Network shortcut in Start Menu

[ErikTheInjuneer]

Quite some time ago, I installed ExplorerPatcher on a computer, and somehow managed to get the Network icon into the start menu (as a shortcut, obviously).
Now I have installed ExplorerPatcher on a different computer, wanting to make an identical start menu setup. However, I just can't remember how I got that Network icon to appear in the start menu. I do remember that it wasn't straight forward, but have no clue how I actually did it.

Can anyone be of help here?

[pyrates999]

Go to Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center. On the left is the link, 'Change Adapter Settings'. Click on it and you should be on the page with your adapters listed.

At the top it should read 'Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network Connections'. Right click anywhere on them. Choose 'copy address'. Move your cursor to the Desktop. Right-click and 'paste shortcut'. Once the shortcut appears, right-click on it and choose 'Pin to Start'. Once it's on your Start Menu, you can delete the Desktop icon.

source: https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/7n4lub/how_do_i_pin_a_control_panel_item_shortcut_to_the/

[ErikTheInjuneer]

Thanks. Didn't work for me quite that way. But...
I found the "Network Connections" by other means, because my version of Windows doesn't have the same text labels in the control panel. Isn't it just wonderful how the menus in Windows differ between installations, and occasionally change with updates?

While I did manage to make a shortcut on the desktop, the context menu did not contain "Pin to Start". Then I realised, that the desktop shortcuts that are already represented in the Start menu, don't have "Pin to Start" in the context menu. So, somehow the Network shortcut was technically in the Start menu – just not visible.

Then I switched ExplorerPatcher to use the Win 11 style Start menu. The Network shortcut was there. I unpinned it, and switched back to Win 10 style. Now the Network icon on my desktop suddenly had "Pin to Start" in the context menu. I pinned to Start, and the Network shortcut proudly appeared in the Start Menu. Problem solved.

So, while your particular solution didn't quite work in my case, it certainly inspired me to find the (probable) reason and a solution. Thank you for that!