Adding a Facebook shortcut to your desktop or laptop allows you to quickly and easily access Facebook without having to open your browser and type in the web address. The shortcut launches Facebook in its own window, saving you time. Creating a shortcut is simple and only takes a minute. Here’s how to do it:
Creating a Facebook Shortcut on Windows
If you’re using a Windows PC, follow these steps to make a Facebook shortcut:
- Open your web browser and go to www.facebook.com. Make sure you’re logged into your Facebook account if you want the shortcut to take you straight to your News Feed.
- Click on the favorites star icon at the end of the address bar. This bookmarks the Facebook website.
- Now click on the three horizontal lines “hamburger” icon next to the favorites star. Click “More tools” and then “Create shortcut”.
- A dialog box will pop up asking where you want to save the shortcut. Select “Desktop” and click “Create”.
A Facebook icon will now be added to your desktop. You can double click it anytime to launch Facebook in its own window.
Creating a Facebook Shortcut on Mac
The process is very similar for Mac users:
- Open Safari and navigate to www.facebook.com. Log in if you want the shortcut to go straight to your account.
- Click on the “Share” icon in the toolbar and select “Add Bookmark”. This bookmarks Facebook.
- Right click on the Facebook bookmark in the sidebar and choose “Add to Desktop”.
- A dialog box will appear asking you to name the shortcut. Type “Facebook” and save it to your desktop.
Now there will be a Facebook icon on your desktop. Double click it to launch Facebook instantly.
Customizing Your Facebook Shortcut
You can customize your new Facebook shortcut to better suit your needs:
- Change the icon – Right click the shortcut, select “Properties”, change icon, and pick a new icon.
- Edit the name – Right click, Properties, edit the Name field.
- Change the web address – Right click, Properties, edit the Target field to a different Facebook link.
Some ideas for customizing your shortcut:
- Use a Facebook-themed icon
- Rename it to “FB” or your name
- Make the target link go straight to your profile or groups
Adding a Facebook Shortcut to Your Taskbar
In addition to your desktop, you can also add a Facebook shortcut icon to your taskbar for even quicker access:
On Windows
- Right click on the taskbar and select “Toolbars > New toolbar”.
- Choose the location of the Facebook shortcut on your desktop.
- The Facebook icon will now be added to your taskbar.
On Mac
- Drag the Facebook desktop shortcut to the right side of your dock.
- Let go once the other icons slide apart to make space.
The Facebook shortcut is now readily available in your dock/taskbar for single click access.
Creating Shortcuts for Other Social Media Platforms
You can use these same steps to make desktop and taskbar shortcuts for other social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and more. Just bookmark the website, save it to your desktop, and optionally add it to your dock/taskbar.
Shortcuts help you get to your favorite sites in just one or two clicks instead of having to open your browser and search for them every time.
Troubleshooting Facebook Shortcuts
If your Facebook shortcut stops working, here are some things you can try:
- Make sure the Target URL is correct – Right click > Properties > Target field.
- Try deleting and recreating the shortcut.
- Make sure Facebook is not blocked on your network.
- Check for Facebook website outages.
- Try restarting your computer.
Facebook shortcuts make it faster and easier to access your account from your desktop. In just a minute or two, you can have a shortcut icon setup that launches Facebook with a single click. Customize it to suit your needs and add it to your taskbar for optimal convenience. With this simple trick, Facebook is always at your fingertips.