All in all, Windows users could create shortcuts to their files, folders, apps, … to quickly access them in times of need. You want to add This PC shortcut to the desktop of your Windows PC but don’t know how to create This PC shortcut? In that case, you have come to the right place. This article is going to tell you the way to create This PC shortcut in a blink of an eye.
Creating This PC Shortcut: A To Z
Via File Explorer
- Step 1: Press Windows + E to open Explorer.
- Step 2: Double-click Explorer’s title bar.
- Step 3: Drag This PC then drop it on the preferred location on your desktop.
Via Settings
- Step 1: Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Step 2: Select Personalization then choose Themes.
- Step 3: Under Related settings, click Desktop icons settings, check the Computer checkbox and pick OK.
Note: If you have enabled Desktop icons and you still can’t see This PC shortcut, you might have hidden desktop icons. Right-click the desktop, hover over View the click Show desktop icons.
Via Desktop
- Step 1: Right-click an empty space on your desktop, hover the mouse over New and pick Shortcut.
- Step 2: In Type the location of the item, copy and paste the path: %WinDir%\explorer.exe /e,::{20d04fe0-3aea-1069-a2d8-08002b30309d}
- Step 3: Select Next, name the shortcut as This PC and choose Finish.
- Step 4: Right-click the new shortcut then pick Properties.
- Step 5: Go to the Shortcut tab then hit Change Icon. In Look for icons in this file, copy and paste %windir%\System32\imageres.dll. After you finish, hit Browse, pick your preferred icon, click OK then hit OK again.
Via Start Menu
- Step 1: Press Windows key then type This PC.
- Step 2: Right-click the top result then pick Pin to Start.
- Step 3: Press Windows key, drag This PC and drop it on the desktop.
How Do I Create A Shortcut To A Website?
- Step 1: Launch your browser.
- Step 2: Visit the target website then double-click the title bar.
- Step 3: Look to the left, drag the icon near the website address and drop it on the desktop.
Desktop Shortcuts Vs Pinned Items: Summary
Creating a shortcut to an application will make the app icon to be displayed on your desktop. If you want some privacy, feel free to pin the item to Start menu instead. To do so, type the name of the target application, right-click the result and click Pin to Start. Every time you want to open the app, press Windows key and hit the pinned app icon.
What Must Be Done When Desktop Shortcuts Won’t Work
Check Path
- Step 1: Right-click the shortcut icon that is acting up then pick Properties.
- Step 2: Go to the Shortcut tab and determine whether the path in Target is correct. To obtain the correct path, press Windows key, type the name of the target item, right-click the top result and pick Open file location. Next, copy the path of the target item, paste it to Target of the shortcut, select Apply and choose OK.
- Step 3: Double-click the shortcut then see how things turn out.
Make Use Of PowerShell
- Step 1: Press Windows key, type PowerShell and hit Run as administrator.
- Step 2: In PowerShell (Admin), run the command «Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Where-Object {$ . InstallLocation-like «* SystemApps *»} | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register «$ ($ . InstallLocation) \ AppXManifest.xml»}»
- Step 3: Restart your computer.
Apply Changes To The Registry
- Step 1: Press Windows key, type Regedit then hit Enter.
- Step 2: Navigate to the directory HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts.lnk
- Step 3: Right-click UserChoice, pick Delete and restart your computer.