Shortcuts with name "Uninstall <Program Name>" are not displayed in Windows 8/8.1/10

Question

Using MSI installer we create application shortcuts on Windows 7, 8, 8.1 , 10 operating systems. Along with application shortcuts, we also create Uninstallation Shortcut for the program.

Path to shortcut on until Win7: [ProgramsMenuFolder]\CompanyName\ProductName\

Path to shortcut on until Win8/8.1/10: [ProgramsMenuFolder]\ProductName\

The uninstall shortcut appears on Win7 but on Win8 and above this shortcut doesn't appear for few products.

I found a blog where they say that on Win8+ shortcuts named uninstall is removed by the OS automatically. http://forums.winamp.com/showthread.php?t=378327

Could someone point out to any Microsoft documentation for this issue or even guidelines to create shortcuts?

Answer 1

As per this document https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/jj673981%28v=vs.85%29.aspx, it states as below.

DON'T: Don't put shortcuts to the following items on the Start screen: (previous document says the same for StartMenu http://www.2brightsparks.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=7624)

• Uninstallers. Users can access uninstallers through the Programs item in the Control Panel.
• Help files. Include help topics directly in your app.
• App settings and options. Include UI to configure settings for an app within the app or create a Control Panel item.
• Web sites. Provide any appropriate links to information like help and technical support sites directly in your app.
• Wizards. Wizards and other one-time configuration tasks should be launched from within the app.

Other Microsoft Documentation below, it says to create shortcuts only for Programs and recommeds to use Add/Remove Programs for uninstall/repair/modify actions

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dn742493.aspx https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/bb204770%28v=vs.85%29.aspx https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa372825%28v=vs.85%29.aspx

The behaviour of shorcuts displayed for few products is explained in the below blog. http://forums.winamp.com/showthread.php?t=378327