What a shortcut is and why you might want one

A shortcut is a small file that points to another file, folder, or program on your computer. When you click the shortcut, it opens whatever it points to — without you having to dig through folders to find it. Shortcuts save time because you can put them on your desktop or in your taskbar, right where you can see them.

The original file stays where it is. The shortcut is just a link to it, so deleting a shortcut does not delete the real file. This makes shortcuts safe to create and remove whenever you want.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, right-click a file or folder, select "Send to," then "Desktop (create shortcut)" to put a shortcut on your desktop.
  • On Mac, hold down Command and Option while dragging a file to create an alias, which works the same way as a Windows shortcut.
  • You can move shortcuts to your taskbar or dock so they open with a single click from anywhere.
  • Deleting a shortcut does not delete the original file, so you can safely remove shortcuts you no longer use.

Creating a shortcut on Windows

The fastest way on Windows is to right-click the file or folder you want to shortcut. A menu appears. Look for "Send to" and hover over it — a submenu opens. Click "Desktop (create shortcut)." A shortcut icon appears on your desktop when ready.

If you want the shortcut somewhere other than your desktop, you can create it the same way and then drag it to wherever you want — your Documents folder, your Downloads folder, or anywhere else. You can also right-click on an empty area of your desktop, select "New," then "Shortcut," and type the path to the file you want to link to, but the "Send to" method is simpler if the file is already visible.

Creating an alias on Mac

On Mac, the equivalent of a shortcut is called an alias. To create one, find the file or folder you want to alias. Hold down Command and Option on your keyboard, then drag the file to where you want the alias to appear — your desktop, a folder, or anywhere else. When you release the mouse, the alias appears with a small arrow in the corner of its icon.

You can also right-click the file, select "Make Alias," and then move the alias wherever you want. Both methods create the same thing — a link that opens the original file when you click it.

Putting shortcuts in your taskbar or dock

Once you have created a shortcut or alias, you can make it even faster to reach by pinning it to your taskbar (Windows) or dock (Mac). On Windows, right-click the shortcut and select "Pin to taskbar." The shortcut now appears in the taskbar at the bottom of your screen, and you can open it with a single click no matter what window you are working in.

On Mac, drag the alias onto your dock at the bottom of the screen. It stays there until you remove it. To remove it, right-click the icon in the dock and select "Remove from Dock" — this does not delete the original file or the alias, just removes it from the dock.

Shortcuts to programs versus shortcuts to files

You can create shortcuts to programs (like Word, Chrome, or Zoom) the same way you create shortcuts to files and folders. Right-click the program and send it to your desktop, or drag it to your dock. This is useful if you use a program often but it is buried several clicks deep in your Start menu or Applications folder.

Shortcuts to programs work exactly like shortcuts to files — they are just links, and deleting the shortcut does not uninstall the program. The program itself stays on your computer in its original location.

Organizing shortcuts you create

If you create many shortcuts, your desktop can get crowded. A cleaner approach is to create a folder called "Shortcuts" or "Quick Links" in your Documents folder, then put all your shortcuts there. You can then create a shortcut to that folder and put it on your desktop, giving you one-click access to all your other shortcuts.

Another option is to use your taskbar or dock instead of your desktop. Both are designed to hold frequently used items, and they take up less visual space. You can pin 10 or 15 shortcuts to your taskbar without it becoming hard to read.

What to do if a shortcut stops working

If you click a shortcut and nothing happens, the original file or folder has probably been moved or deleted. The shortcut is looking for it in the old location and cannot find it. Delete the broken shortcut and create a new one pointing to the file in its new location.

On Windows, you can also right-click the shortcut, select "Properties," and look at the "Target" field to see where it is pointing. If the path looks wrong, you can edit it, but it is usually faster to just delete the shortcut and make a new one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does deleting a shortcut delete the original file?

No. A shortcut is only a link. Deleting it removes the link but leaves the original file untouched on your computer. You can safely delete any shortcut without losing the file it points to.

Can I create a shortcut to a website?

Yes. In your web browser, right-click the address bar and select "Create shortcut" (Chrome) or drag the page icon to your desktop (most browsers). A shortcut appears that opens the website when clicked. On Mac, you can also drag the page icon from the address bar to your desktop.

What is the difference between a shortcut and moving a file?

A shortcut is a link that stays in one place and points to the original file elsewhere. Moving a file physically relocates it. If you move a file to your desktop, it is no longer in its original folder. If you create a shortcut on your desktop, the original file stays where it was, and the shortcut just points to it.

Can I rename a shortcut?

Yes. Right-click the shortcut, select "Rename," and type a new name. Renaming the shortcut does not affect the original file. You can name shortcuts anything you want to make them easier to recognize.

Why would I create a shortcut instead of just moving the file?

Shortcuts let you access a file from multiple places without duplicating it or moving it away from where other programs expect to find it. For example, you can create a shortcut to a work folder on your desktop while the folder stays in your Documents folder where your backup software looks for it.