To make it easier for you to quickly get to a specific site, you can create site shortcuts on the desktop. This shortcut can be opened in most popular browsers.
Step
Method 1 of 5: Using Internet Explorer or Firefox
Step 1. Open a browser
You can use the same steps to create site shortcuts via Internet Explorer or Firefox.
- If you're using Microsoft Edge, you'll need to open Internet Explorer. Microsoft Edge does not support site shortcuts on the desktop.
- The shortcuts you create will generally open in the browser you used to create them, regardless of the default browser on your computer.
Step 2. Visit the site you want to link to on the desktop
You can create shortcuts for any site, but you'll still need to sign in to the site with your account if needed.
Step 3. Make sure your browser is not in full screen mode
In order to easily perform the next steps, you need to be able to see the desktop.
Step 4. Click and drag the site icon in the address bar
When you drag the icon, you will see the shadow of the object.
Step 5. Release the icon on the desktop
A site shortcut will be created, named after the page title. If the site has an icon, it will become a shortcut icon.
Step 6. Double click the shortcut to open the site
If you create a shortcut with Internet Explorer, the site will always open in Internet Explorer. On the other hand, if you use Firefox, the site will open in the default browser.
Method 2 of 5: Using Chrome (Windows)
Step 1. Visit the site you want to link on your desktop with Chrome
If you use Chrome, you can create site shortcuts with icons corresponding to the favicon on the site. Unfortunately, this feature is not yet available for Mac.
Step 2. Click the menu button (⋮) in the top right corner of the Chrome window
Step 3. Click More tools → Add to desktop. A new window will appear on the screen.
If you don't see the options above, please update your browser by clicking Help → About Google Chrome from the menu
Step 4. Enter the name of the shortcut
By default, the shortcut will have the same name as the site title, but you are free to change it.
Step 5. Choose whether the shortcut will open in a new window
If the Open as window option is checked, the shortcut will always open in a new window, just like a regular desktop application. This feature is especially useful if you are creating shortcuts for certain services, such as WhatsApp Web or Gmail.
Step 6. Click Add to add a shortcut to the desktop
You will see a new icon on the desktop, corresponding to the site icon.
Step 7. Double click the shortcut to open the site
If the Open as window option is unchecked, the shortcut will open in a regular Chrome window. Meanwhile, if the Open as window option is checked, the shortcut will open in a separate Chrome window, without an interface.
Method 3 of 5: Creating a Shortcut (macOS)
Step 1. Open a browser
You can create site shortcuts with any browser, such as Safari, Chrome, and Firefox.
Step 2. Visit the site you want to link to on the desktop
You can create shortcuts for any site, but you'll still need to sign in to the site with your account if needed.
Step 3. Click the address bar
You will see the entire address of the site, along with the icon.
Step 4. Click and drag the site icon in the address bar
When you drag the icon, you will see the shadow of the object. Make sure you click and drag on the site icon, not the address.
Step 5. Release the icon on the desktop
A site shortcut will be created, named after the page title.
Step 6. Double click the shortcut to open the site
The site will open in the default browser.
Method 4 of 5: Adding Site Shortcuts to Dashboard (macOS)
Step 1. Open Safari
You can add site snippets to your Dashboard so you can see important content easily. To add a site to your Dashboard, you must use Safari.
Step 2. Visit the site you want to add to the Dashboard
You can add a small portion of the site to an entire page, but the section you added cannot be shifted.
Step 3. Click File → Open in Dashboard
The site view will dim, and the cursor will change to a box showing the site.
Step 4. Click anywhere on the site view
The section you clicked on will appear on the Dashboard. Make sure you click on the section with the content you want.
Step 5. Drag the edge of the box to adjust its size
You are free to determine the size of the box according to your taste, as long as it does not exceed the window limit.
Step 6. Click Add to add the selected site section to the Dashboard
You will be taken to the Dashboard screen, and the site snippet will be added. Click and drag the site snippet on the Dashboard screen to change its position.
Step 7. Open the Dashboard via Launchpad in the Dock to view the site section
Step 8. Click the link in the site section to open it
The link will open in Safari. For example, if you create a forum snippet of the front page, all the topic links in the site snippet will open in Safari.
Method 5 of 5: Setting Site as Desktop Background (Windows)
Step 1. Download WallpaperWebPage
This free program lets you change the desktop background to the active site. Although WallpaperWebPage has some limitations, including the program's inability to display desktop icons, it can be called the only way to set the desktop background to the active site. Windows no longer provides this feature by default.
Download WallpaperWebPage for free from softpedia.com/get/Desktop-Enhancements/Other-Desktop-Enhancements/WallpaperWebPage.shtml
Step 2. Right-click the file you just downloaded, then click Extract All
The program's installation files will be saved in the WallpaperWebPage folder in the downloads folder.
Step 3. Run the installation program by double clicking setup.exe
Step 4. Enter or paste the address of the site you want to set as the desktop background in the field provided
As soon as the installation is complete, you will be asked to enter the site address.
Step 5. Right-click the WallpaperWebPage icon on the system bar
The program icon is in the shape of a globe. Once the icon is clicked, a small menu will appear.
Step 6. Select Configure to enter a new site address
You can change the site as the background at any time via the menu.
Step 7. Select Autostart to load the background when Windows starts
This option ensures that you will always see the site view, even after the computer restarts.
Step 8. Click Show Desktop in the right corner of the system bar, or press Win+D to display the icon
To restore the site background, press Win+D again.
Step 9. Right-click the WallpaperWebPage icon, then click Exit to close the site background
Your desktop will return to the way it was.
