Create a desktop shortcut and add the app to the Android home screen.
A shortcut is a file that is used to quickly launch another file. These types of interface elements are found on both computers and mobile phones. However, they are not as popular on mobile devices, although they serve many useful functions. Therefore, if you want to be able to keep important files and applications on the home screen of your mobile phone, you will have to create a shortcut on your Android desktop.
What are the shortcuts on the desktop
On the screen of your mobile you will find a wide variety of shortcuts. They allow you to quickly access:
- application interface;
- file;
- multimedia or a document;
- a website on the Internet.
Mobile phone owners often use shortcuts to launch applications. However, a separate icon for a folder or, for example, an image, would not hurt either. Otherwise, the necessary information will be searched through the “Explorer”, where it is not so easy to locate the desired photo or document.
ways to add them
There are several ways to add a quickstart file. The choice depends on the information you want to access and the tool you are willing to use to do so. It is advisable to consider all the methods to find the most convenient and suitable one.
Through built-in tools
You can add a shortcut to the screen without the help of third-party software.
So, if you want to place an app icon, do the following
- Open the list of installed programs.
- Hold your finger on the app icon.
- Drag and drop the icon to the desktop.
Please note that on modern Mobile Phones, all applications automatically appear on the home screen after installation and there is no need to create a separate shortcut for them. However, you may need to place an icon on the screen for quick access, in which case you will need to follow the instructions below:
- Start File Explorer.
- Highlight the file or folder that interests you.
- Click the More button.
- Select the “Add to desktop” option.
If done correctly, the screen will display a shortcut to the file of interest, along with icons for games and programs. It will still be accessible not only through the workspace, but also through the “File Explorer”. If your file manager doesn’t offer the option to create a shortcut, use Total Commander.
Via Total Commander
Total Commander is an advanced file manager that allows you to add a file or folder to your phone’s home screen. It’s worth using as an alternative to the standard “Explorer” if the latter doesn’t have the right options. To add a shortcut you will need:
- Select the Total Commander application icon to launch the file manager after pre-installation.
- Highlight the desired audio file, document, or image.
- Select “Create desktop shortcut” from the suggested options.
Total Commander is exactly the same as the standard “File Explorer”, but the names of some of the menu items are different. Regardless of the file manager you choose, you will only have to select the file and specify the “Add to desktop” option.
Create a shortcut to a page on the Internet
In addition to media, folders and programs, you can add an icon to the desktop of your mobile phone to instantly access a specific site or page on the Internet. For this you will need:
- Start a browser (for example, Google Chrome)
- Open the page of interest on the Internet.
- Press the three dots button.
- Select “Add to Home Screen” from the suggested options.
Immediately after the fourth step, you will see an icon appear on the desktop, which will open the previously selected site in the browser when touched. And by default it will open in the browser that was used to create the shortcut.
Posible problems
Creating shortcut files is not difficult. However, some users complain that they cannot add an audio or document icon when using the standard File Explorer. In this case, a third-party manager such as Total Commander, mentioned above, should be used. Lastly, if the issue is adding a shortcut to an app, check to see if the icon has been previously added to the screen.