Creating a desktop shortcut on Windows and Mac
A desktop shortcut is a small icon on your desktop that opens a program, file, or folder when you click it. The fastest way to create one depends on what you're using — Windows and Mac handle shortcuts differently, and the method changes based on whether you want to shortcut a program, a document, or a website.
On Windows, you can right-click on your desktop and create a shortcut directly, or drag a program from your Start menu. On Mac, you hold down Option and Command while dragging an application or file to your desktop. Both methods take under a minute and require no special software.
Key Takeaways
- Windows shortcuts can be created by right-clicking your desktop, selecting "New," then "Shortcut," and typing the program name or file path.
- Mac shortcuts are created by holding Option and Command while dragging an application or file to your desktop.
- You can also drag a program directly from your Applications folder (Mac) or Start menu (Windows) to your desktop to create a shortcut.
- Website shortcuts can be created on both systems by dragging the address bar icon to your desktop.
- Shortcuts take up almost no storage space and point to the original program or file, so deleting a shortcut does not delete the original.
Creating a shortcut on Windows using right-click
Right-click on an empty area of your desktop. A menu will appear with several options. Select "New," then look for "Shortcut" in the submenu that opens.
A window titled "Create Shortcut" will open and ask you to enter the location of the item. If you're creating a shortcut to a program, type the program name — for example, "notepad" for Notepad or "chrome" for Google Chrome. If you're creating a shortcut to a file or folder, type the full file path, which usually looks like C:\Users\YourName\Documents\MyFile.txt. Click "Next," give your shortcut a name, then click "Finish." The shortcut will appear on your desktop.
If you don't know the exact program name or file path, you can browse for it instead. In the "Create Shortcut" window, click "Browse" to open a file explorer window, navigate to the program or file you want, select it, and click "OK." Windows will fill in the path automatically.
Creating a shortcut on Windows by dragging from the Start menu
Open your Start menu and find the program you want to shortcut. Right-click the program name and select "Open file location." A folder window will open showing the program file.
Right-click the program file and select "Send to," then "Desktop (create shortcut)." Windows will create the shortcut immediately. This method is faster than typing a path if you're not sure of the exact name or location.
Alternatively, you can drag the program directly from the Start menu to your desktop. Click and hold on the program name, drag it to your desktop, and release. Windows will create a shortcut automatically.
Creating a shortcut on Mac using Option and Command
Open Finder and navigate to the application or file you want to shortcut. Hold down the Option and Command keys together, then click and drag the application or file to your desktop. Release the mouse button. Mac will create an alias — which is Mac's version of a shortcut — on your desktop.
The alias will have a small arrow icon in the corner to show it's a link to the original. You can rename it by clicking on the name and typing a new one. Deleting the alias does not delete the original application or file.
Creating a shortcut on Mac by dragging from Applications
Open Finder and click "Applications" in the sidebar. Find the program you want to shortcut. Hold Option and Command, then drag the program to your desktop. Release the mouse button to create the alias.
If you forget to hold Option and Command, Mac will move the program instead of creating a shortcut. If this happens, press Command+Z to undo, then try again with the keys held down.
Creating shortcuts to websites
On Windows, open your web browser and navigate to the website you want to shortcut. Click and drag the website icon (the small image to the left of the web address in the address bar) to your desktop. Release the mouse button. Your browser will create a shortcut that opens the website when clicked.
On Mac, open your web browser and navigate to the website. Click and drag the website icon from the address bar to your desktop. Release the mouse button to create the shortcut. Some browsers also let you right-click a bookmark and select "Add to Desktop" or a similar option.
Understanding shortcuts versus copies
A shortcut is not a copy of the original program or file — it's a link that points to the original location. This means shortcuts take up almost no storage space on your computer. When you delete a shortcut, only the shortcut is removed; the original program or file stays where it is.
If you move or delete the original program or file after creating a shortcut, the shortcut will stop working and show an error when you click it. You can fix this by creating a new shortcut to the program or file in its new location.
On Windows, shortcuts have a .lnk file extension. On Mac, aliases have a small arrow icon in the corner. Both are easy to spot and distinguish from the original items they point to.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I delete a shortcut?
Only the shortcut is deleted. The original program or file remains on your computer in its original location. You can create a new shortcut at any time without losing the original.
Can I create a shortcut to a folder?
Yes. On Windows, right-click your desktop, select "New" then "Shortcut," and type the folder path. On Mac, hold Option and Command while dragging the folder to your desktop. Both methods work the same way for folders as they do for programs and files.
Why does my shortcut show an error when I click it?
The original program or file has likely been moved or deleted. Create a new shortcut pointing to the current location of the program or file. If the program was uninstalled, reinstall it first, then create a new shortcut.
Can I organize shortcuts into folders on my desktop?
Yes. Create a new folder on your desktop, then drag shortcuts into it. On both Windows and Mac, you can organize shortcuts the same way you organize any other desktop items.
Do shortcuts work if I move my computer to a different user account?
Shortcuts usually stop working if you move them to a different user account, because they point to file paths specific to the original account. Create new shortcuts in the new account instead.