Save this page as a PDF or print it for quick access. Once you practice each method once, you’ll never need to hunt through menus again.
Master the Shortcut: Every Way to Open a New Desktop Shortcut how to open a new desktop shortcut
In the fast-paced world of digital productivity, every second counts. Moving your mouse across the screen to navigate through layers of folders or scrolling through a massive list of applications can break your flow. Desktop shortcuts are the ultimate "fast-pass" for your workflow, allowing you to launch your favorite tools, documents, and websites instantly. Save this page as a PDF or print it for quick access
Open the Start Menu . Find the app you want, left-click and hold it, then drag it directly onto your desktop. Moving your mouse across the screen to navigate
You can type the path to the file or click Browse to find the specific app or document you want to link.
For a web app (like Gmail), use Chrome/Edge → three‑dot menu → Save and share → Create shortcut → check “Open as window” → then move that shortcut to the desktop.