Discord has a file called Update.exe which launches the latest version of the Discord client, or updates it if a new version is available. If you're a regular Windows user, you've probably pinned a shortcut to Update.exe on your taskbar for quick access.
The problem: this shortcut breaks more easily than you'd expect. Every time Discord updates, the version folder it points to changes, the icon can vanish, and the taskbar pin can end up pointing at nothing. This guide covers how to fix that, and how to customize the icon while you're at it.
Why the Shortcut Breaks
Discord installs updates into versioned folders like app-1.0.1211, app-1.0.1212, and so on. If you link directly to DiscordPTB.exe inside one of these folders, the link stops working the moment Discord updates and that folder is replaced.
The fix is to always point your shortcut at Update.exe instead - that file's location never changes, even across updates.
A shortcut to Update.exe with no arguments only checks for updates; it won't actually launch Discord. To make it launch the app, add the --processStart argument with the executable name.
Tip
Because Microslop decided this is the solution, task bar items are found here:
%AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar (Insert that into WIN + R and press Enter to automatically get there.)
Set your shortcut's Target field to:
"C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Local\DiscordPTB\Update.exe" --processStart DiscordPTB.exeWarning
I use Discord PTB (aka Beta) - if you use another release, you gotta change the DiscordPTB to the name of the Discord folder in AppData\Local!
Update.exe reads this, finds whichever app-x.x.x folder is current, and launches DiscordPTB.exe from inside it. This is the exact same pattern Discord's own Start Menu shortcut uses, so it's safe to copy.
Tip
If a Start Menu shortcut for Discord still exists, right-click it > Properties, and copy its Target field directly - that guarantees you get the exact syntax Discord expects.
Update.exe itself doesn't carry an icon, so shortcuts pointing to it often show a blank or generic icon. To fix this:
- Right-click your shortcut > Properties > Shortcut tab.
- Click Change Icon...
- Click Browse... and select the
.icofile inside your Discord PTB install folder (right beside the Update.exe should be one). - Click OK, then Apply.
If the taskbar still shows the old or blank icon after this, Windows is just showing a cached version. Unpin the shortcut and re-pin it, or restart Explorer via Task Manager (Windows Explorer > Restart) to force a refresh.
Since you're already setting the icon manually, you can swap in any .ico file you like instead of Discord's default - same steps as above, just point Change Icon at a different file. Keep in mind PNGs won't work directly; they need to be converted to .ico first.
Either use ffmpeg or an online converter like Convertigo. (no ad)
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Shortcut breaks after update | Point to Update.exe, not the versioned app folder |
| Shortcut does nothing when clicked | Add --processStart DiscordPTB.exe to the target |
| Missing/blank icon | Set icon manually via Properties > Change Icon |
Once set up this way, the shortcut survives Discord updates indefinitely - no more relinking every time a new version drops.