Shortcuts put your favorite apps, files, folders, and websites one double-click away. Windows 11 changed a few things from Windows 10 (the right-click menu is shorter, and the Start menu works differently), but creating shortcuts is still quick once you know where the options went. This guide covers desktop shortcuts for apps, files, folders, and websites, plus keyboard shortcuts and pinning.
Quick Answer
Right-click an empty area of the desktop and choose New > Shortcut. Browse to (or type) the location of the app, file, folder, or web address, click Next, name the shortcut, and click Finish.
Method 1: New > Shortcut (Anything)
- Right-click an empty area of the desktop.
- Choose New > Shortcut.
- Click Browse to find the item, or type its path (for example, C:\Users\YourName\Documents) or a web address.
- Click Next, type a name, and click Finish.
Method 2: Drag an App From the Start Menu
- Open Start and click All (or All apps).
- Drag the app onto the desktop. A Link label appears; release to create the shortcut.
Alternatively, right-click the app in All apps and choose More > Open file location, then right-click the item there and choose Show more options > Send to > Desktop (create shortcut).
Method 3: Files and Folders
- Right-click the file or folder, choose Show more options (or press Shift + F10), then Send to > Desktop (create shortcut).
- Or hold Alt while dragging the item to the desktop.
Method 4: Website Shortcuts
- Any browser: Drag the lock icon from the address bar to the desktop.
- Edge: Open the site, click the three dots, and choose More tools > Pin to taskbar or install it as an app (Apps > Install this site as an app).
- Chrome: Three dots > Cast, save, and share > Create shortcut.
Add a Keyboard Shortcut to Open It
- Right-click the desktop shortcut and choose Properties.
- Click in Shortcut key and press a letter. Windows adds Ctrl + Alt (for example, Ctrl + Alt + B).
- Click OK.
Keyboard shortcuts work for shortcuts on the desktop or in the Start menu folders.
Pin Instead of (or as Well as) a Desktop Shortcut
- Taskbar: Right-click an app in Start and choose Pin to taskbar.
- Start menu: Right-click an app, file, or folder and choose Pin to Start.
- Quick access in File Explorer: Right-click a folder and choose Pin to Quick access.
Change the Shortcut Icon
- Right-click the shortcut, choose Properties > Change Icon, and pick an icon.
- Deleting a shortcut doesn’t delete the original file or app.
Make Shortcuts to Settings Pages
You can open a specific Settings page from the desktop with a ms-settings: link. Right-click the desktop, choose New > Shortcut, and type one of these as the location:
| Location to type | Opens |
|---|---|
ms-settings:windowsupdate |
Windows Update |
ms-settings:display |
Display settings |
ms-settings:bluetooth |
Bluetooth & devices |
ms-settings:network-wifi |
Wi-Fi settings |
ms-settings:defaultapps |
Default apps |
Give the shortcut a clear name such as “Windows Update” and click Finish.
Keep Desktop Shortcuts Tidy
- Right-click the desktop, choose View, and turn on Align icons to grid, or Auto arrange icons to line them up automatically.
- Use Sort by on the same menu to order shortcuts by name or date.
- Make the icons bigger or smaller with View > Large, Medium or Small icons, or hold Ctrl and scroll the mouse wheel.
- Group related shortcuts into a desktop folder: right-click, choose New > Folder, and drag them in.
Fix a Shortcut That Stopped Working
A shortcut only points to the original item. If the app was uninstalled or the file was moved or renamed, Windows says the item can’t be found. Right-click the shortcut, choose Properties, and correct the path in Target, or delete the shortcut and make a new one. Open file location on the same tab shows where the shortcut points. Once a shortcut exists, its picture is yours to pick, and on Windows 10 you can swap a shortcut’s app icon without touching the program.
Troubleshooting
- No New > Shortcut option: Right-click an empty part of the desktop, not an icon, and make sure desktop icons are shown (View > Show desktop icons).
- Shortcut opens the wrong thing or nothing: The original moved or was deleted. Right-click the shortcut, choose Properties, and fix the Target.
- Can't drag apps from Start: Update Windows 11; older builds didn't support dragging from All apps. Use the Open file location method.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting a shortcut delete the program?
No. A shortcut is only a link. Deleting it leaves the app, file or folder untouched.
Why does my shortcut have an arrow?
The small arrow marks it as a shortcut rather than the original file, which helps you avoid deleting the real item by mistake. A worked example of a website shortcut, with the browser-app alternative, is in putting a Gmail icon on the Windows 11 desktop.
Can I put a shortcut in the Start menu?
Yes. Right-click the shortcut and choose Pin to Start.
Is this the same on Windows 10?
Summary
- Right-click the desktop and choose New > Shortcut.
- Drag apps from Start > All to the desktop.
- Use Show more options > Send to > Desktop for files and folders.
- Add a Shortcut key in Properties for keyboard access.
Kermit Matthews runs Live2Tech from just outside Philadelphia. He is an IT specialist with over 20 years of experience, from a university help desk to small-business IT, IT management and his own consulting practice, and has written tech guides full time since 2020. Steps are checked against the current software on a real device or the maker’s official documentation. More about Kermit.