Desktop shortcuts are links that open programs or files without navigating through folders

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 — it is a pointer to the program stored elsewhere on your computer. Creating shortcuts keeps your most-used tools visible and saves you from digging through menus or file explorer every time you want to launch something.

Shortcuts work differently on Windows and Mac, and the steps depend on what you are trying to open. The process takes less than a minute once you know where to look.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, right-click any program in the Start menu or a file in File Explorer and select "Send to" or "Create shortcut" to place a link on your desktop.
  • On Mac, drag any process from the Applications folder to your desktop while holding the Command and Option keys together to create an alias.
  • Shortcuts take up almost no storage space because they point to the original program rather than copying it.
  • You can delete a shortcut without affecting the actual program, and you can organize shortcuts into folders on your desktop.

Creating shortcuts on Windows 10 and 11

The fastest way on Windows is to use the Start menu. Click the Windows icon in the bottom left corner, then type the name of the program you want (for example, "Notepad" or "Chrome"). When the program appears in the search results, right-click it and select "Open file location." This opens File Explorer and shows you the actual program file. Right-click that file and choose "Send to" then "Desktop (create shortcut)." A shortcut icon appears on your desktop when ready.

If you want a shortcut to a specific file instead of a program — like a document or spreadsheet you use often — open File Explorer, find the file, right-click it, and select "Send to" then "Desktop (create shortcut)." The same method works for folders. You can also drag a file directly to your desktop while holding the Alt key, which creates a shortcut instead of moving the file.

If the "Send to" option does not appear, right-click the program or file and select "Create shortcut" instead. Windows will create it in the current folder, and you can then drag it to your desktop.

Creating shortcuts on Mac

Mac calls shortcuts "aliases." Open Finder and navigate to Applications. Find the program you want — for example, Safari or Microsoft Word. Hold down the Command key and the Option key at the same time, then drag the program icon to your desktop. 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 create aliases for files and folders the same way. Open Finder, find what you want, hold Command and Option together, drag it to your desktop, and release. This works for anything in your file system.

If you prefer not to use keyboard shortcuts, you can also right-click a program or file in Finder, select "Make Alias," and then drag the alias to your desktop manually.

Organizing shortcuts into folders

If you create many shortcuts, your desktop can become cluttered. You can organize them by creating a folder on your desktop and moving shortcuts into it. On Windows, right-click an empty area of your desktop, select "New," then "Folder." Name it something like "Work Tools" or "Games." Then drag your shortcuts into that folder. On Mac, right-click your desktop, select "New Folder," name it, and drag aliases into it the same way.

You can also create subfolders inside these folders to organize further. A shortcut to a folder itself is useful — create a shortcut to your Documents folder or a project folder so you can open it directly from your desktop without navigating through File Explorer or Finder.

What happens when you delete a shortcut

Deleting a shortcut does nothing to the original program or file. The shortcut is only a link, so removing it from your desktop straightforward removes the link. The actual program stays installed, and the file stays in its original location. You can delete shortcuts freely without worrying about losing anything.

If you delete the original program or file, however, the shortcut will no longer work — it will point to something that no longer exists. Windows and Mac will show an error message when you try to click a broken shortcut.

Shortcuts and security

Shortcuts themselves do not pose a security risk, but they can be used to trick you. A shortcut icon can be changed to look like something it is not — for example, a shortcut that looks like a document but actually opens a program. This is rare on your personal computer, but it is worth knowing: if you receive a shortcut from someone else or read one from the internet, check what it actually opens before clicking it. Right-click the shortcut, select "Properties" on Windows or "Get Info" on Mac, and look at the "Target" or "Original item" field to see what it points to.

Creating your own shortcuts from programs you already have is safe. The shortcut straightforward launches what is already on your computer.

Shortcuts versus pinning to Start or Taskbar

Windows also lets you pin programs to the Start menu or taskbar instead of creating a desktop shortcut. Right-click a program and select "Pin to Start" or "Pin to taskbar." This is often faster than creating a shortcut because the program stays visible in your Start menu or taskbar without taking up desktop space. Mac has a similar feature called the Dock — you can drag applications to the Dock at the bottom of your screen to keep them always visible.

Desktop shortcuts are useful if you want to see many programs at once or if you prefer a clean taskbar. Pinning is better if you want to save desktop space. Both methods do the same thing: they give you quick access to programs without navigating through menus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the icon of a shortcut?

Yes. On Windows, right-click the shortcut, select "Properties," click "Change Icon," and choose a different icon from the list. On Mac, right-click the alias, select "Get Info," click the icon in the top left corner, and drag a new icon onto it. You can also read custom icon files and use those.

What if a shortcut stops working?

The original program or file was likely moved or deleted. Right-click the shortcut and select "Properties" on Windows or "Get Info" on Mac to see where it is trying to point. If the original no longer exists, delete the shortcut. If it was moved, you can update the shortcut by creating a new one from the program's new location.

Can I create a shortcut to a website?

Yes. Open your web browser, go to the website, then drag the address bar icon (or the page itself) to your desktop. On Windows, this creates a shortcut. On Mac, you may need to use Command and Option keys while dragging, or right-click the page and select "Save as" with "Web Archive" selected.

Do shortcuts take up storage space?

Almost none. A shortcut is just a small text file that points to the real program, so it uses only a few kilobytes. Creating many shortcuts will not noticeably affect your storage.