut/application association. Follow the instructions:
- Right-click on the “Start” icon.
- Open PowerShell with administrative rights.
- «Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Where-Object {$ . InstallLocation-like «* SystemApps *»} | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register «$ ($ . InstallLocation) \ AppXManifest.xml»}»
- Press the “Enter” key.
Now it remains to check whether the indicated actions helped to get rid of the error when trying to launch a program or file through the desktop icon.
Check if the application path is correct for solving Shortcuts not working in Windows 10
In the end, it is proposed to make sure that the location of the program associated with the shortcut is correct:
- Right-click on the application icon.
- Open Properties.
- Go to the “Shortcut” tab.
- In the “Object” item, copy the specified path.
Next, it remains to check the correctness of the specified data through the “Explorer”. If a mistake was made in the path, you will have to recreate the icon according to the instructions discussed earlier.
