How to Fix Steam Desktop Shortcuts Not Working on Windows

Is your Steam game shortcut broken? Learn how to repair Windows file associations for .URL files and create working Steam shortcuts with this step-by-step troubleshooting guide.

Table of Contents

1. Why Do Steam Shortcuts Stop Working?
1.1 Solution 1: Repair Windows File Association for .URL Files
1.2 Solution 2: Create a Steam Shortcut Manually (The Guaranteed Method)
1.3 Solution 3: Re-create the Shortcut via Steam
1.4 Summary: Which Fix Should You Try First?

Have you ever tried to launch a Steam game from your desktop shortcut, only to have nothing happen or the wrong program open? This is a common frustration for many Windows users. The issue almost always lies with Windows incorrectly handling the .url shortcut files that Steam creates.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through the most effective solutions, from repairing Windows file associations to creating new shortcuts manually.

Why Do Steam Shortcuts Stop Working?

Before we fix it, it’s helpful to know why it breaks. Steam desktop shortcuts are not traditional program shortcuts (.lnk files). They are actually Internet Shortcuts (.url files) that contain a special command (steam://rungameid/) which tells the Steam client to launch the game.

If Windows becomes confused and tries to open this .url file with a web browser or another incorrect program, the shortcut will fail. The solutions below will correct this.

Solution 1: Repair Windows File Association for .URL Files

This is the most direct fix, as it teaches Windows how to handle .url files correctly.

Open the Windows Settings app by pressing Win + I.
Navigate to Apps > Default apps.
Scroll down and click on the option that says “Choose default apps by file type”.
A long list of file extensions will load. Scroll through this list or use the search bar to find the .url extension.
Click on the application listed to the right of .url. It may currently say something like “Google Chrome” or “Firefox.”
From the pop-up menu, select “Internet Browser” or “Microsoft Edge”.
- Note: While “Internet Browser” is the ideal system handler, selecting Microsoft Edge will also work, as it will correctly pass the steam:// command back to your system, which will then open it with Steam.

After changing this association, go back to your desktop and try double-clicking the broken Steam shortcut. It should now correctly launch the game through Steam.

Solution 2: Create a Steam Shortcut Manually (The Guaranteed Method)

If repairing the file association doesn’t work or you want a more reliable traditional shortcut, you can create one manually. This method bypasses the .url system entirely.

Open your Steam client and go to your Library.
Find the game with the broken shortcut in your list.
Right-click on the game and select Properties.
In the Properties window, go to the Local Files tab and click the Browse… button. This will open the game’s installation folder in File Explorer.
In this folder, look for the game’s executable file. This will typically be a .exe file with a name similar to the game (e.g., Cyberpunk2077.exe, hl2.exe). Tip: You can sort by “Type” to group all .exe files together.
Once you find the correct .exe file, right-click on it.
Hover over Send to and then select Desktop (create shortcut).

This will place a standard Windows shortcut (.lnk file) on your desktop. This shortcut points directly to the game’s executable. Double-clicking it will launch the game directly. While it may still need to open the Steam client in the background for verification, this method is far less likely to break.

Solution 3: Re-create the Shortcut via Steam

Sometimes, the original shortcut file itself becomes corrupted. Simply deleting it and creating a new one can solve the problem.

On your desktop, delete the broken game shortcut.
Go back to your Steam Library.
Right-click on the game.
Navigate to Manage > Add Desktop Shortcut.

Steam will generate a new .url shortcut file. If you’ve already fixed the file association in Solution 1, this new shortcut should work perfectly.

Summary: Which Fix Should You Try First?

For a quick fix: Try Solution 3 (Re-create the Shortcut) first. It’s the fastest.
If the problem affects multiple games: Use Solution 1 (Repair File Associations). This fixes the root cause for all Steam shortcuts.
For a permanent, bullet-proof solution: Solution 2 (Create a Manual Shortcut) is your best bet, as it doesn’t rely on the .url system.

By following these steps, you can eliminate the annoyance of broken Steam shortcuts and get back to your gaming sessions without any hassle.

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