Getting the printer icon on your desktop in Windows 11 is a small but pretty handy step that can save a lot of time. Sometimes, diving into the Control Panel or Settings just to check ink levels or tweak print options feels like overkill, especially if you print a lot. So, creating a shortcut directly on your desktop makes quick access much easier. It’s kind of weird that Windows doesn’t make this super obvious, but once you know how, it’s straightforward enough.
How to Put Printer Icon on Desktop Windows 11
This can be useful if you’re tired of hunting through menus, or maybe your printer isn’t showing up in the taskbar or quick actions. With a shortcut, you can just double-click and jump straight into printer management. That being said, it mainly applies if your printer isn’t already pinned or showing on your desktop or taskbar, which is a common gripe.
Step 1: Open Devices and Printers
First off, you need to get to the Devices and Printers window. You can do this in a couple of ways — the fastest is probably typing Control Panel in the Windows search bar and hitting Enter, then navigating to Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers.
If Control Panel isn’t your usual go-to, you can also try Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printing & scanners. Either way, it gets you there.
Step 2: Find your printer
Once you’re in Devices and Printers, look through the list to find your printer. Make sure it’s connected, powered on, and set as default if you want it to be ready to go. If it’s not there, maybe your drivers are wonky or it’s not installed properly. That’s a whole separate headache, but for now, assume it’s visible and working.
Step 3: Create the shortcut
Right-click on the printer icon, then choose Create shortcut. Windows will pop up a warning saying it can’t create the shortcut directly here and will place it on the desktop instead — that’s normal. Sometimes, this fails on the first try. If so, do it again, or try running as administrator.
This is kind of weird, but Windows doesn’t always make creating shortcuts smooth from this menu. If it doesn’t work, another trick is dragging the printer icon from the same window to the desktop while holding Alt.
Step 4: Confirm and rename (if needed)
Once the shortcut appears on the desktop, right-click it and select Rename if you want a clearer label (“My Printer” or whatever). Easy to do and helps keep things tidy.
Step 5: Use it!
Double-click that icon whenever you want quick access to printer options, ink levels, or to troubleshoot. It’s especially handy if your printer isn’t always visible in the taskbar or if you want to jump straight into device settings instead of hunting through menus each time.
On some setups, this might not work perfectly the first time — like, the shortcut might not do exactly what you expect — but after a reboot or re-adding the shortcut, it usually sorts itself out. Windows has a weird way of handling these assigned shortcuts.
Tips for Putting Printer Icon on Desktop Windows 11
- Make sure the printer is installed, connected, and set as default. Otherwise, the shortcut might not do much.
- If the Create shortcut option doesn’t work, try dragging the printer icon to the desktop while holding Alt.
- Renaming the shortcut to something specific helps find it fast — especially if you have multiple printers.
- Keep your desktop a little organized — no point creating shortcuts for every device if it gets cluttered.
- Using the shortcut to check ink levels or run diagnostics saves jumping through multiple menus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t I find my printer in Devices and Printers?
Make sure it’s powered on, connected properly (USB or network), and that the drivers are installed and up to date. Sometimes Windows doesn’t see the device if drivers are missing or corrupted — worth reinstalling if it’s acting weird.
How can I rename the printer shortcut on my desktop?
Right-click the shortcut, choose Rename, then type whatever makes sense. Keep it simple — “Office Printer” or “LaserJet” — whatever helps you identify it quickly.
Is there an alternative way to create a printer shortcut?
Yeah, another way is to drag that printer from Devices and Printers directly onto your desktop while holding Alt. Not sure why, but sometimes Windows seems to prefer this method.
Can I delete the printer icon if I no longer need it?
Absolutely, just right-click and hit Delete. It won’t uninstall the printer, just remove that shortcut from the desktop.
What if the shortcut doesn’t work or opens the wrong settings?
Try deleting and recreating it. Sometimes Windows goes wonky, or it’s a cache issue. If that fails, verify your printer’s default status and check for driver updates.
Summary
- Open Devices and Printers from Control Panel or Settings
- Find your printer and create a shortcut
- Rename if needed, and place it on your desktop
- Use it for quick access to printer options or troubleshooting
Conclusion
Dumping a printer icon on your desktop isn’t exactly rocket science, but it can make your life a lot easier if you’re printing regularly. Usually just a handful of steps, but Windows sometimes makes it more complicated than necessary. If it feels like it’s not working, re-try, or reboot after placing the shortcut. Sometimes a quick restart helps Windows recognize new shortcuts properly. Fingers crossed this helps, and at least now you’ve got an easy way to get to your printer quickly without digging through menus.