Windows ten withal lets yous create desktop shortcuts to applications, files, folders, and even websites. Desktop icons may a niggling out of fashion, but they're still useful as part of a nicely organized desktop.

How to Create a Shortcut to an Application

To practise this the piece of cake manner, open Windows 10'southward Start carte du jour. Look for the application you want to use by scrolling through the Apps listing at the left side of the carte. If it's in the tiles list at the right side of the menu, you can besides drag information technology from at that place.

Once yous've constitute it, drag and drop the application'southward shortcut from your Start card to your desktop. You'll see the give-and-take "Link" appear when you're hovering over the desktop. Release the mouse button to create a link to the program, also known equally a desktop shortcut.

Creating a desktop shortcut from Windows 10's Start menu

Notation that you can't search for the application past name in the Start menu. Windows 10 won't allow you drag and driblet anything from the search results. It should, but it doesn't.

How to Create a Shortcut to a File or Binder

To create a desktop shortcut to a file, offset, locate the file somewhere in File Explorer. Concur down the Alt key on your keyboard and so drag and drop the file or binder to your desktop. The words "Create Link in Desktop" will appear. Release the mouse button to create the link.

Creating a desktop shortcut from a file in Windows 10's File Explorer

Holding down Alt is necessary. If you don't agree downwardly Alt, Windows will show the words "Motion to Desktop," and it volition move the folder or file to your desktop rather than simply creating a link.

How to Create a Shortcut to a Website

In Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, yous can quickly create desktop shortcuts to websites. With a web page open, drag and driblet the icon to the left of the accost bar—information technology'due south generally a padlock or an "i" in a circle—to the desktop.

Creating a desktop shortcut link to a web page with Google Chrome on Windows 10

This doesn't work in Microsoft Edge for some reason. Border won't let you directly create desktop shortcuts. Notwithstanding, you tin can create them in Chrome or Firefox, and they'll automatically open in your default web browser—even if that's Microsoft Border.

Working With Your Shortcuts

Whatever type of shortcut y'all create, yous tin right-click information technology later, select "Rename," and change the name to whatever you similar.

Yous can use all the to a higher place methods to create shortcuts in other folders, too. Desire to create a shortcut to a website or awarding in your Downloads folder? Go right ahead! Just drag and driblet it to your desired location instead of the desktop.

If you don't see whatsoever shortcuts on your desktop, they may be hidden. Right-click the desktop and select View > Show Desktop Icons to unhide them.

You tin also choose the size of your desktop icons from here—large, medium, or modest. For more size options, position your mouse cursor over the desktop, agree down the Ctrl key, and scroll up and down with your mouse wheel.

RELATED: How To Organize Your Messy Windows Desktop (And Go along It That Way)