Skip to main content

How to Add a Website Shortcut to Your Windows Desktop (Keyboard Steps)

by Michael Babcock

This guide walks you through creating a desktop shortcut that opens a specific website link. These steps work well with screen readers and keyboard-only navigation.

Step 1: Copy the Website Link

  1. Open the link in your web browser.
  2. Press Control + L to jump to the address bar (or use whatever keystroke you normally use for the address bar).
  3. Press Control + A to select the entire web address.
  4. Press Control + C to copy it.

Step 2: Go to Your Desktop and Prepare to Create a Shortcut

  1. Press Windows Key + D to go to the desktop.
  2. Press Control + Spacebar.
  • (This helps confirm that nothing is selected. You should hear something like “nothing selected.”)

Step 3: Open the Desktop Context Menu

  1. Press Shift + F10

(or press the Applications key if your keyboard has one).

Step 4: Choose New, then Shortcut

  1. Find New and open it:
    • Use the Right Arrow (or press Enter) on New to open the submenu.
  2. In the submenu, select Shortcut and press Enter.

Step 5: Paste the Link into the Shortcut Wizard

You should now be in a dialogue that says something like: Create Shortcut. 

“What item would you like to create a shortcut for?”

“This wizard helps you to create shortcuts to local or network programs, files, folders, computers, or Internet addresses.”

  1. Your cursor should be in the edit box labeled: “Type the location of the item:”
  • If it is not in focus, press Tab until you reach it.
  1. Press Control + V to paste the link into the field.
  2. Activate Next:
  • Press Alt + N, or Tab to Next and press Enter.

Step 6: Name the Shortcut

You will now be on a screen that says something like: Create Shortcut. 

“What would you like to name the shortcut?”

“Type a name for this shortcut:”

(New Internet Shortcut)

  1. In the “Type a name for this shortcut” edit box, you’ll see “New Internet Shortcut.”
  • Type the name you want. This will replace/erase “New Internet Shortcut.”
  1. Finish the shortcut: Press Alt + F, or Tab to Finish and press Enter.

Result

You now have a shortcut on your desktop. Pressing Enter on it will open the website in your default browser.