To Desktop — How To Add Icon

Only put shortcuts and system folders on your desktop. Keep raw data in your User folders.

Before clicking, understand what you are placing.

: An alternative is to create an alias. Select the application, then right-click (or Ctrl-click) and select "Make Alias". You can then drag this alias to your desktop. how to add icon to desktop

Now, go clean up that desktop. Add only what you need. And change that ugly default folder icon while you’re at it.

Unlike Windows, dragging a folder from "Documents" to the Desktop on a Mac moves the original file (because macOS uses a unified file system). To copy a folder to the desktop without removing it from its origin: Hold (⌥) while dragging. Only put shortcuts and system folders on your desktop

By default, macOS hides the internal SSD to prevent clutter.

: In the "Location" field, you can either type the path to the application or file you want to add to your desktop, or you can browse for it by clicking on the "Browse" button. Once you've selected or entered the path, click "Next". : An alternative is to create an alias

Alternatively:

The icon will now appear on your desktop.