How to create a shortcut on the desktop

How to create a shortcut on the desktop (Windows 10 and Windows 11)

Whether with a simple right-click on the desktop, with the [Windows] key, or in the browser – in Windows you can create shortcuts to important programs, files, and pages in just a few steps.

Quick guide: create a desktop shortcut

For files:

1. Right-click on the desktop.
2. Go to “New” then “Shortcut”.
3. Type a name or go to browse, locate, and select file.
4. Select a file and confirm the shortcut.

For programs:

1. Press the [Windows] key.
2. Search for the program you are looking for.
3. Pull the program symbol onto the desktop.

For websites:

1. Open the page in your browser.
2. Click on the lock symbol next to the URL.
3. Pull the website shortcut onto your desktop.

What can you shortcut to from your desktop?

Desktop shortcuts are small icons on your desktop that let you to double-click to open the file, web page, or program of your choice. Shortcuts can be created for basically anything:

• For a program you use regularly
• For a file you are currently working with
• For a website you visit frequently
• For a game you are playing

Creating a file shortcut (using a text file as an example)

1. Right-click on an empty space on the desktop.

2. Go to “New” in the menu and then “Shortcut”.

Use the menu items “New” and “Shortcut” on a desktop to create a file shortcut.

3. If you know the location of the file, enter the appropriate keyword in the search bar. Alternatively, click on “Browse” to find its location.

4. Click on the file you want to link to and confirm with “OK”. The file path now appears in the menu.

5. Click on “Next”.

6. In the next window, enter a name for the shortcut or accept the name of the file.

7. Click on “Finish” to create the desktop shortcut.

Before you create a shortcut, you have the chance to rename it.

Creating a program shortcut (using Word as an example)

1. If you want to create a shortcut to a program, press the [Windows] key and select the desired program from the list. In our example, we’ll show you how to create a desktop shortcut to Word.

To shortcut to a program, find the program via the Windows Start menu.

2. Click on the program icon, hold down the mouse or touchpad, and drag the program to the desktop as a shortcut. The shortcut will automatically appear.

A shortcut will automatically be created when you pull the program from the list onto your desktop.

Creating a website shortcut (using Edge as an example)

1. The principle of creating a website shortcut on desktop is the same in Chrome, Edge, and Firefox browsers. Click on the lock symbol at the top next to the URL and drag it to the desktop.

Use the lock symbol next to the website URL to drag the web page as a shortcut to your desktop.

2. The selected web page will now appear as a shortcut on the desktop. Double-click it to open it in your default browser.

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Website shortcuts appear with their own icons on your desktop.

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How to Create Desktop Shortcuts on a Mac

Open your favorite files and folders quickly with desktop shortcuts.

Quick Guide

• Go to the Menu > File > Make Alias.
• Right-click (or Control + Click) on the file and select Make Alias from the menu. 
• For a website shortcut, highlight the URL and drag and drop it from the address bar to the desktop.

This article provides instructions for creating desktop shortcuts on a Mac computer for files, folders, and websites.

How to Create Desktop Shortcuts for Files and Folders on a Mac

1. Select the Finder icon which is the leftmost icon on the Dock.

2. Use the Finder to locate the folder, file, or application you'd like to create a shortcut for on the left side of the window.
3. Select the file or folder to highlight it.
4. Use any of the three methods mentioned below to make an alias for the file, folder, or application. A shortcut for the file is created in the same location. 
5. Go to the Menu bar. Select File > Make Alias.

6. Right-click on the file and select Make Alias from the menu. 

7. Press Option + Command together as you drag the original item to another folder or the desktop. Release the shortcut first and then the Option + Command keys to place the shortcut in the new location.
8. Select the shortcut with the "Alias" suffix. Press Enter to rename it by removing the “Alias” suffix. 
9. Drag the alias file to the desktop if it's in any other location. You can also copy and paste this to any location on the Mac. 

Every shortcut has a small arrow on the bottom left corner. Shortcuts continue to work even if you change the location of the original file or folder. To view the location, right-click on the shortcut and select Show Original.

How Do You Add a Website to Your Home Screen on a Mac?

A website shortcut can help you quickly launch a site without digging through bookmarks or typing the URL in the address bar. 

1. Open any browser and select the URL in the address bar. 
2. Resize the browser window to position the computer's desktop and the browser window on the same screen.
3. Drag and drop the highlighted URL from the address bar to the desktop or any location on the Mac. It is saved as a shortcut file with the WEBLOC file extension and takes the site page's name.

You can add the website shortcut to the Dock too. Drag the URL from the address bar to the right-hand side of the Dock.