Creating a shortcut to a file or folder is an easy process that allows you to quickly access the file or folder without having to navigate to its original location. In Windows, a shortcut is represented by a small arrow overlay icon on the file or folder icon and functions similarly to a link. Shortcuts provide faster access to the file or folder, as it eliminates the need for locating and opening the original file or folder each time.
In this article, we will discuss how to create a shortcut to a file or folder in Windows 10. As a note, the instructions provided below are specific to Windows 10; however, the same basic steps can be used to create a shortcut in previous versions of Windows as well.
Instructions:
1. Locate the File or Folder
The first step is to locate the file or folder that you want to create a shortcut for. You can do this by navigating to the file or folder in File Explorer (Windows + E).
2. Right-click the File or Folder
Once you have located the file or folder, right-click it and select the “Create Shortcut” option from the menu.
3. Choose a Location for the Shortcut
This step will prompt a dialog window that asks you where you would like to place the shortcut. You can choose to place the shortcut on your desktop, in the Start menu, or in another location such as your Documents folder. Once you have selected a location, click “OK”.
4. Name the Shortcut
This step will prompt a dialog window that allows you to specify a name for the shortcut. By default, the name of the shortcut will be the same as the file or folder; however, you can change it if you prefer. Once you have named the shortcut, click “Finish”.
5. Access the Shortcut
Once the shortcut has been created, you can access it from the location you chose in Step 3. If you placed the shortcut on your desktop, it should now appear as a clickable icon. Clicking the icon will open the file or folder.
Congratulations! You have successfully created a shortcut to a file or folder in Windows 10. You can now quickly access the file or folder by double-clicking the shortcut. If you wish to delete the shortcut, simply right-click the icon and select the “Delete” option.