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Editorial Team
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Asked: 2026-06-09T18:07:20+00:00

I have the following NSIS code Function CreateDesktopSC ;Creates Desktop Shortcut SetShellVarContext current SetOutPath

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I have the following NSIS code

Function CreateDesktopSC
    ;Creates Desktop Shortcut
    SetShellVarContext current
    SetOutPath "$DOCUMENTS\Foo\"
    SetShellVarContext all
    detailprint "Icon path: $INSTDIR\Bar\icon.ico"
    CreateShortCut "$DESKTOP\${productName}.lnk" "$INSTDIR\Bar\binary.exe" "" "$INSTDIR\Bar\icon.ico" 0
FunctionEnd

The install log shows the following (from the detailprint command)
Icon path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Bar\icon.ico

The shortcut is created, but with the icon from the executable.

If I open the lnk file or right click the shortcut and click “Change Icon …”, I get the error “Windows can’t find the file %ProgramFiles%\Bar\icon.ico.”

If I browse to %ProgramFiles%, it takes me to c:\Program Files, not the x86 version as shown in the detailsprint command. The icon file exists, but in the x86 folder.

It appears that either NSIS or windows is replacing “C:\Program Files (x86)\” with “%ProgramFiles%”, which doesn’t point to the x86 version.

The actual path to the executable is correct, it’s only the icon link which is incorrect.

Any ideas?

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1 Answer

  1. Editorial Team

    The workaround from the thread is to add an second \ to your icon code. I didn’t really got why this helps on 64bit systems but it does…

    so replace:

    CreateShortCut "$SMPROGRAMS\$StartMenuGroup\${PRODUCT_NAME}.lnk" "yourapp.exe" "$INSTDIR\${APPLICATION_ICON}"

    with 

    CreateShortCut "$SMPROGRAMS\$StartMenuGroup\${PRODUCT_NAME}.lnk" "yourapp.exe" "$INSTDIR\\${APPLICATION_ICON}"

    After adding the second \ before APPLICATION_ICON the icon will be displayed again

    Confusing but it works

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