What a Chrome shortcut is and why you'd want one
A shortcut in Google Chrome is a clickable icon that opens a website or web app directly from your desktop, taskbar, or home screen — without opening Chrome first. When you click it, Chrome launches in the background and takes you straight to that site. It works on Windows, Mac, and Chromebooks.
Shortcuts are useful for sites you visit constantly: your email, a project management tool, a banking portal, or a web app you use for work. Instead of opening Chrome, typing the address, or hunting through bookmarks, you click once and you're there.
Chrome also lets you install web apps as shortcuts. These are websites designed to work like standalone programs — they open in their own window without the browser toolbar, and some work offline. Gmail, Google Maps, Trello, and Figma all work this way.
Key Takeaways
- Desktop shortcuts open a website in Chrome with a single click from your desktop or taskbar.
- Web app shortcuts open certain websites in their own window, making them look and feel like standalone programs.
- Creating a shortcut takes three clicks: right-click the address bar, select the option, and choose where to save it.
- You can rename shortcuts, move them, and delete them like any other desktop icon.
- Not every website works as a web app shortcut — only sites designed for it will give you that option.
How to create a desktop shortcut on Windows
Open Chrome and go to the website you want to shortcut to. Once the page has loaded, look at the address bar at the top left of your browser.
Right-click on the address bar (the white box showing the website address). A menu will pop up. Look for the option that says "Create shortcut" or "Create shortcut on desktop" — the exact wording depends on your Chrome version. Click it.
A small dialog box will appear asking you to name the shortcut. The name is what will show up under the icon on your desktop. You can keep the website's name or type something shorter — for example, change "Gmail - Email from Google" to just "Gmail". When you're happy with the name, click Create.
Chrome will place an icon on your desktop. Double-click it anytime to open that website in Chrome. If you want the shortcut on your taskbar instead (the bar at the bottom of your screen), right-click the desktop icon, select Send to, and choose Pinned to taskbar.
How to create a desktop shortcut on Mac
The process on Mac is nearly identical. Open Chrome, navigate to the website, and right-click the address bar. Select "Create shortcut" from the menu that appears.
Name your shortcut in the dialog box that opens, then click Create. Chrome will place the icon on your desktop. To add it to your dock instead (Mac's equivalent of the taskbar), drag the desktop icon down to your dock and release it. You can then delete the desktop version if you prefer.
How to install a website as a web app
Some websites are built to work as web apps — they'll open in their own window without the Chrome toolbar, and they often work better than the regular website version. Gmail, Google Drive, Slack, and Figma all support this.
To check if a website supports web app installation, open it in Chrome and look at the right side of the address bar. You may see a small icon that looks like a square with an arrow pointing outward, or a plus sign inside a circle. Click that icon.
A menu will appear with an option like "Install [website name]" or "Create shortcut". Click it. A dialog box will ask you to confirm the name and whether you want it on your desktop, taskbar, or start menu. Choose where you want it and click Install or Create.
The web app will now appear as its own program. When you open it, it launches in a standalone window without the browser controls. On some sites, you can even use it offline if you've already visited it once.
Renaming, moving, and deleting shortcuts
Once a shortcut is on your desktop or taskbar, you can treat it like any other icon. To rename it, right-click the icon and select Rename (Windows) or Rename from the menu (Mac). Type the new name and press Enter.
To move a shortcut, simply drag it to a new location on your desktop, into a folder, or to a different part of your taskbar. To delete it, right-click and select Delete or Remove from taskbar. Deleting the shortcut does not delete the website or your account — it only removes the icon.
If you created a web app shortcut and want to uninstall it, open the app, click the three-dot menu in the top right corner, and look for an option like "Uninstall [app name]". Click it to remove the app from your system.
Troubleshooting shortcuts that don't work
If you click a shortcut and nothing happens, Chrome may not be installed or may have been moved. Reinstall Chrome from google.com/chrome and try the shortcut again.
If the shortcut opens but takes you to the wrong page, the website may have changed its address. Delete the old shortcut and create a new one from the current website.
If you don't see a "Create shortcut" option when you right-click the address bar, your version of Chrome may be outdated. Open Chrome, click the three-dot menu in the top right, go to Settings, then About Chrome. Chrome will check for updates automatically and install them if available.
If a website won't install as a web app, it may not be designed to work that way. Not every website supports web app installation — only those built with that feature in mind will show the install option in the address bar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create a shortcut to a specific page within a website?
Yes. Navigate to the exact page you want — for example, your Gmail inbox or a specific Google Drive folder — then create the shortcut from that page. When you click the shortcut later, it will open that page directly, not the website's home page.
Will the shortcut work if I'm not logged in?
The shortcut will open the website, but if you're not logged in, you'll see the login page. Once you log in, Chrome will remember you for future visits. Web app shortcuts sometimes stay logged in longer than regular browser tabs.
Can I share a shortcut with someone else?
You can send someone the website link, and they can create their own shortcut following these steps. You cannot directly copy and paste a shortcut file to another person's computer — each person needs to create it on their own device.
What's the difference between a regular shortcut and a web app shortcut?
A regular shortcut opens the website in Chrome with all the browser controls visible. A web app shortcut opens in its own window without the address bar or toolbar, and it often works offline. Web apps are only available for websites designed to support them.
If I uninstall Chrome, do my shortcuts disappear?
Desktop shortcuts will remain on your desktop, but clicking them won't work because Chrome won't be installed. Reinstall Chrome and the shortcuts will work again. Web app shortcuts may be removed when you uninstall Chrome, depending on your operating system.