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.

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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 the search bar.
  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

You can also create a shortcut for Windows 10 God Mode, which lets you find all the Control Panel settings in one convenient list. The number of possible shortcuts is basically limited only by the size of the desktop. However, it’s advisable to structure shortcuts clearly and not to overload the desktop.

Windows 10 and Windows 11: create shortcuts

In the following tutorial we’ll show you how to create a shortcut on desktop for a file, a program, and a website in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

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

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

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

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

Step 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.

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

Step 5: In the next window, enter a name for the shortcut or accept the name of the file. Click on “Finish” to create the desktop shortcut.

Image: Select “Finish” to confirm a shortcut in the “Create Shortcut” window
Before you create a shortcut, you have the chance to rename it.

Creating a program shortcut (using Word as an example)

Step 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.

Image: List of programs in the Windows Start menu
To shortcut to a program, find the program via the Windows Start menu.

Step 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.

Image: The program icon of a desktop shortcut to Microsoft
When you pull the program from the list onto your desktop, a shortcut will automatically be created.

Creating a website shortcut (using Edge as an example)

Step 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.

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

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

Image: A website shortcut as a desktop icon
Website shortcuts appear with their own icons on your desktop.
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