Desktop shortcuts are very useful for you to quickly access files, programs, and folders. If you often use them, you can choose to create desktop shortcuts in Windows 10. In this post, MiniTool will show you how to create a shortcut to an app, a file or folder, and a website.

How to Create a Shortcut on Windows 10

Create Desktop Shortcut to an App

How to create a shortcut in Windows 10 for an application? Here are three common methods for you.

1. Drag and Drop an App to Create Desktop Shortcut Windows 10

Just like Windows 7, you can create Windows 10 shortcuts to desktop by dragging and dropping the program from the Start menu. Here is how to create a shortcut on Windows 10 for an app in this way.

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Step 1: Go to the Windows 10’s Start menu.

Step 2: Scroll down the App list to find the app you frequently use, drag and drop it to the desktop. To be specific, the word “Link” appears when hovering over the desktop. Just release your mouse to create a link, also known as a desktop shortcut to an application.

drag and drop an app to create desktop shortcut Windows 10

2. Create Windows 10 Desktop Shortcut via Creating Shortcut to Executable

Step 1: Click the Windows logo to open the Start menu.

Step 2: Find the program you want to make a shortcut to, right-click it to choose More and Open file location.

create shortcut to executable

Step 3: Right-click on the app shortcut, click Send to and choose Desktop (create shortcut).

send to desktop to create a shortcut

3. Create Desktop Shortcut Windows 10 via File Explorer

Step 1: Open the drive where your system is installed, usually, C drive.

Step 2: Open the folders – Program Files and Program Files (x86) and search for the folder that holds the program you want to create a desktop shortcut to.

Note: The Program Files (x86) folder appears only in the Windows 64-bit system and used for 32-bit applications. If you’re on x64 Windows 10, a 32-bit application is automatically saved to Program Files (x86).
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Step 4: Find the .exe file of this program, right-click it, go to Send to > Desktop (create shortcut).

create desktop shortcut Windows 10 via file explorer

Create Desktop Shortcut to a File or Folder

How to create a shortcut in Windows 10 for a file or folder? Two methods are offered to you.

1. Drag and Drop a File or Folder

Step 1: To create a shortcut in Windows 10 to a file or folder, locate it in File Explorer.

Step 2: Hold down the Alt key on the keyboard, drag and drop it to your desktop, then release the mouse to create a link in desktop, also known as a desktop shortcut to a file or folder.

2. Create Shortcut Windows 10 from the Desktop

Step 1: Right-click any empty space on your desktop, choose New > Shortcut.

Step 2: Click the Browse button to choose the file or folder you want to create a shortcut to and then click Next.

create shortcut from the desktop

Step 3: After giving a name for the shortcut, click Finish.

Make a Desktop Shortcut for a Website

How to create a website shortcut on Windows 10? You may be also wondering about this. Actually, it is still simple. Here are two methods.

1. Drag and Drop the Website to Desktop

In Google Chrome or Firefox, open a web page, drag and drop the icon to your desktop. Then, release the mouse and a shortcut for a website is created successfully.

create a website desktop shortcut

2. Create a Website Shortcut on Windows 10 via Browser Settings

Take Google Chrome as an example.

Step 1: Open a web, click the three dots menu and click More tools > Create shortcut.

Step 2: Click Create in the pop-up window.

make a desktop shortcut for a website

The End

Now, we have shown you how to create desktop shortcut Windows 10 in 3 cases. Actually, having shortcuts to the commonly-used programs, files or a website is very helpful in Windows 10 since you can get easy access. If you prefer to keep a shortcut on the Windows desktop, just try these methods mentioned above.

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