The Windows operating system allows you to pin most software or apps directly to the taskbar for quick access, when you’re on the desktop. This however does not hold true for Windows Update. While it is simple to pin it to the Windows Start Screen or Windows Start Menu, it is not straightforward to pin it to the Taskbar. Today, we will see how to how to pin Windows Update icon to Taskbar and, Start Screen or Start Menu in Windows 10/8/7.
Pin Windows Update to Windows 10 Start Menu
Open Settings > Update and Security
Right-click on Windows Update and select Pin to Start
Pin Windows Update to Windows 10 Taskbar
Create a desktop shortcut and use the following path in the Target field:
ms-settings:windowsupdate
Then drag the desktop shortcut to the taskbar.
Pin Windows Update to Windows 8 Start Screen or Windows 7 Start Menu
This is simple. Open Control Panel and right-click on Windows Update and select Pin to Start. You will see the shortcut pinned to your Start.
Pin Windows Update to the Windows 8/7 Taskbar
To do this, open Control Panel and then drag-and-drop Windows Update to your desktop. Alternatively, you could also select Create shortcut instead – and its shortcut will be created on your desktop.
Now right-click on the icon and chose ‘Properties’. Then, under the ‘Shortcut tab’ enter the following address for the Target field:
cmd /c wuapp.exe
If this does not work for you, and you are unable to change the Target field, then do the following instead. Delete the just created desktop shortcut. Now, right-slick on Desktop > New > Shortcut.
In the location path, type the following, name it Windows Update and click Next:
cmd /c wuapp.exe
A desktop shortcut will be created. Now right-click on the icon and chose ‘Properties’.
Under Shortcut tab, change the ‘Run’ menu to ‘Minimized‘. Click OK.
Next, click on Change icon and enter the icon path as:
%SystemRoot%\system32\wucltux.dll
Click Apply/OK. The icon will change.
Finally, right-click on the Windows Update icon on your Desktop screen. You should find the Pin to Taskbar option there now. Click on it. The shortcut will get pinned to your Taskbar. Else you could simply drag and drop it on to your Taskbar.
A single click on the taskbar icon will now open Windows Update settings directly.