The Microsoft Intune Company Portal ships in two flavours: the native Win32/UWP application that lives in the Microsoft Store, and the web Company Portal accessible at portal.manage.microsoft.com. The native app is great for end users, but the web version has its place too — for kiosks, for devices that can’t sideload from the store, and for low-friction onboarding flows where you want users to start with a browser tab rather than a binary install. This post walks through how to deliver the web Company Portal as a desktop shortcut via Microsoft Intune end-to-end.
In one of my last posts I explained how to create a desktop shortcut using a Win32 app. Now I want to show you a way how you can deploy a web shortcut for the Web Company Portal.
What is the Web Company Portal
In addition to the Company Portal version from the Windows Store, there is also a web-based Company Portal. With this you can also install/uninstall apps or manage your devices. Different from the Store app, you can also install software for devices you are not sitting at.
How can I access the Web Company Portal?
The Web Company Portal can be accessed at the following link: Company Portal website (https://portal.manage.microsoft.com/)
How can I distribute the Web Company Portal?
How you can create a shortcut of the Web Company Portal I will explain now.
- To do this, open the Intune admin center and go to Apps -> All Apps
- Click ADD
- Select Web Link as App Type
- Click Select
- Enter “Web Company Portal” as name
- Add a description e.g. the one from my blog
- Add “Microsoft” as Publisher
- Add the App URL:
https://portal.manage.microsoft.com/
- You can optionally upload an app logo if you like.
- Click Next
- Assign the App
- Click Next
When the assignment has arrived on the client you should find the shortcut in the start menu.
Conclusion
This way is much easier than the way via a Win32 app but is also not as flexible. If you want to put the shortcut on the desktop you have to choose the way with Powershell and Win32. If it is enough for you that the entry is visible in the start menu, this is a very simple way.
I hope I could help you with this blog.
Stay healthy, Cheers
Jannik