Pin to Start Files in Windows 8

How to Add or Remove Pin to Start Context Menu for Files in Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

By default, Windows 8 will let you Pin to Start apps , folders, drives, libraries, management consoles (.msc files), and shortcuts to any of these.

This tutorial will let you add or remove "Pin to Start" from the context menu of all files for all users to be able to pin any file to their Start screen and not just the default ones listed above in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

EXAMPLE: "Pin to Start" for All Files

​

​

​

OPTION ONE

Add or Remove "Pin to Start" in Windows 8 and Windows RT

​

1. Do step 2, 3 or 4 below for what you would like to do.​

​

2. To Add "Pin to Start" to Context Menu of All Files in Windows 8/RT​

​

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.​

​

Add_8_Pin_to_Start_to_Files_Context_Menu.reg​

​

​

​

​

​

​

3. To Remove "Pin to Start" from Context Menu of All Files​

​

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.​

​

Remove_Pin_to_Start_from_Files_Context_Menu.reg​

​

​

​

​

​

4. To Restore Default "Pin to Start" Context Menu in Windows 8/RT​

NOTE: This is the default setting.​

​

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.​

​

Restore_8_Default_Pin-to_Start.reg​

​

​

​

​

​

5. Save the .reg file to your Desktop.​

​

6. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.​

​

7. Click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK when prompted to approve merging the .reg file.​

​

8. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.​

OPTION TWO

Add or Remove "Pin to Start" in Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1

NOTE: This includes Windows 8.1 Update as well.

​

1. Do step 2, 3 or 4 below for what you would like to do.​

​

2. To Add "Pin to Start" to Context Menu of All Files in Windows 8.1/RT 8.1​

​

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.​

​

Add_8-1_Pin_to_Start_to_Files_Context_Menu.reg​

​

​

​

​

​

​

3. To Remove "Pin to Start" from Context Menu of All Files​

​

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.​

​

Remove_Pin_to_Start_from_Files_Context_Menu.reg​

​

​

​

​

​

4. To Restore Default "Pin to Start" Context Menu in Windows 8.1/RT 8.1​

NOTE: This is the default setting.​

​

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.​

​

Restore_8-1_Default_Pin-to_Start.reg​

​

​

​

​

​

5. Save the .reg file to your Desktop.​

​

6. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.​

​

7. Click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK when prompted to approve merging the .reg file.​

​

8. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.​

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• Pin or Unpin a App, Folder, Library, or Drive on the "Start" Screen in Windows 8
• How to Pin and Unpin Websites from IE10 to Start Screen in Windows 8
• How to Download a "Start" Screen Shortcut in Windows 8
• How to Reset Your Start Screen in Windows 8
• How to Backup and Restore Start Screen Layout in Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[Evil Nemesis]

No option appears , I'm on windows 8.1 update 1 x64,,,, I searched around internet and merged a registry file then the option came up to pin to start any .exe file etc... but then it gives error that it can't be ????

ehhh. edit : the easiest way is to create a shortcut to the desktop then pin it to start then delete it from desktop

 

[Brink]

Hello Evil Nemesis,

OPTION ONE will not work in 8.1. Did you use OPTION TWO for 8.1?

 

[Evil Nemesis]

Wowww, My bad how could I miss that I didn't look at option 2 at all... I just tried it and it works... How can M$ do this to the very latest os hehehe...

Anyway thanks alot mate , just curious though what difference the step 3 and 4 have ? (restore, remove) reg files....

 

[Brink]

LOL, no worries mate. I'm just glad to hear it's working for you now.

It was changed how "Pin to Start" was referenced in the registry for 8 vs 8.1. If you like, you could edit the restore .reg files for each to be able to compare the differences in more detail.

 

[drullens]

A while ago, on my desktop PC I found a similar registry file that I merged and that worked prefectly for me. But now I have bought a Surface Pro 2 and for the life of me I couldn't find it again. I came across this thread on this forum and did the merge with you reg file and it works just fine. Thanks a lot!

One thing is missing however. I have a lot of saved RDP files and when I right click on a RDP file, I don't get the option to pin it to my start.

Is this by design or a bug / oversight?

Thanks for the great work so far,
Dave

 

[Brink]

Hello Dave, and welcome to Eight Forums.

You should have a "Pin to Start" for .rdp files as well after using step 1 in OPTION TWO like below.

 

[drullens]

Hello Brink, thanks for the reply. Yes, PDF files work fine. And Yes, I did choose option two and the merge went fine too. It's RDP files that are the problem.

 

[Brink]

Yep, it should be there for .rpd files. Please go ahead and post a screenshot like above showing what you see to see if it may help to ID the issue.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2598-screenshots-files-upload-post-eight-forums.html

 

[drullens]

I accidentally noticed something... The RDP files are on my OneDrive and the PDF file I tried was on my C: drive. After I copied one of the RDP files to my local drive it worked.

Then I tried other types of files that are on my OneDrive, such als Excel, Word and PDF files. When they are on my OneDrive it doesn't work. When they are on the C: drive it works.

 

[Brink]

Yeah, it'll only work in File Explorer.

 

[drullens]

Naturally. I am doing this in the file explorer and not in the web browser. I have OneDrive in my file explorer....

 

[drullens]

And this one is with a view with the RDP file on the deskop (also in file explorer )

By the way, "Pin to start" = "Vastmaken aan Start" in Dutch...

 

[Brink]

Well, I suppose that would make sense to not have a "Pin to Start" or "Pin to Taskbar" context menu option for basically an online file.

If you "Make available offline" the file, the "Pin to Start" option will be there afterwards though.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/28148-onedrive-available-offline-online-windows-8-1-a.html

 

[drullens]

Yes, that did it! Thanks a lot!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

 

[Night AoX]

Haha. My right click on file, Pin to Start, just randomly stopped working today out of nowhere I had to use:

4. To Restore Default "Pin to Start" Context Menu in Windows 8.1/RT 8.1 to restore it.

Usually a restart fixes stuff like that but, not today. Thanks man. I bookmarked this along with other tutorials in fear that I may one day need it.

 

[Brink]

I'm glad it was able to help you Casey.