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How to create a desktop shortcut to a website

Anonymous
2020-10-20T18:37:06+00:00

I was trying to find an answer to this question, of how to create a desktop shortcut to a website in Windows 10 with MS Edge, and all the answers I found on the internet were out of date, and would not work.

I found out for myself by poking around, and the method is entirely different from older Windows versions.  In Windows 7, and before, all you need to do is right click on the desk top and choose "new" - "shortcut" from the menu, and then paste the full URL from the target website into the shortcut target box.  That doesn't work on Windows 10.   The method, (probably relating to Microsoft's new Office web apps), is as follows -

  1. Open Edge browser.
  2. Open the website that you want a short cut to.
  3. Open the Edge main Menu, (three dots on far top right)
  4. Hover on the "Apps" menu option.
  5. Click on the pop-up option to "install this site as a web app".
  6. Select "Manage Apps" option.
  7. The Web page should now be listed as an app.
  8. Right click on that item, and click again on "Pin to".
  9. Tick the boxes for pinning the app to desktop, and, or, start menu, (as icons). and click "Pin".

That is it.  Instead of creating a shortcut to a website URL on Edge, you have installed that page as a web app, and provided a shortcut to it.  It's quite a nice idea, but entirely different from before, so confusing for seasoned users, like me, and a bit opaque for new users.  You might , or might not, also have the new office web-apps in your list, so you can "Pin" those to the desktop too.  I currently have an ancient copy of Microsoft Office Professional 98 installed on my Windows 10, as it works fine, but will probably be reinstalling just Access, now that I have these up-to-date web apps.    The only problem with web apps is when your internet connection goes down.

Microsoft Edge | Other | Windows 10

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  1. Anonymous
    2021-01-25T19:38:07+00:00

    A simple way of creating a desktop shortcut to a website is to drag the icon (usually a padlock) next to *http...*in the address bar out of the browser window and drop it on to the desktop.

    200+ people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2021-09-17T08:53:18+00:00

    This procedure is excruciating !

    Who decides that changing existing, simple, intuitive functionality like right click and "Create Desktop Shortcut" (or whatever the menu option said) is no longer desirable ?

    Does anyone even consider the disruption this kind of thing causes to older users - like my 85 year old father ? I had to spend yet another hour explaining that, yes, indeed, Microsoft just randomly changes how stuff works for no reason.

    Please stop making totally unnecessary - STUPID - changes to such basic behavior.

    50+ people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2021-02-01T21:46:53+00:00

    Reposting from a week ago, just three posts uphill:

    A simple way of creating a desktop shortcut to a website is to drag the icon (usually a padlock) next tohttp*...*in the address bar out of the browser window and drop it on to the desktop.

    10+ people found this answer helpful.
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  4. Anonymous
    2022-01-20T17:35:28+00:00

    On Chrome, there's an option to add a shortcut to your desktop, and it uses the site's favicon as the icon. This functionality should be restored to Edge.

    10 people found this answer helpful.
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  5. Anonymous
    2021-02-01T10:56:03+00:00

    I was trying to find an answer to this question, of how to create a desktop shortcut to a website in Windows 10 with MS Edge, and all the answers I found on the internet were out of date, and would not work.

    I found out for myself by poking around, and the method is entirely different from older Windows versions.  In Windows 7, and before, all you need to do is right click on the desk top and choose "new" - "shortcut" from the menu, and then paste the full URL from the target website into the shortcut target box.  That doesn't work on Windows 10.   The method, (probably relating to Microsoft's new Office web apps), is as follows -

    1. Open Edge browser.
    2. Open the website that you want a short cut to.
    3. Open the Edge main Menu, (three dots on far top right)
    4. Hover on the "Apps" menu option.
    5. Click on the pop-up option to "install this site as a web app".
    6. Select "Manage Apps" option.
    7. The Web page should now be listed as an app.
    8. Right click on that item, and click again on "Pin to".
    9. Tick the boxes for pinning the app to desktop, and, or, start menu, (as icons). and click "Pin".

    That is it.  Instead of creating a shortcut to a website URL on Edge, you have installed that page as a web app, and provided a shortcut to it.  It's quite a nice idea, but entirely different from before, so confusing for seasoned users, like me, and a bit opaque for new users.  You might , or might not, also have the new office web-apps in your list, so you can "Pin" those to the desktop too.  I currently have an ancient copy of Microsoft Office Professional 98 installed on my Windows 10, as it works fine, but will probably be reinstalling just Access, now that I have these up-to-date web apps.    The only problem with web apps is when your internet connection goes down.  

    Thanks for help....

    10 people found this answer helpful.
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