ClickOnce Deployment – Add Custom Desktop Icon for the Shortcut

An application deploying by ClickOnce deployment can be configured to available online only or to available through the start menu. By selecting "The application is available offline as well (launchable from Start menu)" option from the Project Properties -> Publish Tab, it can make available in offline mode as well.

In order to create a shortcut on the user’s desktop for this application, we have to select “Create desktop shortcut” from the “Publish Options” dialog as shown in the following figure. (Publish Tab -> Options…)

This will create a shortcut on the user's desktop with a standard icon. Then to add a custom icon, go to the “Application” tab, browse and select the preferred icon.