Adding shortcuts to desktop using Group Policy

Would you like to learn how to configure a group policy to create a shortcut on the user desktop? In this tutorial, we will show you how to create a shortcut on the user desktop using a GPO.

Windows 2012 R2
Windows 2016
Windows 2019
Windows 10
Windows 7

Equipment list

The following section presents the list of equipment used to create this tutorial.

  • Server

  • Network Switch

  • Laptop

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  • List of Tutorials

  • GPO - Lock the screen after inactivity

  • GPO - Force the USB drive encryption

  • GPO - Turn off Wifi if ethernet is connected

  • GPO - Traffic shaper

  • GPO - Map network drive

  • GPO - Application Locker

  • GPO - Lock user account after 3 fails

  • GPO - Add local administrators

  • GPO - Rename administrator account

  • GPO - Proxy configuration

  • GPO - Prevent proxy configuration changes

  • GPO - Proxy auto-configuration script

  • GPO - Google Chrome configuration

  • GPO - Google Chrome proxy configuration

  • GPO - Disable the installation of Chrome extensions

  • GPO - Disable the Chrome password manager

  • GPO - Mozilla Firefox configuration

  • GPO - Disable the installation of Firefox extensions

  • GPO - Disable the Firefox password manager

  • GPO - Disable autorun and autoplay

  • GPO - Disable SMBv1

  • GPO - Rename guest account

  • GPO - Configure the Firewall

  • GPO - Install an MSI package

  • GPO - Configure the Wallpaper

  • GPO - NTP client

  • GPO - NTP server

  • GPO - Press CTRL + ALT + DEL before login

  • GPO - Change RDP port

  • GPO - Windows Defender cloud-based protection

  • GPO - Message after login

  • GPO - Logoff RDP session after inactivity

  • GPO - Disconnect RDP session after inactivity

  • GPO - Prevent control panel access

  • GPO - Limit control panel options

Tutorial GPO - Create a shortcut on the user desktop

On the domain controller, open the group policy management tool.

Adding shortcuts to desktop using Group Policy

Create a new group policy.

Adding shortcuts to desktop using Group Policy

Enter a name for the new group policy.

Adding shortcuts to desktop using Group Policy

In our example, the new GPO was named: MY-GPO.

On the Group Policy Management screen, expand the folder named Group Policy Objects.

Right-click your new Group Policy Object and select the Edit option.

Adding shortcuts to desktop using Group Policy

On the group policy editor screen, expand the User configuration folder and locate the following item.

Copy to Clipboard

Create a shortcut.

Adding shortcuts to desktop using Group Policy

On the General tab, perform the following configuration.

Action - Update.
Name - Enter a name for the new shortcut.
Target type - Select the shortcut target type.
Location - Select the shortcut destination folder.
Target URL - Enter the URL path.

Click on the OK button.

Adding shortcuts to desktop using Group Policy

In our example, we created a shortcut named INTRANET on the user desktop.

To save the group policy configuration, you need to close the Group Policy editor.

Congratulations! You have finished the GPO creation.

Tutorial - Applying the GPO to create a shortcut

On the Group policy management screen, you need to right-click the Organizational Unit desired and select the option to link an existent GPO.

Adding shortcuts to desktop using Group Policy

In our example, we are going to link the group policy named MY-GPO to the root of the domain.

Adding shortcuts to desktop using Group Policy

After applying the GPO you need to wait for 10 or 20 minutes.

During this time the GPO will be replicated to other domain controllers.

On a remote computer, verify if the new shortcut was created.

Adding shortcuts to desktop using Group Policy

In our example, we created a shortcut on the user desktop using a GPO.