To put a printer icon on the Windows 11 desktop, press Windows key + R, type control printers and press Enter. Right-click your printer, select Create shortcut, then select Yes when Windows offers to place the shortcut on the desktop.
Applies to: Windows 11. Checked against Microsoft Support and Microsoft Q&A on October 7, 2026.
Before you start
Windows can only make a desktop icon for a printer that is already installed on your PC. To check, select Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners and look for your printer in the list.
If it is missing, turn the printer on, connect it by USB or to the same network as your PC, and select Add device on that page. Our guide on how to add a printer in Windows 11 covers the setup, and Microsoft documents it in Add or install a printer in Windows.
The printer pages in the Settings app do not offer a desktop shortcut option in the steps Microsoft documents. The shortcut comes from the older printer list, which is why the method below starts with the Run box rather than Settings.
Create the printer shortcut
- Press Windows key + R. The small Run box opens.
- Type control printers and press Enter. A window opens that lists each installed printer separately.
- Find your printer in the list. If you have several, check the name against the one shown in Printers & scanners.
- Right-click the printer and select Create shortcut.
- Windows tells you it can’t create a shortcut in this window and asks whether to place it on the desktop instead. Select Yes.
These steps match the answers given for this exact question in the Microsoft Q&A thread Put printer icon on desktop.
Other ways to make the icon
Use one of these if Create shortcut does nothing, or if you simply prefer dragging.
Right-drag the printer to the desktop
- Press Windows key + R, type control printers and press Enter.
- Make the window smaller so that part of the desktop is visible behind it.
- Hold the right mouse button on your printer, drag it onto the desktop and let go. A small menu appears.
- Select Create shortcut here.
Open the Printers folder and paste a shortcut
- Press Windows key + R, type shell:PrintersFolder and press Enter. The Printers folder opens.
- Right-click your printer and select Create shortcut, then Yes.
- If no message appears, right-click the printer again and select Copy.
- Right-click an empty part of the desktop and select Paste shortcut.
You can also reach the same list from Control Panel by opening Devices and Printers. The Run commands above are quicker and take you straight to the printer list.
Check that it worked, or remove the icon
Look on the desktop for a new icon with your printer’s name. Double-click it to open that printer directly, without going through Settings first. If you do not see it right away, look among your other desktop icons before trying again.
The icon is only a shortcut. Deleting it from the desktop does not uninstall the printer. To remove the printer itself, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select the printer and select Remove.
Troubleshooting
The printer is not in the list
Confirm it appears under Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners. If it does not, add it first. If it is listed but still missing from the window opened by control printers, try shell:PrintersFolder instead.
The shortcut does not appear on the desktop
Restart File Explorer, which redraws the desktop. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, select Windows Explorer and choose Restart. Then check the desktop again or repeat the steps.
The icon stopped working after you reinstalled the printer
A shortcut points to one installed printer. If you removed and re-added the printer, delete the old icon and create a new one with the steps above.
The printer itself is not working
A desktop icon will not fix a printer that is offline or not found. Microsoft’s guide Fix printer connection and printing problems in Windows walks through the printer troubleshooter in the Get Help app, restarting the printer, checking the connection, and removing and reinstalling it.
You are on a work or school PC
Printers on managed computers are often installed by the organization, and some options can be restricted. If you cannot create the shortcut, ask your IT administrator.
Frequently asked questions
Can I add a printer icon from the Settings app?
Not directly. The Printers & scanners page is where you add, remove and set up printers, but the Create shortcut command is in the older printer list that opens with control printers.
Can I make icons for more than one printer?
Yes. Repeat the steps for each printer you want on the desktop.
Does the desktop icon change my default printer?
No. The shortcut only opens the printer. To choose which printer apps use automatically, see how to set a default printer in Windows 11.
How do I clear a stuck print job?
See how to clear the printer queue in Windows 11, which covers canceling jobs and restarting the Print Spooler service.
Can I put a Control Panel icon on the desktop too?
Yes. Follow our guide on putting a Control Panel icon on the desktop in Windows 11.
Once the icon is on your desktop, set the printer you use most as the default so apps pick it automatically.
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.