Installing any software or program on our machine typically creates a shortcut link to the program. The shortcut link will eliminate the process of searching the program’s executable file within our machine; hence with a single click, you can launch the program quickly.
Similarly, you can also create shortcut links to the frequently visited website or your online program that your business relies on and add them to the home screen or desktop. When you open the shortcut with a double-click, it will automatically launch the Microsoft Edge program app and load the website page you’ve created as a shortcut.
While I type on my blog right now, a thought crosses my mind. What if I had access to WordPress from my homepage? Imagine the time and effort that it can save.
Well, I have to type and search through history to launch the website I frequently work on. The process is tedious and irritating. Hence, I decided to find a solution. The only solution was to edge create a desktop shortcut!
You can move your shortcut link from the desktop to any folder or delete it without touching the edge browser settings. It’s easy to create and even simpler to manage.
Create a Shortcut and Add to the Desktop
Creating a shortcut can make things very convenient for you since it will save time and energy wasted searching for your desired website.
Here are the quick steps to create a Microsoft Edge desktop shortcut:
- Launch the Microsoft Edge browser on a computer.
- Open the website that you want to send to your other devices.
- Click on the More
menu for options. - Hover over the More Tools option from the list.
- Click on the Pin to Finder command option.
- Customize the link title if required in the popup dialog box.
- Hit on the Pin command button.
- A shortcut link will be created in the Edge Apps folder, and drag and drop the link into the desktop folder.
This will create a shortcut link and place it on the desktop screen with a hyperlink. When you double-click, the shortcut automatically opens the Edge browser’s website link.
A similar create shortcut link will also be available on the Windows OS machine.
Bottom Line: Microsoft Edge Desktop Shortcut
The Microsoft Edge desktop shortcut is a fantastic feature that lets you place your frequently visited website on the home screen for easy access. You will not waste your time searching for your desired websites now.
It helped me a lot since I could access my blogging website with just a click now. The time I spent searching and typing while I found my website can now be utilized in writing more blogs. I could not be more thankful for the edge shortcut on the desktop.
Similarly, we can add the shortcut link from Edge Android on the home screen. One tap on this home screen link will load the site directly on the Edge browser.
I hope you find the Microsoft edge desktop shortcut feature helpful and that it makes your work easier! You can create a shortcut link to any site that you frequently visit.
Pin to Finder doesn’t exist on my computer.
Don’t know what version of Microsoft Edge you are using, but as Marie stated, “Pin to Finder” does not exist. There is a “Pin to Taskbar”, but this still doesn’t place the favorite as a shortcut on the desktop. As of this writing on November 22, 2020, I am using v87.0.664.41 which is currently the latest official build. Despite the information here that won’t get results, you can still place your favorite bookmarks onto your desktop without too much trouble. Here’s how:
1. Launch Microsoft Edge (the new Chromium version – these steps won’t work for the old version if you still have it)
2. In the address bar, enter the following command/address to “Manage favorites”:
edge://favorites/
3. Your page will now look similar to File Explorer. All you need to do is navigate to the favorite you created, click on it, and drag it to your desktop. The favorite will remain within Microsoft Edge once you perform this action.
Three steps – that’s it! You are done.
Thank you, Brad!
WELL HERE’S A TIP->
If you want to create a shortcut for a website like “YouTube” or “WhatsApp”, then instead of adding them to your favorite you can use them like apps with different windows instead of a shortcut with a link that again opens in the browser and not directly. It also does not has its own icon.
1.) Just click on ‘apps’ from the 3-dot menu when you visit the website.
2.) Then click on ‘Install this site as an app’ and install it.
Now the website would be opened in its own private window and would also show on the taskbar after you minimize it. Don’t forget to pin to use it directly afterward.
Your shortcut is created and you can now drag the website from the ‘apps’ to your desktop.
Now for the “App” thing:
The desktop shortcut app version of the website might be still looking like a link. Worries not, just follow the steps. Rest assured.
3.) Right-click on the website in the ‘app’ and choose ‘create shortcut option’.
4.) A small window will appear with two dialog boxes asking for the “pin app to” ‘Desktop’ and ‘Start menu’ options. Check both of them as your choice.
And now your website’s app version (or more like a shortcut but with “app” like feel) is created on your Desktop and also on the Start menu
@Brad
Thank you! The article didn’t work at all for me, but your comment did. Thanks again!
That’s probably because the Pin to Finder is available on Edge browser for Mac! Perhaps, Brad’s suggestion should be quite helpful.
I’m using the new Edge browser on a Windows 10 computer. This would explain why “Pin to Finder” doesn’t exist for some of us. The process is slightly different for anyone using Windows. The instructions I posted earlier will still work for Windows users. It’s now June 3, 2021, and I’m using Edge v91.0.864.37.
Thanks mate!
there is no “PIN TO FINDER” ON EDGE “MORE TOOLS” !!
The absolute easiest way I have found to create a desktop shortcut is this:
[TLDR: Make sure your browser window is small enough to also see your desktop. Drag the Padlock icon in the left corner of the address bar out of your browser window and drop it onto your desktop. That’s it.]
Detailed Instructions:
1.) Click on the “Restore Down” icon in the very upper right corner of the browser (the overlapping square icon to the very left of the red x “Close” icon). The browser window should now be small enough so that the desktop is also visible behind it. (If the browser window is still too large and the desktop is still not visible, resize the browser window by dragging the edge/corner.)
2.) In the left corner of the address bar (to the left of the URL; to the right of the “Home” icon) there is a Padlock icon (or in some cases, a warning triangle and the text “Not secure”). (If you hover over the icon with your cursor, it should highlight grey and display the text “view site information”.) Click and hold that icon, then drag it out of the browser window and drop it onto your desktop. You now have a shortcut to that webpage.
Thank you, Wig!
YOU WIN !! This is WAAAAAAY EASIER !!!