7 Simple Ways to Create a Shortcut to the Desktop on Windows

Introduction

Have you ever wanted to create a shortcut to an important file or program on your desktop but didn’t know how to do it? Creating shortcuts is a quick and easy way to simplify your computer use and increase productivity. In this article, we will show you seven easy ways to create a shortcut to the desktop on Windows, as well as a step-by-step guide and tips and tricks to make it even quicker and easier.

7 Easy Ways to Create a Shortcut to the Desktop on Windows

Here are seven different methods to create a shortcut to the desktop:

Method 1: Right-click and choose “New shortcut”

Right-click anywhere on the desktop, and select “New” and then “Shortcut.” A new window will appear and prompt you to enter a name or browse for the file or program you want to create a shortcut for.

Method 2: Drag and drop

Open File Explorer and locate the file or program you want to create a shortcut for. Then, click and hold the file or program and drag it to the desktop.

Method 3: From the Start Menu or Start screen

Open the Start menu or Start screen, locate the file or program you want to create a desktop shortcut for. Right-click on the item and select “Open file location.” Then, click and hold the file or program and drag it to the desktop.

Method 4: Keyboard shortcuts

You can also create a desktop shortcut using keyboard shortcuts. First, select the file or program you want to create a shortcut for in File Explorer. Then press “Alt + Shift + S.” A new window will appear prompting you to name and save the shortcut to the desktop.

Method 5: From File Explorer

Open File Explorer and locate the file or program you want to create a shortcut for. Right-click on the file and select “Send to” and then “Desktop (create shortcut).” A new shortcut will be created on the desktop.

Method 6: Through the Run dialogue box

To create a shortcut from the Run dialogue box, press “Windows key + R” to open the Run dialogue box. Then, type the file location (e.g. “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16\WINWORD.EXE“) and then click OK. This will create a shortcut to the desktop for that file.

Method 7: Using a command prompt

You can also create a shortcut using a command prompt. First, navigate to the folder where the file or program is stored using the “cd” command. (e.g. cd C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16\). Next, type the following command: “mklink /d “shortcut name” “file location”“. This will create a shortcut named “shortcut name” on the desktop that points to the file location you specified.

How to Create a Desktop Shortcut: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re new to creating shortcuts, here’s a step-by-step guide to create a shortcut using “Method 1” from the previous section:

1. Right-click on the desktop and select “New” then “Shortcut”.
2. In the “Create Shortcut” window, type the location of the item you want to create a shortcut for or browse to its location using the “Browse” button.
3. Type a name for the shortcut and press “Finish.”
4. A new shortcut will be created on your desktop.

Here are some screenshots that illustrate the process:

Step 1: Right-click on the desktop and click “New” then “Shortcut.”

Step 2: Enter the location of the program/file you want to create a shortcut for.

Step 3: Type a name for the shortcut and click “Finish.”

Creating Desktop Shortcuts: Tips and Tricks to Make it Quick and Easy

Here are some tips and tricks to customize and organize your desktop shortcuts:

Tips for customizing desktop shortcuts

• Right-click on a shortcut and select “Properties” to edit the icon or add hotkeys/shortcuts
• Right-click on the desktop and go to “View,” then “Large Icons” to create more space on the desktop.
• Use a custom icon for better visibility and organization.

Keyboard shortcuts to make the process faster

The following keyboard shortcuts will help make it faster to create a desktop shortcut:

• Ctrl + Shift + N: Create a new folder on the desktop.
• Shift + F10: Right-click on an item.
• F2: Rename a shortcut or file on the desktop.

Tricks to organize and manage desktop shortcuts

• Use color-coded labels to categorize shortcuts and keep them organized.
• Use grouping software to organize shortcuts, such as Stardock Fences.
• Delete unused shortcuts regularly to keep your desktop tidy.

Shortcuts to the Desktop: A Beginner’s Guide to Simplifying Your Computer Use

Shortcuts are a great way to simplify your computer use and make it more efficient. Here’s a beginner’s guide to creating a desktop shortcut:

Explanation of how shortcuts work and benefits of using them

Shortcuts are links to files or programs that allow you to quickly access them without having to search through folders or menus to find them. Benefits of using shortcuts include:

• Quick access to frequently-used files/programs
• Improved productivity
• Customizable shortcuts that respond to your needs/location.

Basic tutorial on how to create shortcuts

Creating a shortcut is a simple process:

1. Choose the file or program you want to create a shortcut for.
2. Create the shortcut (using one of the seven methods described in this article).
3. Rename the shortcut to make it easier to identify.

Suggestions for common shortcuts to create

Here are some common shortcuts to create to help save time and improve productivity:

• Web browser (to quickly access the internet)
• Email client (to avoid searching for it every time)
• Important documents (such as resumes or term papers)

Customizing Your Desktop: Creating Shortcuts for Easier Access

Creating custom shortcuts can make it easier to access your most frequently-used files or programs. Here’s how:

Overview of different types of shortcuts

There are several types of shortcuts you can create:

• Program shortcuts: Links to installed programs on your computer.
• File shortcuts: Links to specific files on your computer.
• Website shortcuts: Links to your favorite websites.
• Folder shortcuts: Links to folders on your computer.

Step-by-step instructions for creating different types of shortcuts

Here are step-by-step instructions for creating different types of shortcuts:

Program shortcuts:

1. Locate the program you want to create a shortcut for in the Start menu or File Explorer.
2. Right-click on the program and select “Create shortcut.”
3. A shortcut to the program will be created on your desktop.

File shortcuts:

1. Locate the file you want to create a shortcut for in File Explorer.
2. Right-click on the file and select “Create shortcut.”
3. A shortcut to the file will be created on your desktop.

Website shortcuts:

1. Open your web browser.
2. Type the URL for the website you want to link to into the address bar.
3. Click and hold the icon to the left of the URL in the address bar.
4. Drag the icon to your desktop.

Folder shortcuts:

1. Locate the folder you want to create a shortcut for in File Explorer.
2. Right-click on the folder and select “Create shortcut.”
3. A shortcut to the folder will be created on your desktop.

Tips for organizing and managing shortcuts

Here are some tips to help you keep your shortcuts organized:

• Create folders on the desktop to group related shortcuts together.
• Use descriptive names for your shortcuts so you can easily identify them.
• Place shortcuts on the desktop in the order you use them most frequently.

The Fastest Ways to Create Desktop Shortcuts on Your PC

If you’re looking for the fastest way to create a desktop shortcut, here’s a recap of the methods described in this article:

• Right-click and choose “New shortcut”
• Drag and drop
• From the Start Menu or Start screen
• Keyboard shortcuts
• From File Explorer
• Through the Run dialogue box
• Using a command prompt

While some methods may be faster than others, depending on the file or program you’re creating a shortcut for, each method is simple and easy to use.

Avoid the Hassle: Here are 7 Simple Ways to Create a Shortcut to the Desktop

In conclusion, whether you’re creating a shortcut to a program, file, folder, or website, shortcuts are a quick and easy to access your favorite apps or files. We’ve provided you with seven easy ways to create a shortcut to the desktop, tips and tricks to customize and organize your shortcuts, and a beginner’s guide to creating shortcuts. Next time you’re searching for a commonly-used file or program, create a shortcut for it and make your computer use more efficient!

If you have additional suggestions or comments on how to improve productivity by utilizing shortcuts, please share them with us in the comments below.