What a desktop shortcut is and why you'd want one
A desktop shortcut is a small icon on your desktop that opens a program, file, or folder when you click it. It is not the actual program or file — it is a pointer that tells your computer where to find the real thing. Creating shortcuts saves you from digging through your file system or process menu every time you want to open something you use regularly.
Shortcuts are especially useful for programs you launch multiple times a day, documents you return to often, or folders you access frequently. They take up almost no storage space because they only store the location of the original file, not a copy of it. If you delete a shortcut, the original program or file stays on your computer untouched.
Key Takeaways
- On Windows, right-click a program or file and select "Send to" then "Desktop (create shortcut)" to make a shortcut in seconds.
- On Mac, hold Control and Command while dragging a program or file to your desktop to create an alias, which works like a shortcut.
- You can rename shortcuts by right-clicking and selecting "Rename" on Windows, or by clicking once and pressing Enter on Mac.
- Deleting a shortcut or alias removes only the icon on your desktop, not the original program or file.
Creating a shortcut on Windows
The fastest way on Windows is to use the "Send to" menu. Find the program or file you want to shortcut — either in your Start menu, in File Explorer, or in the folder where it lives. Right-click on it and look for "Send to" in the menu that appears. Click "Send to," then select "Desktop (create shortcut)." The shortcut appears on your desktop when ready.
If "Send to" does not show up, you can create a shortcut manually. Right-click on an empty area of your desktop, select "New," then click "Shortcut." A window opens asking you to type the location of the item. If you are not sure of the exact path, click "Browse" to navigate to the file or program instead. Once you have entered the location, click "Next," give the shortcut a name, and click "Finish."
For programs installed on your computer, you can also find them in the Start menu, right-click, and select "Open file location." This opens the folder where the program is stored. Right-click the program file itself and choose "Send to" then "Desktop (create shortcut)."
Creating an alias on Mac
On Mac, the equivalent of a Windows shortcut is called an alias. The easiest way to make one is to hold down Control and Command at the same time, then drag the program or file to your desktop. When you release the mouse, an alias appears on your desktop with a small arrow in the corner of the icon to show it is a link, not the original.
You can also create an alias through the File menu. Open Finder, navigate to the program or file you want, click on it once to select it, then go to the File menu at the top and select "Make Alias." An alias appears in the same folder with the word "alias" added to its name. You can then drag this alias to your desktop, or leave it where it is.
Another method is to right-click the program or file, hold down the Option key, and select "Make Alias" from the menu. This creates the alias in the same location as the original. Drag it to your desktop if you want it there instead.
Organizing and renaming shortcuts
Once you have created shortcuts, you can organize them however makes sense for your workflow. Group related shortcuts together, or arrange them by how often you use them. You can create folders on your desktop to hold shortcuts — for example, a "Work" folder for job-related programs and a "Creative" folder for design tools.
To rename a shortcut on Windows, right-click it and select "Rename." Type the new name and press Enter. On Mac, click the alias once to select it, press Enter, type the new name, and press Enter again. You can make names as descriptive as you want — "Q1 Budget Spreadsheet" is clearer than "Shortcut to Document1."
Changing what icon a shortcut displays
By default, a shortcut shows the icon of the program or file it points to. On Windows, you can change this icon to something else. Right-click the shortcut, select "Properties," then click the "Shortcut" tab. Click "Change Icon" at the bottom of the window. Windows shows you a list of available icons to choose from. Pick one and click "OK," then "OK" again.
On Mac, you cannot change an alias icon the same way. Instead, you can copy the icon from another program or image file. Right-click the program or image whose icon you want to use, select "Get Info," click the icon at the top left of the window, press Command+C to copy it, then open the Get Info window for your alias, click its icon, and press Command+V to paste. This is less common and takes more steps, so most Mac users leave alias icons as they are.
Troubleshooting shortcuts that do not work
If you click a shortcut and nothing happens, the original file or program may have been moved or deleted. On Windows, right-click the shortcut, select "Properties," and check the "Target" field to see where it is looking. If that location is wrong, you can edit it to point to the new location, or delete the shortcut and create a new one.
On Mac, if an alias points to something that no longer exists, the alias icon appears dimmed or shows a question mark. Delete it and create a new alias pointing to the correct location. If a program has been updated or reinstalled, its shortcut or alias may break — in that case, delete the old one and create a new one from the updated program.
Shortcuts can also stop working if you move them to a different drive or partition on Windows. If this happens, recreate the shortcut on the new location. Mac aliases are more flexible and usually follow the original file even if you move it, so this is less of a problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create a shortcut to a website?
Yes. In your web browser, click and drag the address bar (the part showing the web address) to your desktop. This creates a shortcut that opens that website in your default browser. On Mac, you can also right-click a bookmark in your browser and select "Open in New Tab," then drag the address bar to your desktop.
What happens if I delete a shortcut?
Only the shortcut is deleted. The original program, file, or folder stays on your computer exactly as it was. You can always create a new shortcut to it later.
Can I move a shortcut to a different folder?
Yes. On both Windows and Mac, you can drag a shortcut or alias into any folder, or move it using cut and paste. The original file or program is not affected.
Why does my shortcut have a small arrow on the icon?
On Windows, a small arrow indicates it is a shortcut, not the original file. On Mac, a small arrow means it is an alias. Both work the same way — they point to the original item.
Can I create a shortcut to a folder?
Yes, on both Windows and Mac. Right-click the folder and use "Send to" then "Desktop (create shortcut)" on Windows, or Control+Command+drag on Mac. This is useful for folders you access often without opening a specific file inside them.