How To Place Google Chrome Icon On Desktop In Mac: A Step-by-Step Guide

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4 min. read

Published on October 25, 2025

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Having quick access to your favorite web browser can significantly improve your workflow. If you’re a Mac user and want to place the Google Chrome icon directly on your desktop, this guide provides a straightforward method to achieve just that. This will allow you to launch Chrome with a single click, saving you time and effort.

This step-by-step guide will walk you through the process of creating a desktop shortcut (or alias) for Google Chrome on your Mac. Whether you’re a new Mac user or simply looking for a more convenient way to access Chrome, this tutorial will have you up and running in no time.

How Do I Get The Google Chrome Icon On My Desktop On A Mac?

Locating The Google Chrome Application

The first step is to find the Google Chrome application within your Mac’s file system.

Open Finder. You can find it in your dock.
Click on “Applications” in the Finder sidebar.
Scroll through the list of applications until you find “Google Chrome”.

Creating An Alias For Google Chrome

Now that you’ve found the Google Chrome application, you can create an alias (shortcut) for it.

Right-click on the “Google Chrome” application icon. If you are using a trackpad, click with two fingers.
Select “Make Alias” from the context menu. This will create a new file named “Google Chrome alias” in the Applications folder.

Moving The Alias To Your Desktop

The final step is to move the newly created alias to your desktop.

Click and drag the “Google Chrome alias” file from the Applications folder onto your desktop.
Release the mouse button to place the alias on your desktop.

Now you should have a Google Chrome icon on your desktop that you can double-click to launch the browser.

Customizing The Icon (Optional)

If you want to further customize the appearance of the Chrome icon on your desktop, you can change its image.

Find an image you want to use as the icon.
Open the image in Preview.
Press Command + A to select the entire image, then Command + C to copy it.
Right-click the “Google Chrome alias” on your desktop and select “Get Info”.
Click the small icon at the top left of the “Get Info” window.
Press Command + V to paste the copied image onto the icon.
Close the “Get Info” window.

Tips

You can rename the alias to something shorter and easier to remember, such as simply “Chrome”. To do this, right-click the alias on your desktop, select “Rename,” and type in the new name.
If you ever delete the alias, the original Google Chrome application will still be located in your Applications folder. You can simply recreate the alias following the steps above.
Consider adding Chrome to your Dock for another quick access point. Just drag the Chrome icon from the Applications folder to the Dock.

Quick Access To Chrome Made Easy

By following these simple steps, you’ve successfully placed the Google Chrome icon on your Mac desktop, providing you with instant access to your favorite browser. This small change can make a big difference in your daily workflow.

FAQ

How do I create a shortcut on a Mac? Right-click the item, and select “Make Alias.”

How do I put an app on my desktop on Mac? Locate the app in Finder, create an alias, and drag the alias to your desktop.

Why can’t I move icons on my Mac desktop? Make sure “Keep Arranged By” is not selected in the View menu when right-clicking on the desktop.

How do I change the icon of a folder on Mac? Right-click the folder, select “Get Info,” click the icon at the top, copy a new image, and paste it onto the icon.