In the properties of a shortcut: what options can be modified

Thanks to shortcuts, we can quickly access programs and files stored on our computer. However, if you want to make the most of them, you should take a look at a shortcut's properties. There are options that you can modify to personalize it and optimize its operation, which will help you be much more productive.

Shortcuts and their properties

 

Shortcuts have been with us for decades as entry points to files, folders, and programs. A double-click is enough to take us directly to where we want to go. saving us the work of navigating step by step along the routeBut despite its great usefulness, we rarely stop to think about the properties of a shortcut and everything we can modify from it.

The shortcuts are small files that act as links to a specific program, document, or folder. They differ from regular files because they don't store data directly, but rather point to its original location. Therefore, when you delete a shortcut from the Desktop, you're not deleting any data folders or uninstalling a program; you're simply deleting a shortcut.

How to access the properties of a shortcut

The main purpose of a shortcut is to improve accessibility and organization in operating systems. Like any other file, they also have properties, that is, a section where we can modify its behavior, change its appearance, and apply other tweaksAlthough we rarely go to a shortcut's properties, knowing what options can be modified there can go a long way toward increasing productivity.

• Accessing the properties of a shortcut is very easy.
• Enough with Right-click on the shortcut and choose Properties in the context menu.
• A small window will then open with several tabs that also include customization options.

The default settings for shortcut properties work pretty well, but in this post, we're going to tweak it a bit to give it a more personal touch.

What options can be modified in the properties of a shortcut?

Once inside a shortcut's properties, there's a lot you can do to customize its behavior and appearance. The idea behind making these adjustments is optimize its operation so that it allows you to save even more time. Therefore, although there are several options that can be modified, we will focus primarily on the most useful ones.

Shortcut tab

The "Shortcut" tab contains the most commonly used options for customizing a shortcut's behavior. From there you can modify aspects such as the destination or path and the way in which the file will be executed. Here you can also assign a keyboard shortcut to open the shortcut, change its icon, or open the source file location.

Thus, the section Destination (Target) displays the path of the file or program to which the shortcut points. You can manually modify this path if the program has changed location.. Additionally, in application shortcuts you can add new execution parameters after the route. For example, the route chrome.exe–incognito open google chrome in incognito mode directly from the shortcut.

In the "Shortcut" tab there is also the section Shortcut key o Shortcut key. By default, it says "None," but you can change this by adding a keyboard shortcut to open the shortcut. To do this, add a letter or number preceded by the Ctrl+Alt combination.

The next field is Run o Run, and allows you to choose how the program should open when you run its shortcut. There are three options:

• normal window, which opens the program in its default size.
• Minimized, that runs the program in the background, very useful for applications that do not require immediate interaction.
• Maximized, which opens the application in a window that occupies the entire screen.

In this tab you can also change the shortcut icon to give it a more visual touch of customization. Just click the Change Icon button and choose your preferred one. This action only changes the base icon, without removing the up arrow that serves as a shortcut identifier.

"Security" and "General" tabs

Another tab that allows you to apply modifications to the properties of a shortcut is "Security". Here it is possible assign permissions to allow users on the computer to read the shortcut, modify its properties, or run the linked program. Depending on the level of privacy and security you want, simply check or uncheck the corresponding boxes.

On the other hand, there is the tab "General", which displays basic information about the shortcut, such as its name, type, location, size, and the date it was created, modified, and accessed. The options you can modify on this tab are limited to the following: shortcut attributes, that is, its behavior within the system. At the bottom of the tab, you'll see two options you can select or deselect:

• Read only: If you select this option, the shortcut won't be as easy to edit as it was before. This is useful if you want to avoid accidental changes to its settings.
• Hidden: This attribute makes the shortcut disappear from the Desktop and File Explorer, unless you have the option enabled show hidden files. It is used to keep the desktop clean or to hide a shortcut from prying eyes.

Take advantage of the properties of a shortcut to boost your productivity

In addition to making changes to its properties, it is very useful keep shortcuts organized in folders, especially if you have created several with different purposes. Remember assign them clear and descriptive names to each one and, why not, change your icons, to make it easier to find important programs and files.

As you've seen, shortcut properties offer more customization than many users imagine. Knowing what to modify and how to do it allows you to Optimize your workflow, save time, keep your desktop tidy, and enhance your privacy..