Problems when creating URL shortcuts on the desktop

It has always been easy to create a shortcut to a URL on the Windows desktop using the following procedure:

1. Copy the URL from the browser address bar
2. Use the mouse context menu on the desktop
3. Choose New> Shortcut from the menu
4. Paste the URL into the field
5. Name the shortcut

NB: I'm not talking about creating a shortcut through the Chrome menu, but only by the procedure above. When the shortcut is created via Chrome (default browser), it works correctly.

It also doesn't work OK if I select and drag the URL to the desktop (another easy way to do that), the same with Maxthon, Edge, and IE. BTW these latter two browsers let me select the URL only, but I can't drag it, when I try to do this the selection is lost.

I checked on the Chrome forum to see if the problem came from this browser, but other guys with the same version both of Chrome and Windows 10 Pro had no such trouble, and one said that maybe Windows is the culprit.

The problem: Chrome now opens the shortcut by displaying a local address on the navigation bar, not the page URL anymore – nor the page itself.

To give you an example, I created a shortcut that way for the Kindle for PC upgrade page. But by clicking the shortcut to open it in Chrome, the result is as follows.

URL in the address bar:

file: /// C: /Users/Paulo/Desktop/Kindle%20PC.url

And the content on this page shows the following:

[{000214A0-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}]
Prop3 = 19.11
[InternetShortcut]
IDList =
URL = https: //www.amazon.com.br/gp/digital/fiona/kcp-landing-page

To go to the correct address, I have to copy the URL of the last line and paste it into the navigation bar... Only then I can reach the desired destination.

But – attention, please! – strangely enough, if I drag this or other "defective" URL shortcut from the desktop into Chrome or Maxthon (not Edge), they open the pages correctly!

Now I believe there is something wrong in the way the desktop works with browsers in the latest versions of Windows 10. But... is it only on my PC?

Any ideas on what is all that? TIA.

Caledon Ken said:

Hi Paultx.

Just used your procedure and it worked fine on my V1709 desktop.

I think you have a file association issue, remember dealing with something like this not all that long ago.

Start > Settings > Apps > Default apps > Choose default apps by file type. Find URL file type. It should be set to Internet Browser.


Ken

That did it, problem solved! Thank you very much, Ken!