Shortcuts help you find a program, file or folder quickly and easily. Windows 10 makes it easy to create shortcuts for any program, file or folder. They can even be added to the Start menu, the taskbar or any other place on your computer that you choose to display them.
Creating a Folder Shortcut
To create a folder shortcut, you first need to find the program’s executable (.exe) file, which is usually in the program’s directory. Once you’ve found it, right-click or press-and-hold on a free area on your desktop to open the contextual menu and select New, then click or tap on Shortcut. This will launch the Create Shortcut wizard, which is similar to that of the one for apps and files.
Once the Create Shortcut wizard opens, type in a name for your shortcut and then click or tap on Next. A Finish button will appear at the bottom of the dialog box if you’re satisfied with your results.
Creating a Desktop Shortcut
You can create desktop shortcuts for any programs or files that you frequently use on your computer, so they’re accessible when you need them most. This helps you save time and effort, especially if the program, file or document is on the desktop.
When you add a desktop shortcut to a file or program, it will appear on the desktop as an icon. The icon will be the same as the original if it’s a file or folder, but it will also have a small arrow pointing to it.
The tiny arrow and the file name will show you what program or file the shortcut points to, so you can be sure it’s the right one. When you double-click a desktop shortcut, the file or folder will open automatically.
If you’re creating a shortcut to a folder, you should create it at the top of the folder, not the bottom. This ensures that the folder is always accessible, and that you don’t accidentally send it to the wrong location.
How to Add a Desktop Shortcut
When you want to create a desktop shortcut on your Windows 10 PC, there are two ways: by using the Create shortcut wizard or by creating a direct link from an application. The former is the easiest, and it’s what I recommend.
Step 1: To create a direct link from an app, right-click the icon of the program you want to add a desktop shortcut for and choose Send to > Desktop (create shortcut).
Once you’ve clicked this option, it’s very easy to send the app to your desktop. Once you’ve done that, it’ll show up in your All Apps list and will have a name and a shortcut icon on your desktop.
In addition, you can also pin a desktop shortcut to the Start menu or taskbar. The shortcut is available for any program that has an icon on your screen, including Microsoft Office and other applications that you use regularly.
