The fastest way to add a link to your desktop

The simplest method depends on what you want to link to. For a website, right-click on your desktop, select New, then Shortcut. Paste the full web address (starting with https://) into the location field, name it, and click Finish. For a file or folder already on your computer, right-click it in File Explorer, hover over Send to, and select Desktop (create shortcut). The shortcut appears immediately on your desktop.

On Mac, drag a file or folder to your desktop while holding Command and Option together — this creates a shortcut rather than moving the original. For websites, drag the address bar icon (the small globe or lock icon to the left of the web address) directly onto your desktop.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows shortcuts to websites require the full address starting with https:// pasted into a new shortcut dialog.
  • Windows file shortcuts are created by right-clicking the file and choosing Send to > Desktop (create shortcut).
  • Mac shortcuts to files are made by dragging while holding Command and Option keys together.
  • Mac website shortcuts are created by dragging the address bar icon to your desktop.

Creating a website shortcut on Windows

Open your web browser and navigate to the website you want to link to. Copy the full address from the address bar — it should start with https:// or http://. Right-click on an empty area of your desktop and select New, then Shortcut. A dialog box opens asking for the location of the item.

Paste the web address into the text field labeled Type the location of the item. Click Next. The dialog asks you to name the shortcut — use whatever name you want to see on your desktop. Click Finish. The shortcut now appears on your desktop with a small arrow icon in the corner, indicating it is a shortcut rather than the original file.

Creating a file or folder shortcut on Windows

Open File Explorer and locate the file or folder you want to link to. Right-click it directly. A menu appears with many options. Hover your mouse over Send to — a submenu slides out. Select Desktop (create shortcut). Windows creates the shortcut immediately without moving or copying the original file.

The shortcut appears on your desktop with the same name as the original, plus the word "shortcut" added. You can rename it by right-clicking the shortcut and selecting Rename. Double-clicking the shortcut opens the original file or folder no matter where it is stored on your computer.

Creating shortcuts on Mac

For files and folders, open Finder and locate what you want to link to. Click and hold the file, then press and hold Command and Option at the same time while dragging to your desktop. Release the mouse. A shortcut with an arrow badge appears on your desktop. The original file stays in its original location.

For websites, open your web browser and navigate to the page you want. Look at the address bar — on the far left is a small icon (usually a globe or lock symbol). Click and drag this icon directly onto your desktop. A shortcut appears with the website's name. Clicking it opens that page in your default browser.

Organizing shortcuts and changing their appearance

Shortcuts take up very little space and do not duplicate your files, so you can create as many as you need. On Windows, right-click a shortcut and select Properties to change its icon — click the Change Icon button to choose from Windows' built-in icons or browse for your own image file. You can also add a keyboard shortcut by filling in the Shortcut key field, though this only works if the shortcut is on your desktop or in your Start menu.

On Mac, right-click a shortcut and select Get Info. You cannot change the icon of an alias (Mac's version of a shortcut) directly, but you can change the icon of the original file, and the shortcut will reflect that change automatically. Organize shortcuts into folders on your desktop to keep things tidy — create a folder, then drag shortcuts into it.

What to do if a shortcut stops working

A shortcut breaks if the original file is moved, renamed, or deleted. On Windows, right-click the broken shortcut and select Properties. The Target field shows the path to the original. If the file has moved, you can update this path manually, or delete the shortcut and create a new one. For website shortcuts, they rarely break unless your internet connection is down.

On Mac, if a shortcut points to a file that no longer exists, the shortcut simply does nothing when clicked. Delete it and create a new one. If you frequently move files around, consider using cloud storage like OneDrive or iCloud — shortcuts to cloud files update automatically because the file's location in the cloud does not change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create a shortcut to a specific document or email?

Yes. For documents, right-click the file in File Explorer or Finder and create a shortcut as described above. For email, most email programs do not support direct shortcuts, but you can create a website shortcut to your email's web version (like Gmail or Outlook.com) instead.

What is the difference between a shortcut and a copy?

A shortcut is a link that points to the original file. Deleting the shortcut does not delete the original. A copy is a duplicate — it takes up disk space and changes to the copy do not affect the original. Always use shortcuts for your desktop to save space.

Can I put shortcuts in my taskbar or dock instead of on the desktop?

On Windows, you can pin programs to the taskbar by right-clicking them and selecting Pin to taskbar. On Mac, you can drag files and folders to the dock. Both methods work similarly to desktop shortcuts but keep your desktop cleaner.

Why does my website shortcut open in the wrong browser?

Website shortcuts open in whatever browser is set as your default. Change your default browser in your system settings — on Windows, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps and select your preferred browser. On Mac, go to System Preferences > General and choose your default web browser.