Assigning a Shortcut Key to a Desktop Shortcut

Written by Barry Dysert (last updated March 30, 2020)

In an effort to keep your hands on the keyboard as much as possible, you may find it convenient to assign shortcut keys to items on your desktop. The process is similar to assigning a shortcut key to any other item. Follow these steps:

  1. Make sure the icon for the desktop item is visible on the screen.
  2. Right-click the item. (Make sure the item you are right-clicking is a shortcut item.) Windows displays a Context menu.
  3. Select Properties from the Context menu. Windows displays the Shortcut Properties dialog box for the item.
  4. Make sure the Shortcut tab is displayed. (See Figure 1.)
  5. Figure 1. Assigning a shortcut key to a desktop item.

  6. Click once in the Shortcut Key box.
  7. Press a letter or number key. Whatever key you press (such as the letter P) is automatically appended to the modifiers Ctrl+Alt to form the shortcut key.
  8. Click OK.

Now when I want to invoke my program, I can either double-click on the desktop shortcut's icon or I can just press Ctrl+Alt+P and up it comes. If I want to remove the shortcut key, I repeat the above steps, but in step 6 I press the Delete key.

 This tip (11721) applies to Windows 7, 8, and 10.

Author Bio

Barry Dysert

Barry has been a computer professional for over 35 years, working in different positions such as technical team leader, project manager, and software developer. He is currently a software engineer with an emphasis on developing custom applications under Microsoft Windows. When not working with Windows or writing Tips, Barry is an amateur writer. His first non-fiction book is titled "A Chronological Commentary of Revelation." ...

MORE FROM BARRY

Deleting Events in Your Event Logs

You don't need to worry about event logs filling up your disk, but you still may want to clean them out eventually. This ...

Discover More

Using Windows in Safe Mode

There may come a time when your system is no longer operating properly. This could be the result of Registry changes, a ...

Discover More

Understanding Virtual Memory

Computers can address far more locations than may exist in physical memory. The key to this feature is the use of virtual ...

Discover More
More WindowsTips

File Explorer's Overlooked Selection Tools

File Explorer in Windows 10 is the main way to navigate files on your computer. Discover the overlooked selection tools ...

Discover More

Search a Website Using the Run Dialog Box

The Run dialog box allows you to quickly run a search on a website that offers a search function. Performing web searches ...

Discover More

Assigning a Shortcut Key to a Start Menu Item

Reducing the transitions between the keyboard and the mouse is a practice that can improve efficiency. Toward that end, ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is four more than 4?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


Newest Tips