With Windows 11, you can create different shortcuts for your files, apps, folders, and websites. In this tutorial guide, you will discover how to do it.
Shortcuts are hyperlinks that direct you to a certain location or file, allowing quicker access and saving time and effort. You’ll generally make shortcuts (commonly in the computer) to specific items or destinations you frequently use.
Windows 11 offers two types of shortcuts. There are traditional shortcuts that are files that you can duplicate and then paste into any location, and there are pins that can just be placed in your Taskbar or the Start menu.
This article will show you how to make conventional shortcuts on your Desktop or in an existing folder in Windows 11.
What can you use as a shortcut from your Desktop?
Desktop shortcuts are small icons you can place on your Desktop, which permit users to double-click on them to launch the document, website page, or application you want to open. Shortcuts can be designed for virtually anything:
- If you are using a program that you regularly use
- To access a file that you are working on
- A website that you frequently visit regularly
- In a game, you are playing
It is possible to make a shortcut to Windows 10 God Mode, allowing you to access all of the Control Panel settings in one easy-to-read menu. The size of your Desktop mostly limits the number of options for shortcuts. But, it’s recommended to organize shortcuts clearly and avoid overloading the Desktop.
Create shortcuts to websites on Windows 11
In Windows 11, you have at least two options to make a shortcut to an online site on your Desktop. Here’s how.
- Drag and then drop
The easiest way to create an online shortcut is to drag and click the website icon onto your Desktop (or folder) in Windows 11.
2. Shortcut wizard
For creating a web-based shortcut to the Desktop by using Microsoft’s Windows 11 wizard, use these steps:
- Right-click on your Desktop, select New, then select the shortcut option.
- Confirm that the link to the website (URL) is in the location setting.
- Click to go next.
- Confirm that the shortcut has a name. Shortcut.
- Click the End button.
Once you’ve completed the steps, the shortcut for your web browser will be added to the Desktop. When you double-click the shortcut, you can open it with the default browser. If you’re using another browser, you have to alter your system’s settings to switch to which browser is the default.
Make a customized shortcut in Windows 11
To alter the icon for shortcuts or names in Windows 11, use these steps:
- Right-click the shortcut, then select the Property option.
- Click on the Shortcut tab.
- Click on the Change Icon button.
- Select the icon that is new to use as the shortcut.
- Click to confirm.
- Click on the button to apply.
- Click to confirm your selection.
- (Optional) Click the shortcut with a right-click, choose Optional: Right-click on the shortcut, and then select the Rename option.
- Confirm that you have changed your name, then hit Enter.
After completing all the steps, your shortcut will show the updated icon and the new name on Windows 11.
If the shortcuts appear tiny on your Desktop, you can modify their sizes by clicking on the Desktop’s right click and selecting View, then selecting between the large or medium options.
Make use of the Open File Location feature in File Explorer.
Another option to make a shortcut for your desktop is File Explorer. Take these steps:
- Click the Start and the Search icon in your Taskbar. Type the app’s name you wish to make the desktop shortcut to on your computer keyboard.
- Click Open file location. Alternatively, you can click on a specific app in the list and select the Open location option. Location option. However, this does not always work how you expect it to. It’s vital to note that certain apps generate Desktop shortcuts automatically after installation.
- Right-click to open the .exe file from the app you want to run, then click Show More choices.
- Click the option to send it to and then choose Desktop (create a shortcut).
Applications Folder Within Run Command Prompt - Use the Windows keys + R keyboard shortcut to start Run. Type the following command: explorer shell: AppsFolder. You also can start the Command Prompt (run as administrator) using the command.
- Right-click the application you’d like to use and then click to create a shortcut.
Make sure you check your Desktop. The application shortcut that you’ve made should be on there.
Controlling Shortcuts in Windows
If you’re looking for quick access to your files, folders, or apps, as well as other applications on your system, Following the steps listed above will let you create desktop shortcuts in Windows 11. Furthermore, you can reduce the number of clicks by making desktop shortcuts using things in the Start menu to gain access to certain applications and data.
There are different ways to access icons and shortcuts on the Desktop in Windows. You can display old desktop icons in Windows 11. If shortcuts or other elements disappear, you can learn to restore desktop icons using Windows 10 or 11.
If you are having difficulties seeing the desktop icons, you can find ways to alter your desktop icon dimensions on Windows.
If you have yet to upgrade to Windows 11, check out the steps to prevent icons on your desktop from changing location when a screen refresh occurs. You can also create shortcuts on the Desktop for Windows applications.
Display System Change/Display Icons are displayed on Windows 11 Desktop Windows 11.
Installing fresh Windows 11 or upgrading to Windows 11 doesn’t display any system icons except for “Recycle Bin’. However, you can display different system icons like These PC Control Panel, This PC, Network, and the User profile folder (That contains downloads, documents, images, videos, music, etc.). In addition, you can display these icons; however, you can modify their look. Learn how.
To begin, you must open the Windows 11 Settings app by pressing the Start button, right-clicking, and then selecting Settings.
After that, click the Personalization tile in the left sidebar and select Themes on the right-hand side.
Then, on the Themes page, scroll to the bottom of the desktop icon settings button in the Related settings section.
After that, the “Desktop Icon Setting dialog window will be displayed. Within the “Desktop Icons” section, check the boxes next to the icons you would like to display on your Desktop. By default, only the recycle icon is picked. The User Files option displays the user profile directory, while the Network option will show the Network drive directory.
- You can modify the icons of your system by using Windows standard icons or even your icons.
- To alter the desktop icon, choose the icon you wish to alter and select the ‘Change icon’ …’ option.
- Then, choose one of the icons of one of the stock icons and then press “OK.”
- But, if you’d like to create your icon, simply click on the ‘Browse’ …’ option.
- Select your customized icon, select your custom icon from your local drive, and click “OK.”
- Click “OK” in the Change Icon box.
- You may let the themes alter the desktop icons each time you change themes by clicking the ‘Allow themes on desktop icons’ box at the bottom of the Desktop Icon Settings. After completing the process, click Apply, and the next step is OK.
Display or hide Desktop Icons in Windows 11
If your computer is overloaded with too many shortcuts and icons, you can remove them with only two mouse clicks.
To hide or remove each icon on your Desktop, simply right-click in an empty spot on the Desktop. After that, click on the option ‘View’ and remove (click) the “Show Desktop Icons” option on the sub-menu.
To display icons on your computer, simply right-click an empty spot on your Desktop. Next, click on the View option, and then check (click) the “Show desktop icons option” in the menu below.
The icons hidden from View should be seen shortly.
Conclusion
Making desktop shortcuts for commonly used apps in Windows 11 offers quick access to your apps, which makes your work faster and more effective. Although the procedure may appear a bit different from previous versions of Windows, there are different ways of doing this. For instance, you can drag and drop shortcuts using the Start menu or Applications folder and then install folders.
Furthermore, you can alter the look of your computer by showing or obscuring icons or changing their size, as well as changing the icons of your system. If you follow these easy actions, you can improve the performance of your Windows 11 desktop for a better user experience.