6 Ways to Fix “The Item That This Shortcut Refers to Has Been Changed or Moved” Error on Windows

You may usually entry your Windows apps by utilizing the related shortcut icons. However in the future, you click on a shortcut icon and see an error message that reads, “The merchandise that this shortcut refers to has been modified or moved.”

What causes this problem, and the way do you resolve it? Let’s discover out.

What Causes “The Merchandise That this Shortcut Refers to Has Been Modified or Moved” Error?

This error message normally pops up when a shortcut file isn’t in a position to find the goal app.

Listed here are the varied causes of this problem:

• The goal app has been deleted or moved from its authentic folder.
• Your machine has some corrupted third-party apps or malware.
• There are lacking or corrupted system information in your PC.
• Some system safety instruments (Windows Defender Firewall or antivirus software program) are lively.

Now, let’s try how one can resolve this problem.

1. Confirm the Goal Program’s Location

The simplest answer is to make sure that the goal program is in its authentic folder. So, right here’s how to confirm the situation of the goal app:

1. Press Win + D to entry the desktop. Alternatively, navigate to the folder containing your shortcut file.
2. Proper-click on the shortcut file and choose Properties. On this instance, we’ll check out the paint.internet shortcut file.
3. When you’re on the Properties window, navigate to the Shortcut tab.
4. Check out the file path indicated within the Goal field.

On this instance, the file path is C:Program Filespaint.internet (the paintdotnet.exe part is the app’s title and never a part of the file path).

Test the file path indicated within the “Goal” field and make sure that it is appropriate.

If you happen to’re not sure that the file path is appropriate, right here’s what you are able to do:

1. Copy the file path indicated on the Goal field within the “Shortcut Properties” window. For the “paint.internet app” instance we have coated, the file path is C:Program Filespaint.internet.
2. Press Win + E to open File Explorer.
3. Paste the file path into File Explorer’s deal with bar and press Enter. This could take you to the goal app’s folder.

Now, do you discover the goal app within the folder?

If the goal app is already within the appropriate folder, then strive fixing the problem at hand by making use of the opposite options on this article.

In case your goal app will not be within the folder proven on the shortcut file’s “Goal” field, right here’s what you are able to do:

1. Kind the title of the goal app within the Begin menu search bar. For instance, if the app’s title is paint.internet, kind paint.internet within the search bar.
2. Proper-click on the Best match and choose Open file location.

Once you get to the goal folder, observe these steps:

1. Proper-click on the goal app and choose Minimize.
2. Press Win + E to open File Explorer.
3. Navigate to the folder path indicated on the Goal field within the “Shortcut Properties” window. For the “paint.internet app” instance we have coated, the folder path proven on the Goal field is C:Program Filespaint.internet.
4. Proper-click on a clean house on the folder and choose Paste. This methodology ought to now place your goal app within the appropriate folder.
5. Navigate to the desktop or the folder containing the defective shortcut file. Double-click on the shortcut file and test if the problem has been resolved

2. Restore the Goal App

You’ve verified the goal app’s location, however you’re nonetheless operating into points. On this case, the goal app is probably going corrupted.

To resolve this downside, restore the app by way of these steps:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run command dialog field.
2. Kind appwiz.cpl and press OK to open the Applications and Options window.
3. Choose the goal program. On this instance, we’ll choose the paint.internet app.
4. Proper-click on the app and choose Restore.

Alternatively, restore the app by way of these steps:

1. Press Win + X to open the Fast Entry menu.
2. Choose Apps and Options from the choices.
3. Scroll down and find the goal app. On this instance, we’ll give attention to the paint.internet device because the goal app.
4. Click on the goal app after which press the Modify button.

3. Reinstall the Goal App

Repairing a corrupted app won’t all the time assist. So, if the problem persists, you may also take into account reinstalling the defective app.

Right here’s how one can correctly reinstall a defective app on Windows:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run command dialog field.
2. Kind appwiz.cpl and press OK to open the Applications and Options window.
3. Choose the goal program, right-click on it, after which choose Uninstall.
4. Observe the on-screen steps after which restart your machine.

From there, obtain your Windows app from a secure web site. Alternatively, if you cannot discover it, obtain the app from the Microsoft Retailer.

The system safety instruments (such because the Windows Defender Firewall) usually stop you from operating corrupted apps. Nevertheless, these instruments may also stop you from operating apps that aren’t problematic.

So, there are possibilities that these instruments could be the rationale you’re unable to run your app. On this case, quickly disabling these instruments may assist.

On this article, we’ll give attention to disabling the Windows Defender Firewall. Listed here are the steps you have to observe:

1. Kind Windows Defender Firewall within the Begin menu search bar and choose the Best match.
2. Click on the Flip Windows Defender Firewall on and off possibility.

   

3. Choose the Flip off Windows Defender Firewall possibility on the Area network settings, Non-public network settings, and Public network settings.

   

4. Lastly, press OK after which restart your machine.

In case you have a third-party antivirus program put in, it’s best to take into account quickly disabling it too. From there, test if the problem is resolved.

5. Carry out a Test Disk Scan

In some situations, the problem is probably going attributable to malware or corrupted system information. To resolve the issue, you can scan and restore these points utilizing the Test Disk (CHKDSK) device.

So, right here’s how one can run a CHKDSK scan in your machine:

1. Kind Command Immediate within the Begin menu search bar.
2. Proper-click on the Best match outcome and choose Run as administrator.
3. Kind the next command and press Enter to run a Test Disk scan:

chkdsk C: /f

If you wish to scan a distinct drive, change the C: command with the letter of the related drive. Lastly, look ahead to the method to finish after which restart your PC.

6. Create a New Shortcut File

Nonetheless can’t resolve the problem? Possibly the problem lies with the shortcut file itself.

So, a straightforward manner out is to delete the outdated shortcut file and create a brand new one.

Right here’s how to create a shortcut file to your goal app:

1. Press Win + D to entry the desktop. Alternatively, strive the varied methods to entry the Windows desktop.
2. Proper-click on a clean house and choose New > Shortcut.
3. Press the Browse button and seek for an app.
4. Click on the goal app after which click on the OK button. From there, press Subsequent.

   

5. Lastly, fill within the Kind a reputation for this shortcut field after which press the End button.

Simply Entry Your Favourite Apps As soon as Once more

Windows’ shortcut icons make your apps simply accessible. One of the best part is that it’s fairly straightforward to create the shortcut information. Nevertheless, it’s irritating when your shortcut icons abruptly malfunction. However should you run into “shortcut icon” points, the strategies we’ve coated ought to assist.

And whereas we’re discussing shortcuts, do you know you possibly can customise your shortcuts on Windows 10 and 11?