Do you want to pin an important PDF file to the Start menu in Windows 10? Would you like to pin your favorite photo or any other file to Windows 10 Start menu? In this guide, we will see how to pin any file to Windows 10 Start menu with ease.
We all know that Windows 10 allows users to pin folders, webpages, and apps to the Start menu with default settings. However, Windows 10 doesn’t allow pinning files to the Start for some reason.
Many users often want to pin files to the Start so that they can launch files quickly. Although one can always place files on the desktop or create a shortcut of the same on the desktop, users prefer pinning files to the Start for easy access.
Use the Pin Files app to pin files to Windows 10 Start menu
Pin Files is a new app for Windows 10 designed to help Windows 10 users to pin files to the Start menu quickly. This free Windows Store app enables you to pin any file type except .exe file to Start in a few clicks. The app also enables you to pin folders to Start, but the feature is not of much use as Windows 10 allows pinning folders to Start by default.
While pinning a file to the Start menu, you can type a name for the tile. There is even an option to open the Open with menu each time you click on the tile/file on the Start menu so that you can open the file with the app or classic program you want.
If you would like to open the pinned file with a certain program, you can choose that as well, but the current version of the Pin Files app supports only Store apps.
Pin files to Windows 10 Start menu
Here is how to use the Pin Files app to pin files to Windows 10 Start menu.
Step 1: Visit this page of the Store and install the app. Did you know that you can install apps from Store without signing in to Store?
Step 2: Launch the Pin Files app.
Step 3: Click the Pick button to see a small dialog where you need to choose whether you want to pin a file or folder. Since we are here to pin a file, click the File button.
Step 4: Clicking the File button opens the Open dialog using which you can browse and select the file which you want to pin to the Start. Select the file and then click the Open button.
Step 5: If you wish to change the display name of the file, you can do so by typing anything under eleven characters in the Displayed name field.
Step 6: The Launching application field allows you to select a Store app to open the file. If you choose Default, the pinned file opens with the default app or program associated with the file type.
Check Show Open With window (always) to see the Open with dialog every time you click on the pinned file.
Step 7: Finally, click the Pin button and then click the Yes button to pin the selected file to the Start.
To remove a pinned file from the Start menu, simply right-click on it and then click Unpin from the Start option.
You might also like to read our how to pin downloads and documents folder to Start menu in Windows 10 guide.
