How can I make Google Chrome shortcut in windows 8 actually open in a browser rather than a restricted viewer

Question

In Windows 8 I can create a shortcut to a webpage and save it on the desktop.

When I click on this it opens the link in a restricted viewer that removes all the useful browser functionality, such as the back button, meaning I can't properly navigate from the link.

How do I make shortcuts to webpages open in a normal browser, or better still, in a new tab (assuming the browser is open)?

Solution

Simple: using Windows.

Right click anywhere on the Desktop, select New, Shortcut.

Now, type (paste) the full URL, like http://www.google.com. Click Next. Give it a name that will be shown and click Next again. That's it. It will now open in the default browser.

If you made the shortcut from the Chrome Apps screen, delete the Desktop shortcut, go to the Apps screen again, right-click the app you want shortcut for and select the first option: Open in normal tab (or something like). Now make the shortcut again, by right-clicking that app again and select the shortcut option.

If you want the shortcut in the start menu press Win+R and type:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

Now, copy the previously created shortcut there (source). Launch Start and look for your shortcut in all items. You can now right-click and pin it to Start.

Comments

[Toni Leigh]

works, so plus one and accept for answering my question, however, on right click of the resulting short-cut I can't pin it to Windows start menu, which was actually my ultimate goal, the option 'pin to start' is not available! do you know why?

[Cornelius]

@ToniLeigh see the edit.