Create Desktop Shortcut in Windows

Provides instructions to create a desktop shortcut to access frequently used applications, files or websites in Windows.

Overview

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This article provides instructions for creating a shortcut to an application, file or website on the Windows desktop. Shortcuts are an efficient way to navigate to frequently used applications, files or websites. 

 

Instructions

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Windows 11 Operating System:

1. Select the Windows Start button.
2. Select All Apps.
3. Locate the application you wish to create a shortcut of and hold left-click.
4. Drag the application to the desktop and release left-click.

Alternate method (web link process): 

1. Right-click on the desktop.
2. Hover your mouse pointer over the option New.
3. Select Shortcut.
4. Enter the application name, file location, or website destination.
   • Alternatively, select Browse to manually search for a file. Select OK.
5. Select Next.
6. Enter the name of the shortcut.
7. Select Finish.

​​​​​Windows 10 Operating System:

1. Select the Windows Start button.
2. Locate the application you wish to create a shortcut of and right-click.
3. Hover your mouse pointer over the option More.
4. From the drop-down menu, select Open File Location.
   • If Open File Location is not an option, skip down to the alternate method below.
5. Right-click the application again.
6. Hover your mouse over Send to.
7. From the drop-down menu select Desktop (create shortcut).

Alternate method (web link process):

1. Right-click on the desktop.
2. Select New Shortcut.
3. Enter the application name, file location, or website destination.
   • Alternatively, select Browse to manually search for a file. Select OK.
4. Select Next.
5. Enter the name of the shortcut.
6. Select Finish.

Note: The above methods can also be done to create a shortcut for a departmental file share. The departmental file share path will be used when creating the shortcut (ex: \\jccc-files\Information Services).