How to Create a Desktop Shortcut for Google on Any Browser

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Get a Google shortcut on desktop in a few easy steps
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Do you want to add a Google shortcut icon to your computer desktop? If you use Google Chrome, you can use the built-in "Create shortcut" tool to easily create a shortcut. If you use another browser, you can go to the Google website and then drag the URL onto your desktop. Once you create the shortcut, you can easily pin it to your Start menu, taskbar, or Dock. This wikiHow will show you how to put a Google shortcut onto your Windows, Mac, or Chromebook using Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari, or Mozilla Firefox.

Adding a Google Icon to Your Desktop

  1. Open Google in Chrome.
  2. Click â‹® .
  3. Click Cast, save, and share .
  4. Click Create Shortcut .
  5. Click Create .
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Using Google Chrome

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  1. Open the Google website in Google Chrome. If you have a Chromebook, it should already have Chrome preinstalled. If you don't have it, you can download it . [1]
    • You can use Google Chrome to turn websites into desktop shortcuts.
  2. 2
    Click â‹® . This will be in the top-right corner. [2]
    • A drop-down menu will open.
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  3. 3
    Click Cast, save, and share . You can find this towards the bottom of the drop-down menu. More options will expand.
    • On some versions, this may just look like Save and Share .
  4. 4
    Click Create Shortcut . A pop-up window will open.
  5. 5
    Click Create . By default, the name of your shortcut should be Google , the title of the tab. If you want to change it, delete the current selection and enter a new name.
    • Once created, the shortcut will be on your desktop.
  6. Find the shortcut on your desktop, and then double-click it. Google will open in its own window unless you have Chrome already open. In this case, it will open in a new tab on the existing window.
  7. 7
    Pin your shortcut (optional). You can pin your shortcut to your Start menu or taskbar (Windows) or Dock (Mac) for easy access. [3]
    • On Windows, right-click the shortcut on your desktop, and then click Pin to Start .
      • To pin to the taskbar, open the shortcut. Right-click the shortcut in the taskbar, then click Pin to taskbar .
    • On Mac, drag the shortcut onto the Dock, wait for a space to appear, and then release it.
  8. If you want to open the Google shortcut using only your keyboard, you can assign a Shortcut key . This is helpful if you have other website shortcuts on your desktop.
    • Right-click the shortcut file on your desktop.
    • Click Show more options (Windows 11).
    • Click Properties .
    • Click the Shortcut key field.
    • Press the key combination you want to use. This can be something like CTRL + Shift + G .
    • Click Apply , and then OK .
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Using Microsoft Edge, Safari, or Firefox

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  1. Open Google in a web browser. You can use this method for Safari, Microsoft Edge , Mozilla Firefox , or another browser.
  2. Resize your browser window if necessary. If your browser opens in full-screen mode, restore the browser window down by clicking the box icon in the top-right corner of the window (Windows) or the green circle in the top-left corner (Mac) before continuing. [4]
    • You should be able to see some of your desktop above, below, or to the side of your browser's window.
  3. In most browsers, you can click once on the URL to highlight it. You can also highlight it manually by clicking on one side of the URL and dragging it to the other end.
  4. Click and hold on the highlighted URL. Drag it onto your desktop, and then release. This will create the shortcut to Google. [5]
  5. Double-click the Google shortcut. It should open the Google homepage in your specified browser.
    • In some cases, you may have to designate a default program for this shortcut. If you see a pop-up window, select your preferred browser as the default program.
      • Make sure the box is checked for "Always use this program…".
  6. You can pin your shortcut to your Start menu (Windows) or Dock (Mac) for easy access.
    • On Windows, right-click the shortcut on your desktop, and then click Pin to Start .
    • On Mac, drag the shortcut onto the Dock, wait for a space to appear, and then release it. [6]
  7. If you want to open the Google shortcut using only your keyboard, you can assign a Shortcut key . This is helpful if you have other website shortcuts on your desktop.
    • Right-click the shortcut file.
    • Click Show more options (Windows 11).
    • Click Properties .
    • Click the Shortcut key field.
    • Press the key combination you want to use. This can be something like CTRL + Shift + G .
      • Make sure not to use any existing keyboard shortcuts such as the ones for copy and paste.
    • Click Apply , then OK .
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Why does the Google shortcut have the Microsoft Edge logo?
    Nicole Levine, MFA
    wikiHow Technology Writer
    Nicole Levine is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. She has more than 20 years of experience creating technical documentation and leading support teams at major web hosting and software companies. Nicole also holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Portland State University and teaches composition, fiction-writing, and zine-making at various institutions.
    Nicole Levine, MFA
    wikiHow Technology Writer
    Expert Answer
    When you add a website shortcut to your desktop, its icon will be that of your default web browser. So, if created a website shortcut in Google Chrome, the icon would have the Chrome logo on it.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome_webstore/answer/3060053?hl=en
      2. ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome_webstore/answer/3060053?hl=en
      3. ↑ https://www.unimelb.edu.au/accessibility/tools/saving-time-with-web-shortcuts/instructions
      4. ↑ https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/create-desktop-shortcut-website
      5. ↑ https://td.wku.edu/TDClient/34/Portal/KB/ArticleDet?ID=3446
      6. ↑ https://td.wku.edu/TDClient/34/Portal/KB/ArticleDet?ID=3446

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open your browser .
      2. Navigate to https://www.google.com/
      3. Highlight the URL in the address bar.
      4. Drag the web address to the desktop .

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