How do I create program shortcut icons on the desktop in Window Vista?

How do I create program shortcut icons on the desktop in Window Vista? cover image
  1. Home
  2. How Do I
  3. How do I create program shortcut icons on the desktop in Window Vista?

During the installation of a program you are generally asked if a shortcut needs to be placed for it on the desktop. If you had chosen to ignore this message or answered in the negative, you can still create a desktop icon for that application in a few steps.

The desktop is one of the most accessible folders of your computer. With just one click on the show desktop button, you can minimise all opened windows and come straight to the desktop. It’s no surprise that many use the folder to store important and frequently accessed files and program icons. After all, who wants to wades through all the menus each time to launch an application?

Sponsored Links

Creating a shortcut icon on the desktop will help you save time and be more productive especially when it’s a program or file that you use often. And on this note, you don’t need to save the actual file on the desktop, you can store it in any directory you want and place a shortcut to it on the desktop. This is much better as it can prevent accidental deletion and loss.

How to create a program shortcut icon and place it on the desktop

In the example below, I would be creating shortcut icon for the iTunes program and placing it on the desktop. You can use these instructions for any program or even a file.

Locate the program from the start menu and when you find it, move the mouse cursor over it. Hit the right button on the mouse, which opens a menu, and select “Copy“. Now come to an empty area on the desktop and again right-click to throw another menu, selecting “Paste Shortcut” option this time. That’s it; the shortcut for the program will be created on the desktop.

Creating a shortcut icon for a frequently used program on the desktop

Add the shortcut to the “Quick Launch” bar or pin in to the “Start menu

Adding a program shortcut to the quick launch barYou can also have the shortcuts of most frequently used programs added to the Quick Launch bar, a place that, I suppose, is a little more accessible than the desktop – refer image below. Using your mouse, right-click on the shortcut again and select “Add to Quick Launch“. You can even pin this program shortcut on the start menu.

A quick piece of advice. Now that you know how to create icons for the desktop, don’t overdo it else it will be a big mess. Segregate the shortcuts of the frequently used programs across the desktop, the Quick Launch bar and the start menu. And please do not litter these sections with icons of applications you hardly use. By the way, if your desktop is already crowded with tons of icons, refer change desktop icon size on how to organize and clean it up.

How Do I Windows Vista