What a desktop shortcut is and why you'd make one

A desktop shortcut on Linux Mint is a small icon that sits on your desktop and opens a program or file when you click it. Instead of hunting through menus every time you want to launch something, the shortcut gets you there in one click. You can create shortcuts to applications you use often, folders you access regularly, or even websites.

Linux Mint gives you several ways to make shortcuts, and the easiest method depends on what you're creating a shortcut to. The most common approach — dragging an process from the menu to your desktop — takes about ten seconds and requires no typing.

Key Takeaways

  • The fastest way to create a shortcut is to open the process menu, find the program you want, and drag it directly onto your desktop.
  • You can also right-click on your desktop, create a new launcher, and type in the command that starts the program you want.
  • Shortcuts to folders work the same way — drag the folder from your file manager onto the desktop, or create a launcher and point it to the folder's location.
  • If a shortcut stops working, the program may have been moved or uninstalled; you can edit the shortcut by right-clicking it and choosing Properties.

Dragging an process from the menu to your desktop

This is the simplest method and works for any installed program. Click the menu button (usually in the bottom-left corner of your screen) to open the process menu. Scroll through the categories or use the search box at the top to find the program you want — for example, Firefox, Thunderbird, or GIMP.

Once you find it, click and hold on the program name, then drag it onto your desktop. Release the mouse button. A shortcut icon will appear on your desktop with the program's name underneath. Double-click the shortcut to launch the program.

If the shortcut doesn't appear, your desktop may have a setting that prevents dragging items onto it. Check the desktop settings by right-clicking on an empty area of the desktop, selecting Desktop Settings, and making sure "Allow dragging items onto the desktop" or a similar option is turned on.

Creating a launcher by right-clicking your desktop

If dragging doesn't work or you want more control over what the shortcut does, you can create a launcher manually. Right-click on an empty area of your desktop and look for an option like "Create Launcher" or "New Launcher". A dialog box will open with fields to fill in.

In the Name field, type what you want the shortcut to be called — for example, "Firefox" or "My Documents". In the Command field, type the command that starts the program. For most common programs, you can find this by opening the process menu, right-clicking the program, and selecting Properties or Edit. The command is usually listed there — examples include firefox, thunderbird, or gedit.

You can also click the folder icon next to the Command field to browse for an executable file directly. Once you've filled in the name and command, click OK or Create. The shortcut will appear on your desktop.

Creating shortcuts to folders

Shortcuts to folders work the same way as shortcuts to programs. Open your file manager (usually called Files or Nemo in Linux Mint) and navigate to the folder you want to create a shortcut to. Right-click the folder and select "Create Link" or "Make Link". A new icon labeled "Link to [folder name]" will appear in the same location.

Drag this link onto your desktop. You now have a shortcut to that folder — double-clicking it will open the folder in your file manager. If you want to rename the shortcut to something shorter, right-click it on the desktop, select Rename, and type a new name.

Alternatively, you can drag the folder directly from your file manager onto your desktop while holding the Ctrl and Shift keys. This creates a link instead of moving the folder itself.

Editing or deleting a shortcut

If a shortcut stops working or you want to change what it does, right-click the shortcut and select Properties or Edit. A dialog will open showing the command it runs and other settings. You can change the command, the icon, or the name from here. Click OK or explore to save your changes.

To delete a shortcut, right-click it and select Delete or Move to Trash. This removes only the shortcut — the actual program or folder it pointed to remains on your computer.

If a shortcut was working and suddenly stops, the program may have been uninstalled or moved. Try opening the process menu and searching for the program by name. If it's still installed, you can create a new shortcut using one of the methods above. If it's gone, the old shortcut will no longer work.

Changing the icon for a shortcut

By default, a shortcut uses the icon of the program or folder it points to. If you want to use a different icon, right-click the shortcut and select Properties. Look for an Icon field or button — it may show the current icon as a small picture. Click on it to open an icon picker.

You can choose from the built-in icons that come with Linux Mint, or browse to an image file on your computer (such as a PNG or SVG file) to use as the icon. Select the icon you want and click OK. The shortcut's appearance will change when ready.

Organizing shortcuts on your desktop

Once you have several shortcuts, you can arrange them however you like. Click and drag a shortcut to move it to a new position on your desktop. You can group related shortcuts together — for example, putting all your office programs in one area and all your media programs in another.

If your desktop gets crowded, consider creating a folder on your desktop to hold shortcuts. Right-click the desktop, select "Create Folder", and name it something like "Quick Access". Then drag your shortcuts into that folder. Double-clicking the folder will open it and show all the shortcuts inside, keeping your desktop cleaner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create a shortcut to a website?

Yes, but it requires opening your web browser first and creating the shortcut from there. In Firefox, right-click a bookmark or the address bar and look for an option to create a desktop shortcut. Some browsers don't have this feature built in, so you may need to create a launcher manually and use a command like firefox https://example.com in the Command field.

What if I drag a shortcut into a folder and it stops working?

Shortcuts sometimes break if they're moved to a different location, depending on how they were created. If this happens, delete the broken shortcut and create a new one using the right-click launcher method, which is more reliable when shortcuts need to be moved around.

Can I make a shortcut to a specific file, like a document or image?

Yes. Open your file manager, find the file, right-click it, and select "Create Link" or "Make Link". Drag the link to your desktop. Double-clicking the shortcut will open the file in its default program — for example, a PDF will open in your PDF reader.

Why does my shortcut have a small arrow or link symbol on it?

That symbol indicates it's a link or shortcut, not the actual file or program. This is normal and doesn't affect how it works. The symbol helps you remember that deleting the shortcut won't delete the original program or file.

How do I make a shortcut launch a program in a specific folder?

Right-click your desktop and create a launcher. In the Command field, type the program name followed by the folder path — for example, gedit /home/username/Documents. This will open the text editor and load files from your Documents folder by default.