To create a desktop shortcut in Windows 10, right-click an empty part of the desktop and select New > Shortcut. Select Browse or type the location of the app, file, folder, or website, then select Next. Give it a name and select Finish.
Applies to: Windows 10. Checked against Microsoft Support on September 27, 2026.
A shortcut only points to the item. Deleting a shortcut doesn’t delete the app or file. On Windows 11, the same idea works for email: see how to put a mail icon on the Windows 11 desktop.
Create a shortcut with New > Shortcut
- Right-click an empty part of the desktop.
- Select New > Shortcut.
- Select Browse to find the item, or type its location. For a website, type the full address, such as https://www.supportyourtech.com.
- Select Next.
- Type a name for the shortcut and select Finish.
Create a shortcut for an app
- Select Start and find the app in the list.
- Drag the app from the Start menu onto the desktop.
If dragging doesn’t work, press Windows + R, type shell:AppsFolder, and press Enter. Right-click the app and select Create shortcut. When Windows asks to place the shortcut on the desktop, select Yes. The same approach works for games on newer PCs, as shown in our guide on how to make a Minecraft desktop shortcut in Windows 11.
Create a shortcut for a file or folder
- Open File Explorer and find the file or folder.
- Right-click it and select Send to > Desktop (create shortcut).
Change a shortcut’s icon or add a keyboard shortcut
- Right-click the shortcut and select Properties.
- On the Shortcut tab, select Change Icon to pick a new icon.
- To open it with keys, click in Shortcut key and press a letter. Windows adds Ctrl + Alt in front of it.
- Select OK.
If a shortcut doesn’t work
- “Problem with Shortcut” message: the item it points to was moved, renamed, or deleted. Right-click the shortcut, select Properties, and check the Target box. Fix the path, or delete the shortcut and make a new one.
- Shortcut points to a drive that isn’t connected: shortcuts to a USB drive, network share, or mapped drive only work while that drive is available. Connect the drive and try again.
- Blank or white icon: Windows may not have loaded the icon yet. Restart your PC, or open Properties, select Change Icon, and pick the icon again.
- Keyboard shortcut does nothing: shortcut keys only work for shortcuts on the desktop or in the Start menu folders. Check that another app isn’t already using the same key combination.
- Can’t drag an app from Start: use the shell:AppsFolder method above instead.
Frequently asked questions
Why can’t I see my desktop shortcuts?
Your desktop icons may be hidden. See how to show, hide, or restore desktop icons in Windows 10.
How do I make shortcuts bigger or smaller?
See how to change icon size in Windows 10.
Can I put a website on the taskbar instead?
Yes. See how to pin a website to the taskbar in Windows 10.
Does deleting a shortcut delete the program?
No. A shortcut is a small link file. Deleting it removes only the link. The app, file, or folder stays where it is. To remove an app, uninstall it from Settings > Apps.
How can I tell a shortcut from the original file?
Shortcuts have a small arrow in the lower-left corner of the icon. In Properties, the file type shows as Shortcut (.lnk) for files and apps, or Internet Shortcut for websites.
Can I make a shortcut that opens a website in a specific browser?
Yes. Create a shortcut to the browser’s program file, then add the web address after the path in the Target box, separated by a space. The site then opens in that browser instead of your default one.
To give a shortcut a new look, see how to change app icons in Windows 10.
To remove a shortcut in Windows 11, see how to remove desktop shortcuts in Windows 11.
On Windows 11, apps from the Microsoft Store need a slightly different method. For an example, see how to create a WhatsApp shortcut on the desktop in Windows 11.
Microsoft’s guides are Create a desktop shortcut for an Office program or file and Use a screen reader to explore and navigate the Start menu in Windows. More help is on our Windows Help & Guides page.
Related: desktop icon text color in Windows 10.
Related: put apps on the home screen in Windows 10.
Related: how to show the desktop in Windows 10.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.