How to make desktop shortcuts in Windows 10
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
How to make desktop shortcuts in Windows 10
Need instructions on how to make desktop shortcuts on Windows? You’re in luck! We’ve put together a step-by-step guide on how to do it. And don’t worry, although finding the pipeline to accomplish this task isn’t the most intuitive, once you find out how to create desktop shortcuts, it’s super easy.
Looking for even more time-saving life-hacks? These Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts will save you clicks, we promise.
Method #1: Desktop apps only
1. Select the Windows button to open the Start menu.
2. Select All apps.
3. Right-click on the app you want to create a desktop shortcut for.
4. Select More.
5. Select Open file location. If this option does not appear, this app is a Modern app, so you’ll want to use the second set of instructions.
6. Right-click on the app’s icon.
7. Select Create shortcut.
8. Select Yes.
You’ve now got a desktop shortcut for your Desktop program!
Method #2: Modern or Desktop apps
1. Tap on the Windows icon to open the start menu.
2. Type «Command Prompt» into the the Cortana box.
3. Select Command Prompt from the results.
4. Type «explorer shell:AppsFolder» without the quotation marks and press Enter.
5. Right-click an app.
6. Select Create shortcut.
7. Select Yes.
Your app now has a desktop shortcut!
To learn how to place website links on your desktop, check out our guide on how to create website shortcuts on your desktop with Chrome.
And if you want to fill your desktop with custom folders, here’s how to create a folder in Windows 10.
Mac to PC Guide: How to make the switch
- Previous Tip
- Next Tip
- Create a Microsoft account
- Set up and use iCloud on Windows
- Format a hard drive for both Windows and Mac
- Move your Mac files to a Windows PC
- Convert Mac-specific files to work on Windows 10
- Authorize your new PC with your iTunes account
- How to import iPhone photos to Windows 10
- A guide to Windows 10 touchpad gestures for Mac users
- A Mac user’s guide to Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts
- Sign in to Facebook and Twitter in Windows 10
- Set up iCloud email and calendars on Windows 10
- How to force quit in Windows 10
- How to install apps in Windows 10
- Snap four windows at once in Windows 10
- How to use Cortana in Windows 10: tips and how-to’s
- Install QuickTime on Windows 10
Today’s best windows 10 deals
107 Amazon customer reviews
☆☆☆☆☆
£34.
99
View Deal
£89
View Deal
£106.99
View Deal
Show More Deals
Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors
How to get to the Desktop on Windows 11/10 PC
How to go to Desktop could mean a lot of things. You might want to minimize everything and go to the Desktop or could be the Desktop, which is missing the icons, or maybe the Desktop has entirely disappeared.
In this post, we answer these types of questions so you can get to Desktop on Windows as it was earlier.
In this post we discuss multiple ways to get to the Windows 11/10 desktop and also answer some popular questions asked by some of the users when they faced a problem with the Windows Desktop:
- Use Keyboard Shortcut
- Use Mouse to reveal Desktop and windows
- Windows Desktop is missing
- Windows Desktop icon is missing
- Get back the classic Desktop in Windows
- Add Show Desktop icon
- How to get to the Desktop in tablet mode
I am sure if you have been using Windows for some time, most of them are known, but if you are new, I am sure you will find something new.
1] Use Keyboard Shortcut
To minimize everything, and look at the files and icons on the Desktop, press Win+D. The only drawback of this method is you will have to open all windows one by one.
2] Use Mouse to Show desktop
Move your mouse cursor to the extreme right of the Taskbar, and click.
There is a small vertical bar called “Show desktop,” which, when clicked, minimizes all windows to get to the Desktop. When you click on it, it will restore the windows. You can also call this Aero Peek, which lets you peek into the Desktop.
3] Windows Desktop is missing
If you cannot see the Desktop and even the Taskbar, you need to restart File Explorer.
- Use CTRL+SHIFT+ESC to open Task Manager
- Click on File > Run
- Type explorer and press the Enter key.
- It will restart File Explorer and restore both, the Desktop and Taskbar.
After this, you can get the Desktop back to normal on Windows 11/10.
4] Windows Desktop icon is missing
If you can access your Desktop and see the wallpaper, but cannot see the icons, then here is what you should do to bring them back.
- Right-click on the Desktop
- In the context menu, select Show desktop icons
If you had a desktop icon(s), it would reveal itself.
If not, then everything is normal.
5] How to get back the classic Desktop in Windows
If you liked how Windows 7 Desktop was arranged, i.e., Recycle bin, My Computer, Network place icons, then here is what you can do to bring back the classic style desktop.
- Open Windows 11/10 Settings
- Navigate to Personalization > Themes
- Under Related Settings, click on Desktop icon settings
- Select the icons which you want to bring back and click on the Apply button.
6] Add Show Desktop icon
Windows XP used to have a show desktop icon that performed the same action, which Win + D keyboard shortcut does.
Create a new shortcut, and when it asks for the path, add the following
%windir%\explorer.exe shell:::{3080F90D-D7AD-11D9-BD98-0000947B0257}
Name it as Show Desktop
Then change the icon of the shortcut using Properties of the shortcut
Done that, drag it to Taskbar, and pin it.
Next time you click on it, it will show Desktop.
If you click it again, it will open all the minimized windows.
It works exactly as the Taskbar method, but it is easy to use.
7] How to get to the Desktop in tablet mode
When using Tablet mode, the Start menu expands and hides the Desktop in the rear. In this case, if you want to access the Desktop, here is what you need to do.
There is no way to disable Start Menu if you are in tablet mode. So to access the Desktop, you can either create a Show Desktop icon in the Taskbar or you can open File Explorer, and then access the Desktop folder. So it’s not going to like the Desktop, but it’s going to be decent enough to access the files open the Desktop.
I hope the guide was easy to follow.
Date: Tags: Desktop
report this ad
[email protected]
Ashish holds a Bachelor’s in Computer Engineering and is a veteran Windows and Xbox user. He has work experience as a Database and Microsoft.NET Developer. He has been a Microsoft MVP (2008-2010) and excels in writing tutorials to improve the day-to-day experience with your devices.
Windows 10 desktop won’t boot: what to do
Your Windows 10 desktop won’t boot even though you turned on your computer normally? Do not worry and panic — we know what causes a problem. As soon as we find the reason, we will move on to the available solutions — even a beginner can handle it!
Why it won’t boot
If your Windows 10 desktop won’t boot or work, there are a few possible reasons to consider that are causing the problem:
- Registry error;
- Presence of malicious software;
- The missing desktop process file failed;
- Minor errors in system operation;
- Unstable operation of installed programs.
Don’t worry — you can solve any problem yourself! We have prepared a list of effective methods — read our review and you will find out what to do if the desktop does not load and open in Windows 10.
But first, we recommend that you perform the following set of measures:
- Power off the computer using the button on the external panel / system unit;
- Remove a freshly downloaded program that affected performance;
- Run an antivirus scan for malware and remove it.
Still not loading or displaying the Windows 10 desktop? Then it’s time to move the heavy artillery and get down to business seriously!
Restoring processes
One simple process called explorer.exe is responsible for the operation and display of the screen. You need to find out if it is active or not — this can be done as follows:
- Hold down the Ctrl + Alt + Delete buttons at the same time;
- On the page that appears, find the «Task Manager» button;
- Click and go to the Processes tab;
- Among the active processes, find the line «Explorer»;
- Right-click and select Restart from the context menu.
Don’t be surprised if your desktop is gone if this process is stuck. Now we have restored the functionality, the screen should reappear in the right place.
Checking the registry
Sometimes the desktop on Windows 10 does not show due to a glitch in the registry.
This is a special database of settings necessary for the correct operation of the system. If a small error has crept in, do not be surprised that the image does not load and does not appear.
Let’s check some indicators:
- Simultaneously click on the Win + R keys;
- In the «Run» window, type regedit and press the enter button;
- A new window will appear — navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon;
- In the final directory you will see a lot of documents — you need to find the Shell line with the value explorer.exe;
- Now look for a line called Userinit with value C:\Windows\system32\userinit.exe.
Didn’t find the specified values? That is why your desktop is not loading! Here’s what you need to do:
- Hover over the file;
- Right-click and select «Change»;
- Enter Shell (explorer.exe) and Userinit (C:\Windows\system32\userinit.
exe) and save your changes.
If the two methods above didn’t work and you still can’t boot or start the Windows 10 desktop, then use the third option!
System Restore
Although seemingly simple, this is a fairly effective way to solve the problem — it allows you to easily fix most problems when the desktop does not load on Windows 10.
- Click on the search button on the launchpad;
- Enter the name «Task Manager» and start the search;
- Open the manager and navigate to the «File» section;
- Click on the Create Task icon;
- Enter the name rstrui.exe and click «OK»;
- Select the desired system rollback date — the rest will happen automatically.
File integrity check
Windows 10 desktop won’t load? Let’s check the integrity of the system files responsible for the operation of the utility:
- Call the Run console using the Win + R keys;
- Enter the cmd command and click on the «OK» button;
- At the command prompt, type Sfc /scannow and press Enter.
The system will make corrections (if necessary) automatically and restore the necessary files.
No more questions? Enjoy the smooth operation of your computer — now you don’t have to worry about the Windows 10 desktop not loading!
Windows 10 update broke desktop and start menu. How to solve the problem
software
Soft
Technique
Market
|
Share
Windows 10 users have complained about a fresh OS update released as part of the monthly Patch Tuesday. In some cases, it leads to the disappearance of desktop files and resetting the start menu settings. The problem is treated by multiple reboots.
February bug
Installing the latest Windows 10 operating system update may cause files to disappear from the desktop and reset the Start menu, writes Bleepingcomputer.
On Tuesday, February 11, Microsoft released another batch of cumulative updates for Windows 10 versions 1909 and 1903. After that, as the publication notes, those who installed the KB4532693 patch began to complain about the disappearance of the usual user profile and files on the desktop, as well as resetting other settings .
In particular, messages describing such problems can be found on the official Microsoft support forum and on Twitter of individual users.
Windows 10 update broke desktop and start menu
For example, a user with the nickname WayneTerry2 posted the following comment on the Microsoft forum about the release of the February updates: “I just installed the latest updates for Windows 10 for February 2020.
After the installation was completed, the display settings seemed to be reset . All non-standard icons have disappeared, instead of the background image — the Windows logo. The user also noted that he had to remove problematic updates in order to return the system to its usual form.
It’s all about the temporary profile
Twitter user Russ Gee mentioned that he had a similar case in his practice. So, when installing the January Windows 10 updates on the PC of one of the family members, he encountered a similar system behavior. He also explained that this may be due to loading the account into a temporary profile.
Judging by the feedback from other users, this is indeed the problem. While installing patch KB4532693 The system uses a temporary profile, but due to an error during the update process, Windows for some reason does not restore the original user profile.
Fortunately, as Bleepingcomputer found out, the information related to the user’s profile does not actually disappear anywhere.
The data is still located in the Users folder at the root of the system drive (for example, in C:\Users). The renamed profile ends in .000 or .bak.
Problem Solving
Russ Gee managed to solve the problem by editing the system registry and manually renaming the profile.
Other users claim that they were able to get the system back to normal by repeatedly rebooting the system. Removing the problematic patch can also help, the newspaper notes.
At the time of publication of the material in Microsoft, CNews questions were not answered.
Other issues with Windows 10 updates
Windows 10 updates periodically cause trouble for both ordinary OS users and system administrators.
For example, during the October 2018 October Update 2018 installation for Windows 10, the system selectively deleted user files on some computers. The contents of Windows 10 libraries were destroyed: documents, images, video and audio files. If the user did not take care of creating a backup before performing an OS update, the files could be lost forever.
Faced with numerous complaints from users, Microsoft was forced to suspend distribution of the October Update 2018 until all circumstances were clarified. Soon the company promised to help users recover lost files.
In November 2019, a hard-to-reproduce bug was discovered in the OS, due to which, in some cases, external devices connected to a PC running this OS via the Thunderbolt interface could suddenly stop working. Microsoft recommended that those who encountered this problem simply restart the computer.
New rules for accreditation and tax benefits for IT companies: what you need to know
IT industry support
In September 2019CNews reported that installing the KB4512941 patch resulted in almost half of the CPU resources being seized by one of the virtual assistant modules. In addition, the search function built into the OS might not work correctly. Released a little earlier, patch KB4515384 was able to disable important system components — sound, the Start menu, Internet connectivity, and even support for USB devices, including mice and keyboards.
In October 2019, a patch designed to fix a vulnerability in the Internet Explorer browser and malfunctions in the print subsystem not only did not cope with its task, but also brought a lot of new problems. Some OS users, after installing the update, noted the inoperability of the Start button and even cases of the system freezing during the boot process.
In July 2019, some Windows 10 users complained that they were having trouble managing their PC over RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) using Remote Desktop Connection after installing the May OS Update (1903).
At the end of June 2019, a bug was discovered in Windows 10 version 1809 that resulted in a multiple slowdown in the shutdown process of the operating system as a result of connecting/disconnecting a charger or other USB Type-C device.
Grant support for the digitalization of Russian companies will continue
IT industry support
At the beginning of June 2019, CNews reported that installing the latest updates for Windows 10 causes Internet Explorer to refuse to start if the search provider is not set by default.