Shortcuts are an easy way to quickly open frequently used apps on any operating system. However, most of our work and even entertainment needs a browser; which for most people is Google Chrome. For example, I open WordPress first thing in the morning to start with my work, open Netflix each time I need a break, and so on. To save time, it’s a good idea to create website shortcuts that you can access right from the desktop. Here are a few ways to create a website shortcut on the desktop for Chrome.
How to Create Website Shortcut on Desktop for Chrome
1. Native Method
Google Chrome is highly customizable and offers a native way to create desktop shortcuts for websites in few steps. To start, open the Chrome browser and head to the website you wish to create a shortcut for. I have opened Techwiser.com in a new tab. Once you open the website, click on the three vertical dots at the top right corner of the browser.
In the second step, from the pop-up menu, select More tools and click on Create shortcut. This can be done to create a shortcut for any website.
Lastly, click on Create in the pop-up and you will have successfully created a website shortcut on the desktop. There is an option to rename the shortcut and also to enable opening the website shortcut in a new tab whenever you click on it.
2. Save as Shortcut [Chrome Extension]
While the native method is easy, a Chrome extension gives you some added functionality. For example, you can download more than one tab as shortcuts in a zip file, or download webpages in multiple formats. To begin, download and install Save as Shortcut Chrome extension. Simply select Add to Chrome to add the extension to your browser.
Note that the extension will work on all Chromium-based browsers like Edge and Brave.
Once it is successfully installed, it will show up in the extension tab on the top right corner of the browser. Click on the icon and hit Save Current to save the current webpage as a desktop shortcut. This will download the page in the downloads folder as default.
In order to change the download location to desktop, click on options [as shown above] and select the settings link under the download folder setting. However, since the extension is essentially downloading the webpage, it will change the location for all our downloads. So, the best way is to enable ‘Ask where to save’ option before downloading option.
Get Save as Shortcut
3. Progressive Web Apps [PWAs]
Simply put, PWAs or Progressive Web Apps are a modern blend of a website and a mobile app. So you get an app-like experience without actually installing software. The best part is that all the existing Chrome extensions remain and the app always opens in a new tab. These are also faster to load as they pre-cache resources.
You can easily figure out if a webpage is PWA by looking at the + sign at the right side of the URL. If the website you are looking to make a shortcut supports it, click on the + sign to open the installation option.
From the new pop-up, select Install to start the installation.
As soon as the installation is complete, you will see a shortcut icon on the desktop which is in line with the website shortcut that we are trying to make. Whenever you open this shortcut, it will open in a new tab just like an individual app.
It is fairly easy to uninstall it as well. All you have to do is open the app, click on the three vertical dots at the top right corner of the browser, and select uninstall. That’s it.
Remember to have a lookout of the + sign on your favorite websites to create a desktop shortcut.
Closing Remarks: Create Website on Desktop
So, these were a few ways you could create a shortcut for any website on desktop using Chrome browser. Well, the native way is the easiest for sure, but then I mostly use the extension when I have too many pages open and want to maintain a folder for all.
Also Read: How to Fix Chrome Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working Error
How to Create a Desktop Shortcut of Website in Chrome: You can easily use Bookmarks in Chrome to open your favourite websites on the go but what if you want to create a shortcut of a website on the desktop so that whenever you double-click the shortcut, you would be directly taken to the website itself. Well, this can be easily achieved by using the feature called “Create Shortcut” which can be found under More Tools.
Using the above feature, Chrome allows you to create application shortcuts of your favourite website on the desktop which can be then added to start menu or taskbar for faster access. Anyway, without wasting any time let’s see How to Create a Desktop Shortcut of Website in Chrome with the help of the below-listed tutorial.
Make sure to create a restore point just in case something goes wrong.
Method 1: Create a Desktop Shortcut of Website in Chrome
1. Open Google Chrome, then navigate to the website for which you want to create the desktop shortcut.
2. Once you are on the web page, simply click on the three vertical dots [More button] from the top-right corner and then click on “More Tools“.
3. From the context menu select “Create Shortcut” and enter a name for your shortcut, it can be anything but labeling it according to the website name would help you in distinguishing between various shortcuts.
4. Once you enter the name, now check or uncheck “Open as window” and click on “Create” button.
Note: In the recent Google Chrome update, the option “Open as window” is removed. Now by default, the shortcut will open in a new window.
5. That’s it, you now have a shortcut to the website on your desktop which you can easily pin to taskbar or start menu.
The website that you create the shortcut for in Google Chrome will also have a shortcut of the website placed in the Chrome Apps folder in the All Apps lists in the Start Menu. Also, these websites are added to your Chrome Apps page [chrome://apps] in Google Chrome. These Shortcuts are stored in the following location:
%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Chrome Apps
Method 2: Manually Create Desktop Shortcut of Website
1. Copy the Chrome Icon shortcut to your desktop. If you already have Chrome shortcut on the desktop then make sure to make another one and name it something else.
2. Now right-click on the Chrome icon then select Properties.
3. In the Target field, at the very end make sure to add a space then type the following:
–app=//example.com
Note: Replace example.com with the actual website for which you want to create the desktop for and click OK. For example:
"C:\Program Files [x86]\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" --app=//techcult.com4. Click OK to save changes.
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That’s it you have successfully learned How to Create a Desktop Shortcut of Website in Chrome but if you still have any queries regarding this tutorial then feel free to ask them in the comment’s section.