Any installed programs have executable files on Windows. How can you find the exe file of a program if you need to change some configurations? This post from MiniTool post provides you with several methods to quickly locate the executable file.
The exe file is a kind of executable file that can be run on the computer by clicking it. Sometimes, you need to find the exe file of a program to change the settings of the application. The following is a detailed telling you how to locate a program’s exe file on Windows via the shortcut and other access.
Way 1. Find the Location of an Executable on Windows via the Shortcut
If there is a shortcut to the program on your desktop, you can find the exe file easily with the following steps.
Step 1. Find the shortcut of the program and right-click on it.
Step 2. Choose Open file location from the context menu. The computer will directly open the File Explorer and locate the executable file. To get the specific file location, you can choose Properties from the context menu. The file path is listed under the Shortcut tab.
Way 2. Locate the EXE File of a Program Using the Task Manager
When there is no icon of the program on your desktop and the program is running, you can get its executable file via the Task Manager. Here is how:
Step 1. Right-click on the Windows icon and choose Task Manager to open the window.
Step 2. Locate the program and right-click on it to choose Open file location.
Way 3. Find the EXE File on Windows Through the Start Menu
You can also find the installed programs in the Start menu on your computer; thus, when there is no shortcut on the desktop, you can try to find the exe file of a program via the Start menu.
Step 1. Click on the Windows icon to open the Start menu.
Step 2. Look through the application list to locate the found software. Right-click on it and choose More > Open file location.
Alternatively, you can directly type the name of the program into the Windows Search box. When the computer displays the best-matched result, you can right-click on it to choose Open file location.
Way 4. Find the Executable File Using File Explorer
This method must work but it could be a time-consuming approach compared with other ways as there are numerous files in File Explorer.
First, press Win + E to open File Explorer directly. Typically, installed software saves their files in the C drive. You can go to C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (x86) to have a check. If you have changed the installation path of the software, head to the corresponding file path to find the executable file.
Bonus Tip: Fix If the Executable File Can’t Be Found
What if you can’t find the executable file properly on your computer? Exe files, similar to other files, are prone to be lost due to various reasons. If you accidentally delete the exe file, you can go to the Recycle Bin to find and recover the executable file from the Recycle Bin.
If you cannot find the executable file in the Recycle Bin, try professional data recovery software to get it back. MiniTool Power Data Recovery is recommended with its robust data recovery algorithm, wide compatibility with file types and devices, and secure data recovery environment. As long as your exe file is not overwritten, you can try MiniTool Power Data Recovery Free to find and recover it.
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Final Words
This post shows you four ways to find the exe file of a program on Windows. It could be an easy task when there is a shortcut on the desktop. If you cannot locate the shortcut of the program properly, hope this post gives you some inspiration.
About The Author
Position: Columnist
Andrea graduated in English and has a keen interest in the IT industry and questions that arise when computers are used. She is passionate about new things and challenging things and has a wide range of interests like playing guitar, gaming, and crafting.