Put printer icon on desktop

Question

I reinstalled my printer and now can't put an icon for it on the desktop.

Epson WF-4830 printer.

Answer 1

Hi Robert Paulsen,

Thanks for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A Forum. I understand that after reinstalling your Epson WF‑4830 printer on Windows 11, you are no longer able to place a printer icon on the desktop.

Please make sure you already tried the Q&A Assist steps. In addition, please try the following.

Before proceeding, I’d like to narrow this down a bit:

1, Is the Epson WF‑4830 currently set as the default printer in Windows?

2, Is the printer connected via USB or over the network (Wi‑Fi/Ethernet)?

In the meantime, you can try these steps:

1, Press Windows key + R, type shell:PrintersFolder, and press Enter.

2, In the Printers folder that opens, locate the Epson WF‑4830.

3, Right‑click the printer and select Create shortcut.

4, If prompted that the shortcut will be placed on the desktop, select Yes.

5, If no prompt appears, right‑click the printer again, select Copy, then right‑click an empty area on the desktop and select Paste shortcut.

6, Restart File Explorer by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc, selecting Windows Explorer, and choosing Restart.

If the printer does not appear in the Printers folder at all, please confirm it is listed under Bluetooth and devices > Printers and scanners and shows a Ready status.

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Answer 2

To get a printer icon on the desktop in Windows 11, create a shortcut to the printer from the classic Printers view.

1. Open the classic Printers window:
   • Press Windows key + R, type control printers, and press Enter.
   • This opens the old Devices and Printers / Printers view where printers are listed individually.
2. Create a desktop shortcut for the Epson WF‑4830:
   • In that window, locate the Epson WF‑4830 printer.
   • Right‑click the printer and choose Create shortcut.
   • When prompted that Windows can’t create a shortcut here and asks to place it on the desktop instead, select Yes.

A printer icon for the Epson WF‑4830 will now appear on the desktop.

If the printer does not show up there, first make sure it is correctly installed and visible under Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners, and reinstall it if necessary using the documented steps.

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References:

• Fix printer not found and printer not recognized errors in Windows
• Fix printer connection and printing problems in Windows
• Printers installed using the same driver and port on Windows are grouped as one when viewed within Devices and Printers