The quickest way to put a Google Chrome shortcut on your desktop is to open the Start menu, find Google Chrome in All apps, and drag it onto the desktop. You can also right-click Chrome in the Start menu, choose More > Open file location, then right-click the Chrome shortcut and choose Send to > Desktop (create shortcut). To make a desktop shortcut for a specific website, open the site in Chrome and use Cast, save, and share > Create shortcut.
Method 1: Drag Chrome from the Start menu
- Click Start. On Windows 11, click All (or All apps).
- Find Google Chrome in the list.
- Drag it onto an empty spot on your desktop and release. A shortcut appears.
Method 2: Send to Desktop
- Click Start, right-click Google Chrome, and choose More > Open file location. (If Chrome is pinned, right-click it in All apps.)
- In the folder that opens, right-click the Google Chrome shortcut.
- Choose Send to > Desktop (create shortcut). On Windows 11, click Show more options first.
You can also go straight to Chrome’s install folder, usually C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application, right-click chrome.exe, and send it to the desktop.
Method 3: Create a desktop shortcut to a website
- Open the website in Chrome.
- Click the three-dot menu > Cast, save, and share > Create shortcut. (In older versions, it’s under More tools > Create shortcut.)
- Name the shortcut. Check Open as window if you want it to open like an app, without tabs.
- Click Create.
Another quick way: make the Chrome window smaller, then drag the padlock icon from the address bar onto the desktop.
Shortcut for a specific Chrome profile
- Click your profile picture in Chrome, then the pencil (Customize profile).
- Turn on Create desktop shortcut.
This shortcut always opens Chrome with that profile, which is handy for separate work and personal profiles.
Pin Chrome to the taskbar instead
Open Chrome, right-click its icon on the taskbar, and choose Pin to taskbar. It stays there even after you close Chrome.
Frequently asked questions
Why don’t I see desktop icons?
Right-click the desktop and choose View > Show desktop icons.
Why did my Chrome shortcut stop working?
Chrome may have been moved or reinstalled. Delete the old shortcut and create a new one.
How do I change the shortcut’s icon?
Right-click the shortcut, choose Properties > Change Icon, and pick a different icon.
Can I make a desktop shortcut on a Mac?
Yes. Open Finder > Applications, then hold Option + Command and drag Chrome to the desktop to create an alias.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.