Recommended Free Tools
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Microsoft Edge’s current way to put a website on the Windows desktop is to install the website as an Edge app first. Edge then creates a dedicated app entry, from which you can generate a normal desktop shortcut.
This works for any website, even if Edge does not show the install icon in the address bar. The installed site opens in its own window instead of as a regular browser tab.
How to add a site shortcut to the desktop using Edge
- Open Microsoft Edge and go to the website you want to place on the desktop.
- Select the Settings and more button—the three dots (…) in the upper-right corner.
- Choose More tools > Apps > Install this site as an app.
- Review the suggested app name, change it if necessary, and select Install.
- After the installation finishes, type
edge://appsinto Edge’s address bar and press Enter. - Find the website’s app card and select Details.
- Select Create Desktop shortcut.
Windows should place the new shortcut on the desktop. Double-clicking it opens the site in the separate Edge app window created during installation.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
If your Edge menu says “Install site as an app”
Edge menu labels vary slightly between builds and locales. On some versions, the command is shown as Settings and more (…) > Apps > Install site as an app, without the More tools level.
#1 Best Overall
- Compact Mouse: With a comfortable and contoured shape, this Logitech ambidextrous wireless mouse feels great in either right or left hand and is far superior to a touchpad
- Durable and Reliable: This USB wireless mouse features a line-by-line scroll wheel, up to 1 year of battery life (2) thanks to a smart sleep mode function, and comes with the included AA battery
- Universal Compatibility: Your Logitech mouse works with your Windows PC, Mac, or laptop, so no matter what type of computer you own today or buy tomorrow your mouse will be compatible
- Plug and Play Simplicity: Just plug in the tiny nano USB receiver and start working in seconds with a strong, reliable connection to your wireless computer mouse up to 33 feet / 10 m (5)
- Better than touchpad: Get more done by adding M185 to your laptop; according to a recent study, laptop users who chose this mouse over a touchpad were 50% more productive (3) and worked 30% faster (4)
Use whichever equivalent command appears in your menu. The important step is to install the website as an app, then open edge://apps and create the shortcut from the app’s Details page.
What if the install icon is missing?
Some websites show an App available icon at the right side of Edge’s address bar. That icon normally appears when Edge recognizes the site as an installable Progressive Web App.
Its absence does not necessarily prevent installation. Open the three-dot menu and look for Apps > Install this site as an app. Microsoft Edge supports installing ordinary websites as app windows too; they simply may not offer every feature associated with a full PWA.
Alternative method using the Windows Apps folder
If the site is already installed as an Edge app but the shortcut command is inconvenient to find, Windows can create the desktop shortcut from the Apps folder:
Rank #2
- 【Plug & Play】Simply plug in the USB receiver for instant connectivity—no drivers needed. The stable 2.4GHz wireless technology ensures reliable performance within 33ft (10m), free from interference. (Note: USB receiver is stored at the bottom of the mouse)
- 【Precision Adjustable DPI】 Switch between 5 DPI levels (800/1200/1600/2400/4000) to adapt cursor speed for tasks like design or everyday browsing. This pc mouse wireless is optimized for accuracy on most surfaces
- 【Enhanced Productivity with 6 Buttons】 Our computer mouse wireless includes forward/backward side buttons to streamline your workflow when navigating documents and web pages. (Note: Forward/backward buttons are not recognized on Mac)
- 【Long-Lasting Battery Life】Runs for up to 24 months on a single AA battery (not included). The wireless mouse battery powered conserves energy by entering sleep mode after 8 minutes of inactivity and reactivates with any button click. and a red LED alerts you when battery is low
- 【Ergonomic Comfort & Durability】 Designed for all-day comfort, this contoured wireless mouse for mac reduces hand strain during extended use. Built to last with 5,000,000 click durability testing
- Press Windows key + R.
- Type
shell:AppsFolderand press Enter. - Locate the installed website app.
- Select it and press Shift + F10 to open its context menu. You can also right-click it if that works on your system.
- Choose Create shortcut.
- When Windows asks whether to place the shortcut on the desktop, select Yes.
This method works only after the website has been installed as an Edge app. It does not turn an ordinary, currently open Edge tab into a desktop shortcut by itself.
Pin the site instead of creating a desktop icon
From edge://apps > the app’s Details page, Edge may also offer:
- Pin to taskbar—adds the app to the Windows taskbar.
- Pin to Start—adds it to the Start menu or Start area.
- Create Desktop shortcut—adds a separate icon to the desktop.
These are separate destinations. Pinning the app to the taskbar or Start does not automatically create a desktop icon.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsSet the site to open automatically when you sign in
A desktop shortcut and automatic startup are different settings. To launch the installed site when you sign in to Windows:
Rank #3
- 【Dual Mode Wireless Bluetooth Mouse】: Switch easily between two devices—connect one via Bluetooth (BT5.2/3.0) and the other using a 2.4G USB receiver. No drivers needed; just plug and play. Enjoy a reliable connection up to 33 feet. Note: You can't use both modes simultaneously; the USB receiver is stored in the mouse.
- 【Rechargeable Wireless Mouse】: Equipped with a 500mAh lithium-ion battery, it charges in 2 hours for over 7 days of use and 30 days on standby. The mouse sleeps after 5 minutes of inactivity to save power and can be woken with any click.
- 【Colorful LED Breathing Light】: Features 7 colorful LED lights that change randomly, adding a fun atmosphere to your workspace.
- 【Portable Mouse】Compact size (4.4 x 2.3 x 1.1 inches) makes it easy to fit in your laptop bag. Lightweight and ergonomic, it's perfect for travel. Contact us anytime for support.
- 【Wide Compatibility】: Works with laptops, PCs, tablets, and smartphones across various operating systems, including Android, Windows, and Mac. Ideal for home, office, and travel.
- Open
edge://appsin Edge. - Select Details on the website’s app card.
- Turn on Auto-start on device login.
Use this selectively; enabling it for several websites can slow down sign-in and increase background memory usage.
Troubleshooting
There is no “Create Desktop shortcut” option
Open edge://apps, locate the installed site, and select Details. The shortcut command is provided there—not necessarily in the website’s normal browser tab.
If the site has no app card, it has not been installed as an Edge app. Return to the site, open Edge’s three-dot menu, and use the install-as-app command first.
The shortcut opens a browser tab instead of an app window
Check that the shortcut was created from the installed app’s Details page or from shell:AppsFolder. A bookmark or manually created URL shortcut can open a normal Edge tab, while an installed-site shortcut opens the dedicated app window.
Rank #4
- 【Plug and Play for Home/Office/School】The wireless computer mouse features 2.4GHz connectivity, delivering a stable, interference-free connection up to 32ft. Designed for 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬, it ensures comfortable use all day. Simply plug in the USB-A receiver for instant pairing—no drivers needed. 📌📌 If the mouse isn’t suitable, place the USB receiver in the battery compartment and return both.
- 【3 Levels Adjustable DPI】This travel USB mouse offers 3 adjustable DPI settings (800, 1200, 1600), allowing you to customize sensitivity for precise design work. Effortlessly switch to match your task and elevate your productivity. 📌 Please remove the film at the bottom of the mouse before use.
- 【Effortless Browsing】Equipped with forward and backward buttons, this computer mice streamlines your workflow, making it easy to navigate through web pages and files with a simple click. 📌Side button does not work on Mac.
- 【Visible Indicator Light】 The pc mouse features a visual indicator for DPI levels and low battery alerts. The red light flashes once for 800 DPI, twice for 1200 DPI, and three times for 1600 DPI. When the battery level is below 10%, the light flashes red until the mouse is completely out of power.
- 【Click to Wake】With smart sleep mode, it saves power by standby after 10 inactive minutes, just 2-3 clicks to wake. This efficient design delivers 3x longer battery life than motion-wake mice. Engineered for durability, its buttons and scroll wheel are tested for 10 million clicks, ensuring long-term reliability and consistent performance.
The website name or icon is wrong
Edge obtains the app name and icon from the site’s installation information. If the name is editable during installation, change it before selecting Install. If the icon still looks incorrect, remove the installed app and install it again after the website has fully loaded.
I only want to delete the desktop icon
Delete the shortcut file from the desktop. This removes the icon but does not uninstall the Edge app.
To remove the installed site itself, open edge://apps, select the app’s Details, choose Uninstall, decide whether to remove the app’s history and data, and select Uninstall again.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Why the old right-click method may not work
Instructions that say to right-click the current Edge page and choose Create shortcut do not describe Edge’s current documented workflow. The reliable current process is:
Best Value
- LOW POWER CONSUMPTION: Intelligent sleep mode can better extend battery life. It will enter auto sleep mode if you don't use it for 5 minutes to save battery and need to click it, the mouse will enter working mode again
- STABLE CONNECTION: 2.4 GHz wireless provides stronger anti-interference ability, a faster transmission speed and a more reliable connection, working distances can up to 10 m, and high DPI can make it track more smoothly over most surfaces
- WIDE COMPATIBILITY: Well compatible with Windows7/8/10/XP, Vista, Mac OS X 10.4 etc. Fits for desktop, laptop, PC and other devices
- ERGONOMIC & COMPACT DESIGN: USB-receiver stays in your PC USB port or stows conveniently inside the wireless mouse when not in use. The lightweight and simple features make the mouse perfect for the journey, office, home
- WHISPER & SENSITIVE CLICKING: Smooth frosted surface and quiet clicks can bring a better user experience and free your worry about bothering others and keep you stay focused while working
- Install the website as an app.
- Open
edge://apps. - Choose Details.
- Select Create Desktop shortcut.
This produces an app shortcut rather than merely saving the page as a browser bookmark.
FAQ
Can I create a desktop shortcut for any website in Edge?
Yes. Use Edge’s Install this site as an app command, then go to edge://apps > Details > Create Desktop shortcut. The site does not have to be a full Progressive Web App.
Why does Edge not show the App available icon?
That icon is conditional and is normally shown for sites Edge recognizes as installable PWAs. Open the three-dot menu and use Apps > Install this site as an app instead.
Does creating the shortcut install a separate Windows application?
It installs the website as an Edge-managed app window. It is not necessarily a full native Windows application, and an ordinary installed website may not support every PWA capability.
How do I remove the site shortcut without uninstalling the site?
Delete the desktop shortcut like any other Windows shortcut. The installed site remains available in edge://apps.
Can I use the shortcut method on Windows 10?
The Edge steps apply to Microsoft Edge on supported Windows installations. However, Microsoft ended free Windows 10 software updates, technical assistance, and security fixes through Windows Update after October 14, 2025, so Windows 10 should not be treated as a fully supported current platform in 2026.
The Bottom Line
For a current Edge desktop shortcut, install the website as an app first: open the site, choose … > Apps > Install this site as an app (or the equivalent path containing More tools), then visit edge://apps and select Details > Create Desktop shortcut. The desktop icon, taskbar pin, and automatic startup setting are separate options.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
