Tired of digging through menus every time you want to print something? Creating a printer shortcut on your Windows 11 desktop can save you time and clicks. Whether you’re using a home printer or one at the office, having quick access right on your desktop makes printing much easier. In this guide, I’ll walk you step by step on how to do it, explain different methods, and share some extra tips for managing your printers efficiently.
Why Create a Printer Shortcut on Desktop?
Think of a shortcut as a “door” to your printer settings and functions. Instead of hunting through Control Panel or Settings, a single click takes you directly to your printer.
Here’s why it’s handy:
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Saves time – No need to browse menus every time.
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Quick troubleshooting – Access settings instantly if your printer acts up.
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Easy printing – Drag and drop documents onto the shortcut to print (with some printers).
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Better organization – Especially useful if you manage multiple printers.
Ways to Create a Printer Shortcut on Desktop in Windows 11
There’s more than one way to get a printer shortcut on your desktop. Let’s go through the most effective ones.
1. Create a Printer Shortcut from Control Panel
This is the most common method and works for any printer.
Step 1: Open Control Panel
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Press Win + R, type
control, and hit Enter.
Step 2: Navigate to Devices and Printers
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Go to Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers.
Step 3: Find Your Printer
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Right-click your printer’s icon.
Step 4: Create Shortcut
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Select Create shortcut.
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Windows may say, “Windows can’t create a shortcut here. Do you want the shortcut to be placed on the desktop instead?”
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Click Yes.
Now you’ve got a printer shortcut sitting on your desktop.
2. Drag and Drop from Control Panel
If you’re a fan of drag-and-drop:
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Open Devices and Printers in Control Panel.
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Click and drag your printer’s icon directly to your desktop.
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Boom—you have a shortcut.
3. Use the Send To Desktop Option
Another quick way:
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Right-click your printer in Devices and Printers.
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Select Send to > Desktop (create shortcut).
This instantly creates a desktop shortcut.
4. Create a Printer Shortcut Manually
If you like customizing:
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Right-click on your desktop and choose New > Shortcut.
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In the location field, type:
Replace Your Printer Name with the exact name of your printer.
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Click Next, give it a name like My Printer, and hit Finish.
This shortcut directly opens your printer’s properties.
How to Pin a Printer Shortcut to Taskbar or Start Menu
If you don’t want it cluttering your desktop:
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Right-click the shortcut > Show more options > Pin to taskbar.
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Or choose Pin to Start for quick access in the Start menu.
Customizing Your Printer Shortcut
Want your shortcut to look cooler?
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Change the icon:
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Right-click the shortcut > Properties > Change Icon.
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Choose from Windows icons or upload your own.
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Rename it to something easy, like “Office Printer” or “HP DeskJet”.
Managing Multiple Printers with Shortcuts
If you use more than one printer:
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Create separate shortcuts for each.
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Rename them clearly (e.g., Work Printer vs. Home Printer).
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Place them in a folder on your desktop for neat organization.
Benefits of Printer Shortcuts
You might be wondering—why not just use Settings? Well, here’s the difference:
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Faster access – One click vs. 3–4 clicks.
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No confusion – If you have multiple printers, shortcuts save you from picking the wrong one.
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Troubleshooting made easy – Access printer queue and settings instantly.
Troubleshooting Shortcut Issues
Sometimes shortcuts don’t work as expected. Here’s what you can do:
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Printer not found? Reinstall the printer driver.
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Shortcut opens wrong printer? Double-check the printer name.
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Printer offline? Right-click the printer > See what’s printing > Printer > Use Printer Online.
Extra Tips for Printing Efficiency
Beyond shortcuts, here are some bonus tips:
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Set your default printer so Windows automatically picks it.
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Keep your printer drivers updated via Windows Update or manufacturer’s site.
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Use the Print Queue window shortcut to quickly cancel or reorder print jobs.
Conclusion
Creating a printer shortcut on your Windows 11 desktop is a simple but powerful productivity hack. It cuts down the hassle of navigating menus, makes troubleshooting easier, and helps if you juggle multiple printers. With just a few clicks, you’ll always have your printer just a double-click away.
FAQs
Q1: Can I create a shortcut for multiple printers?
Yes, you can create separate shortcuts for each printer and organize them on your desktop.
Q2: Does creating a shortcut install another printer?
No, it only creates a quick-access link. Your printer stays the same.
Q3: Can I delete the shortcut without affecting the printer?
Absolutely. Deleting the shortcut won’t uninstall the printer.
Q4: Can I drag files directly to the printer shortcut to print them?
Yes, many printers allow you to drag and drop documents onto the shortcut to print.
Q5: How do I make my printer the default one using the shortcut?
Right-click the printer shortcut > Set as default printer.