How To Pin Games To Desktop

To pin games to your desktop, right-click the game’s shortcut or executable file and select “Send to” > “Desktop (create shortcut)”.

Tired of searching for your favorite games in the Start Menu? Wouldn’t it be great to have instant access right from your desktop? Today, I will guide you on how to pin games to desktop, making your gaming sessions smoother. It’s a simple tweak that significantly improves your workflow.

This method works across most Windows systems and gives you quicker access to your most loved games. No more tedious navigation – just a click away and you’re in the action. Let’s get started and see how easy it is.

How to Pin Games to Desktop

Having your favorite games just a click away is super convenient! Instead of digging through menus or game libraries, pinning them directly to your desktop makes starting your gaming adventures quick and easy. Think of it like having your favorite toys all laid out and ready to play. This guide will walk you through different ways to create those shortcuts on your computer screen. We will cover various methods, from the simple drag-and-drop to using some of the computer’s built-in features. So, get ready to learn how to keep your games just a click away!

Understanding Shortcuts

Before we jump into the how-to, let’s talk about what a shortcut actually is. A shortcut isn’t the actual game itself. Instead, it’s like a doorway that takes you to the game. It’s a small file that tells your computer where to find the real game file. This is important because you’re not moving or changing the game; you’re just creating a quick way to get to it. This is why you can have multiple shortcuts pointing to the same game from different places. For instance, you can have one on your desktop and another in a folder for all your favorite games.

Simple Drag-and-Drop Method

The easiest way to pin a game to your desktop is often by simply dragging and dropping. This works for most games, especially those with their own application icon. Here’s how to do it:

Find the Game’s Executable File: First, locate the folder where your game is installed. Usually, this is somewhere in your “Program Files” folder on Windows or within the “Applications” folder on a Mac. The game’s main file (often ending in .exe on Windows or .app on Mac) is what you need. Think of this like the main key to your toy box.
Right-Click and Drag: Once you’ve found the main file, click on it, but instead of letting go, keep the mouse button pressed. Drag the file onto your desktop.
Create Shortcut: When you let go of the mouse button on the desktop, a shortcut should appear. Depending on your computer’s operating system, you might see an icon that looks like a regular game icon but has a little arrow on it. The arrow shows that it’s just a shortcut.

Sometimes this method might create an actual copy of the file, instead of a shortcut. If this happens, simply delete the copy you made and try again while holding down the Ctrl or Option (on a Mac) key as you drag. The key forces the system to create shortcut instead of a file copy.

Using Right-Click Context Menu

Another super simple way to create a desktop shortcut is through the right-click context menu. Here’s how it works:

Locate Game Executable: Just like with the drag-and-drop method, start by locating the game’s main file or executable (.exe on Windows, .app on Mac).
Right-Click: Now, right-click on this game file. A menu will pop up with several options. This menu is also called the context menu.
Choose “Create Shortcut” or “Send to” Option: In the right-click menu, look for an option that says “Create shortcut”. In some cases, you might find the option under “Send to” where you can select “Desktop (create shortcut)”. Click on this option.

A new shortcut for your game will now show up on your desktop, ready to use.

Pinning from Start Menu or Application List (Windows)

Windows operating system has a Start Menu, where all of the installed programs are stored. From here, you can easily pin any program, including your favorite games, to the desktop.

Open the Start Menu: Click the Windows button on the bottom left corner of your screen. It usually looks like a window or four small squares.
Find your Game: Scroll through your list of applications or type the game’s name into the search bar. You will see all your programs and apps in the Start Menu.
Right-Click and Pin: Once you find the game, right-click it. A menu will appear. From this menu, select “More”, then “Open file location”.
Create Shortcut: This will take you to the folder where the game’s shortcut is stored. Right-click on the shortcut and select “Send to”, and click “Desktop (create shortcut)”.

This method allows you to create a desktop shortcut directly from the Start menu, without navigating through multiple file folders.

Pinning from Launchers and Game Libraries

Many PC games are available through launchers like Steam, Epic Games Store, or GOG. These launchers often have their own methods for creating desktop shortcuts:

Steam

Steam is a very popular platform for PC gaming. Here’s how you can make desktop shortcuts for your Steam games:

Open Steam Library: Launch the Steam application and go to your “Library”.
Find your Game: Locate the game you want to pin to your desktop.
Right-Click and Manage: Right-click on the game’s name. From the menu, choose “Manage,” then select “Add desktop shortcut.” Steam will automatically create a shortcut on your desktop for the chosen game.

Steam also gives you the option to add games as “Favorites” within the application. This is a useful feature for quick launch access within the Steam application itself.

Epic Games Store

The Epic Games Store is another popular place to buy games. You can easily create shortcuts for your games from this platform.

Open Epic Games Launcher: Launch the Epic Games application.
Go to Library: Select “Library” from the menu on the left.
Find Your Game: Locate the game you want.
Click the Three Dots: Click on the three dots next to the game’s name. A menu will pop up.
Create Shortcut: Select “Create Shortcut.” This will create a shortcut on your desktop for the game.

The Epic Games store has a clean, user-friendly interface which makes this method pretty straightforward.

GOG Galaxy

GOG Galaxy is another launcher that can create shortcuts to your games, both from the GOG store and other sources.

Open GOG Galaxy: Launch the GOG Galaxy application.
Go to Owned Games: Select “Owned Games”.
Select your Game: Find the game you want a shortcut for.
Click More: Click on the three dots (more options button) to bring up a new menu.
Hover over Manage: Hover your mouse over “Manage” to see new options.
Create a Shortcut: Select “Create shortcut”. A shortcut will appear on your desktop.

Customizing Your Shortcuts

Once you have your game shortcuts on your desktop, you might want to personalize them. Here’s how you can change the icons and name of your shortcut.

Changing the Icon (Windows)

You may want to change the look of your shortcut icon. Here’s how you can customize them on Windows:

Right-Click the Shortcut: Right-click on the game shortcut you want to change.
Select “Properties”: In the menu that pops up, click on “Properties.”
Go to “Shortcut” Tab: In the Properties window, click on the “Shortcut” tab.
Click “Change Icon”: Towards the bottom of the “Shortcut” tab, you’ll find a button called “Change Icon.” Click it.
Choose a New Icon: A new window will show some icons. You can also click “Browse…” to find an icon image file (usually .ico) on your computer. Select the icon you like and click “OK.”
Apply and OK: Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save your change. Now your shortcut has a new icon!

Changing the Shortcut Name

You may want to rename your shortcut if the name is too long or you want something more personalized. Here’s how to do this on both Windows and Mac.

Windows: Right-click the shortcut, select “Rename,” type the new name, and press “Enter.”
Mac: Click once on the shortcut and then click again (or right-click and select “Rename”), type the new name, and press “Return.”

Organizing Desktop Shortcuts

Having lots of game shortcuts on your desktop can make it look very messy. Here are a few ways to help you organize them.

Creating Desktop Folders

You can create folders directly on your desktop to group your game shortcuts. It is really simple to do. Follow these steps:

Right-Click on Desktop: Right-click on your desktop.
Select New Folder: In the menu, select “New” and then “Folder.”
Name the Folder: Give your new folder a name. For example, “Favorite Games” or “Adventure Games.”
Move the Shortcuts: Simply drag and drop your game shortcuts into the new folder.

Creating folders keeps your desktop looking tidy and can make it easier to find the games you want to play.

Using Desktop Stacks (Mac)

Mac users have access to “Stacks,” a feature that groups similar files together.

Right-Click on Desktop: Right-click on the desktop.
Select “Use Stacks”: Choose “Use Stacks” from the menu.

Your shortcuts will be grouped into stacks that you can click on to expand and browse.

Using Third-Party Desktop Organization Tools

If you need more features to organize your shortcuts, there are many apps that can do it.

Fences: It is a very popular app for Windows that creates organized containers for your icons.
Launchbar or Alfred (Mac): These are apps that can organize and help you launch any application from your computer.

These tools provide more customization and make it very easy to keep your desktop clean and organized.

By following these simple steps and tips, you can easily pin your favorite games to your desktop. Now your gaming adventures are just a click away, making your gaming experience more fun and efficient!

How to Put Apps on Desktop on Windows 11 or 10 PC

Final Thoughts

Pinning games to your desktop offers quick access. This eliminates the need to search through menus each time you want to play. Simply find the game’s executable and create a shortcut.

You can then drag this shortcut to your desktop. This puts your favorite titles directly at your fingertips. These steps explain how to pin games to desktop effectively.