Microsoft has been trying to release modern apps since Windows 8 launched almost six years ago, but despite different perceptions and various revisions, they have yet to gain the public's attention.
Lack of developer support is often cited as the main reason for the poor adoption of Microsoft Store apps, but in reality there are several other reasons why users decided to stick with Win32 programs.
One of the reasons is that they are more familiar with the concept and already know how to perform the most basic tasks, such as creating a shortcut on the desktop.
Believe it or not, creating a desktop shortcut for a Microsoft Store app is not as easy as you might expect, and it takes more than a few clicks to accomplish.
First of all, it's important to note that all Microsoft Store apps appear in the "Start" menu and you can run them from there, but that's not the most convenient solution.
In theory, many beginners expect the process of creating shortcuts to be as simple as it is with Win32 software. Simply right-clicking on the executable file in the home folder and going to Send to > Desktop.
However, Microsoft Store apps not only don't have an .EXE file, but they also can't be located on the C: drive, so for many, the whole process is very complicated.
Another solution would be to simply right-click on a Microsoft Store app in the Start menu to create a shortcut. And yet, that doesn't work. Doing so brings up a few options, but none of them is creating a desktop. You can pin any app to the taskbar or Start menu, uninstall it, or access its settings, but not make it a shortcut.
Some people thought about dragging the application icon from the taskbar to the desktop but that feature has been blocked as well.
The easiest way to create a desktop
The first thing you need to do is run the folder where all these apps are located. To do this, press Windows key + R and type shell:appsfolder. Alternatively, you can copy the same code and paste it into the address bar of File Explorer.
This will open a folder like the rest you have on your computer, but only your applications will be included here. Getting to this location is almost the hardest thing as this is where you can create a shortcut either by right-clicking on any of the applications or simply dragging them to the desktop.
The new shortcut comes with the same set of options as the regular shortcuts, and you can rename it, view the properties, and change the parameters, although you won't need to do this.
Without a doubt, this is a trick that beginners are highly unlikely to figure out on their own, and Microsoft has no reason not to simplify the process in future updates, especially if it wants its Microsoft Store to replace Win32 software at some point in the future.
The next major update for Windows 10 is the October 2018 Update and will launch next month, although it won't include any changes to this theme.
