Getting a Google icon on your Windows 11 desktop is pretty straightforward, but it can be a bit tricky if you’re not used to it. If you’ve tried dragging the website icon or fiddled with shortcuts before, you’ll know it’s not always 100% reliable. Here’s a solid method that usually does the trick, especially if you want a clean, tidy icon right where you need it — no fuss.
How to Put a Google Icon on Your Desktop in Windows 11
Basically, you’re going to create a shortcut from your browser, but it’s a tad more than just dragging the URL. Why? Well, Windows and browsers get a bit funny after updates, and you might end up with a broken shortcut or one that’s just a plain URL icon. This method gives you a proper icon that opens Google like a native app — easy as.
Method 1: Using “Create Shortcut” in Chrome/Edge/Firefox
Most browsers have a built-in way to make desktop shortcuts, but it’s hidden in the menu. For Chrome or Edge, for example, do this:
- Open your browser and go to
www.google.com - Click the three-dot menu (or hamburger icon) in the top right corner.
- Hover over More Tools and then click Create Shortcut. If you don’t see that, don’t worry — keep reading for another way.
- In the pop-up, give it a simple name like Google. If you want it to look less like a browser tab and more like an app, tick the box for “Open as window”. This way, it’ll open in a dedicated window with just the icon, no toolbar.
- Hit Create. Bob’s your uncle — a shortcut appears on your desktop.
Once it’s there, you can drag it around or right-click and choose Pin to taskbar for quick access. Some browsers may label the menu a little differently but the idea’s the same. Sometimes, creating the shortcut first might fail or the icon looks funny — a quick reboot or recreating it usually fixes that. Windows can be a bit funny with icons sometimes.
Method 2: Manually creating a shortcut and customising it
This one’s a bit more effort, but it works across the board:
- Right-click an empty space on the desktop, select New > Shortcut.
- In the location field, paste this:
explorer.exe "https://www.google.com". Click Next. - Name it “Google” or whatever floats your boat, then hit Finish.
- Right-click the new shortcut and go to Properties.
- Click the Web Document tab and then hit Change Icon.
- Choose a custom icon if you like, or stick with the default ones. If you want a fancy icon, you can find PNGs or ICO files online and select them.
- Hit OK to save. Now you’ve got a proper desktop icon that links straight to Google, and it opens in your default browser.
Yeah, Windows can be a bit of a pain with icons, but at least it’s customisable. Double-clicking that icon will open Google instantly, just like a real app.
Tips for Getting that Google Icon on Your Desktop in Windows 11
- Double-check your default browser, as that affects how the shortcut opens.
- If icons look dodgy or blank, try right-click > Refresh or re-change the icon.
- Some setups might need a reboot after creating shortcuts — no worries if it doesn’t show up straight away.
- For a cleaner look, right-click the icon > Properties > Change Icon and pick a slick one.
- Pinning it to the taskbar at the end is usually quicker once the desktop shortcut is sorted.
FAQ
Can I make shortcuts for other websites the same way?
Too right. Just swap out the URL for whatever site you want — YouTube, Twitter, whatever.
Do I need Chrome or Edge? What about Firefox?
You don’t have to use Chrome or Edge, but their built-in options make it easier. Firefox has a “Create Shortcut” option in the page menu, but often, creating a manual shortcut with explorer.exe or dragging the URL works better across the board.
What if my shortcut opens in a new tab instead of a window?
When creating the shortcut, tick the “Open as window” box if available. If not, you can tweak the shortcut’s properties to launch in a dedicated window — a bit fiddly, but doable. The manual explorer.exe method usually keeps things simple and consistent.
Can I delete the shortcut anytime?
Absolutely. Just right-click and select Delete.
What about making shortcuts for other Google services — Gmail, Drive, etc.?
Same drill — just update the URL to whatever Google service you want. It’s pretty handy.
Summary
- Open your browser and head to Google.
- Create a shortcut via the menu or drag the URL into a new shortcut.
- Name and tidy up your icons so they’re easy to find.
- Pin to the taskbar if you’re keen on easy access.
Hopefully, this saves you a bit of hassle. Setting up a proper shortcut like this beats the mess of pinned tabs or bookmarks that can go walkabout. Just a quick tweak to make life easier — until Windows decides to be funny again. Good luck giving it a go!