How to Create a Shortcut on the Desktop: A Comprehensive Guide for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android

Introduction

If you use your computer or mobile device often, you probably have a few applications and folders that you access frequently. Have you ever wished you could access them more easily, without having to navigate through multiple menus or screens? That’s where shortcuts on the desktop come in. A desktop shortcut is a quick way to access your favorite applications, folders, and files with just one click. In this article, we’ll explain how to create a shortcut on the desktop for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android to help you save time and streamline your workflow.

Step-by-Step Guide

Creating a shortcut on the desktop is a simple process, but it varies depending on your operating system and device. Here’s a step-by-step guide for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android:

Windows

To create a shortcut on the desktop in Windows, follow these steps:

1. Right-click on the application, folder, or file you want to create a shortcut for.
2. Click “Create shortcut.”
3. Drag and drop the shortcut onto the desktop.

You can also create a shortcut for a website by following these steps:

1. Open your web browser.
2. Navigate to the website you want to create a shortcut for.
3. Click the icon to the left of the URL in the address bar and drag it to the desktop. The shortcut will automatically be created.

MacOS

To create a shortcut on the desktop in MacOS, follow these steps:

1. Open Finder.
2. Navigate to the application, folder, or file you want to create a shortcut for.
3. Click and hold the item you want to create a shortcut for.
4. Drag it to the desktop, and release it when the green plus sign appears.

To create a shortcut for a website in MacOS, follow these steps:

1. Open your web browser.
2. Navigate to the website you want to create a shortcut for.
3. Click and hold the icon to the left of the URL in the address bar.
4. Drag it to the desktop, and release it when the green plus sign appears. The shortcut will automatically be created.

iOS

To create a shortcut on the home screen in iOS, follow these steps:

1. Open Safari.
2. Navigate to the website you want to create a shortcut for.
3. Tap the “Share” button.
4. Tap “Add to Home Screen.”
5. Enter a name for the shortcut.
6. Tap “Add.”

You can also create a shortcut for an application by following these steps:

1. Tap and hold the application you want to create a shortcut for until it jiggles.
2. Tap the “…” button.
3. Tap “Add to Home Screen.”
4. Enter a name for the shortcut.
5. Tap “Add.”

Android

To create a shortcut on the home screen in Android, follow these steps:

1. Open Chrome.
2. Navigate to the website you want to create a shortcut for.
3. Tap the three-dot menu button in the top-right corner.
4. Tap “Add to Home screen.”
5. Enter a name for the shortcut.
6. Tap “Add.”

To create a shortcut for an application in Android, follow these steps:

1. Tap and hold the application you want to create a shortcut for.
2. Tap “Add to Home screen.”

Video Tutorial

For those who prefer a more visual approach, here’s a video tutorial on how to create a shortcut on the desktop in Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android:

Infographic

Here’s an infographic that details the steps it takes to create a shortcut on the desktop in Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android:

Listicle

Here are some different ways to create a shortcut on the desktop for different operating systems and devices:

Windows

• Right-click on the application, folder, or file you want to create a shortcut for and select “Create shortcut.” Drag and drop the shortcut onto the desktop.
• Create a new shortcut by right-clicking on the desktop, selecting “New,” and then “Shortcut.” Follow the prompts to create a shortcut for an application, folder, or file.
• Pin an application to the taskbar by right-clicking on the application icon in the taskbar and selecting “Pin to taskbar.”

MacOS

• Open Finder and navigate to the application, folder, or file you want to create a shortcut for. Click and hold the item and drag it to the desktop.
• Create an alias for a folder or document by selecting it and then selecting “File” > “Make Alias.” Drag the alias to the desktop.
• Add an application to the dock by dragging its icon to the dock.

iOS

• Add a website to the home screen by opening Safari, navigating to the website, tapping the “Share” button, and then tapping “Add to Home Screen.”
• Add an application to the home screen by tapping and holding the application icon until it jiggles, tapping the “+” button, and then selecting “Add to Home Screen.”

Android

• Add a website to the home screen by opening Chrome, navigating to the website, tapping the three-dot menu button in the top-right corner, and then tapping “Add to Home screen.”
• Add an application to the home screen by tapping and holding the application icon and then selecting “Add to Home screen.”
• Add a shortcut to a widget by tapping and holding a blank area on the home screen and selecting “Widgets.” Find the application or shortcut you want to create a widget for and drag it to the home screen.

Common Shortcuts

Here are some of the most commonly used shortcuts and how to create them on the desktop for easy access in Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android:

Windows

• File Explorer: Right-click on the desktop, select “New,” and then “Shortcut.” Enter “explorer.exe” as the location and name it “File Explorer.”
• Control Panel: Right-click on the desktop, select “New,” and then “Shortcut.” Enter “control.exe” as the location and name it “Control Panel.”
• Task Manager: Right-click on the desktop, select “New,” and then “Shortcut.” Enter “taskmgr.exe” as the location and name it “Task Manager.”

MacOS

• Applications folder: Open Finder and navigate to the Applications folder. Drag the Applications folder to the desktop.
• Activity Monitor: Open Finder, go to “Applications” > “Utilities,” and drag “Activity Monitor” to the desktop.
• Network preferences: Open “System Preferences,” click on “Network,” and then drag the network preferences icon to the desktop.

iOS

• Settings: Go to “Settings,” tap “General,” and then tap “Profiles & Device Management” to create a shortcut for the “Profiles” section of the Settings app.
• App Store: Open the App Store, search for the app you want to create a shortcut for, and then tap the “Share” button. Select “Add to Home Screen.”
• Camera: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access the Control Center and then tap the camera icon to launch the camera.

Android

• Settings: Tap and hold the “Settings” application icon and then select “Create shortcut.”
• Google Play Store: Open the Google Play Store, search for the app you want to create a shortcut for, tap and hold the app icon, and select “Add to Home screen.”
• Camera: Tap and hold the camera icon on the home screen to launch the camera.

Conclusion

Creating a shortcut on the desktop is a quick and easy way to save time and access your most-used applications, folders, and websites with just one click. In this article, we provided a step-by-step guide, video tutorial, infographic, listicle, and common shortcuts for creating easy-to-access desktop shortcuts on Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. We hope these tips and tricks help you optimize your workflow and make your computing experience more efficient.