Desktop Shortcuts | Finding Sites or Creating New Icons After Imaging
A guide to finding sites and applications and choosing what you would like to add back.
Written by Clayton McGaha
Updated at July 18th, 2025
Table of Contents
Audience: All Staff
System Requirement: Windows 11
Version 1.0 07/18/2025
Explanation:
After moving to Windows 11, I'm sure you've all noticed far less clutter on your desktops!
Moving forward, our desktops are going to be far more customizable. While the lack of icons may be intimidating right now, I can guarantee anything you're missing can be added back.
Most staff only used a few of the desktop icons, many were not necessary and had other ways to be accessed. Now we are able to add them, or remove what we no longer use, as we please.
They are also moveable and should not shuffle around after restarting the computer!
Desktop After Login:
Most of you have seen the blank desktop after login, it should appear something like this.
This is correct and how it should look, please don't be too alarmed by it! :-)
PaperCut Print Deploy Pop Ups
If you get a PaperCut pop up (or multiple) and have not already signed in, please do so using the “Sign in with Google” option. After signing in you can close any other PaperCut windows.
(Note: You may be asked to sign into Papercut again if you print from a website in Google Chrome. This is not abnormal and should not appear often after.)
Google Chrome
If you have not opened Google Chrome yet, please do so and sign into your BCSC Google account. This tutorial will be using Google Chrome in many instances moving forward. Please do not use Microsoft Edge for this tutorial.
Navigating to Websites and Creating Shortcuts:
A large number of the icons that had been on the desktop previously were actually just links to different websites.
Listed below are the sites that most users saw on their desktop, the steps to access them if you are unsure how, and a guide to turn them into desktop shortcuts if you would like.
Please use these tabs to find the sites you need.
PowerSchool & PowerTeacher
Finding PowerSchool & PowerTeacher
To find PowerSchool and PowerTeacher, please follow the guide below.
- Start by opening Google Chrome. If you haven't already, please sign into Chrome using your BCSC Email account.
- Once signed in, take a look in our “Managed bookmarks”. You will find it in the top left corner below the Tabs.
- In the “Managed bookmarks” You will find PowerSchool and PowerTeacher
Creating a Desktop Icon Shortcut
If you would still like to add a PowerSchool or PowerTeacher shortcut to your desktop, Please follow the steps below.
- While still on either the PowerSchool or PowerTeacher websites, click the Three Dot button in the top right. You will find it below the Close and Minimize buttons.
- In the Three Dot button menu, move down to the "Cast, save, and share" option, then click the “Create shortcut…” option.
- You should receive a pop up window at the top of the page to “Create a shortcut to this page”. Rename your shortcut something simple like “PowerSchool” or “PowerTeacher” and click the “Create” button
- A File Explorer window will pop up with your newly created shortcut highlighted, you can close this.
- On your Desktop you should now see an icon! If you ever wish to remove the icon you've created, it can simply be deleted.
Gmail
Finding Gmail
To find your Email, please follow the guide below.
- Start by opening Google Chrome. If you haven't already, please sign into Chrome using your BCSC Email account.
- Once signed in, you can find your Gmail by clicking the "Gmail" text on the top right of the screen.
Creating a Desktop Icon Shortcut
If you would still like to add a Gmail shortcut to your desktop, Please follow the steps below.
- While still in Gmail, click the Three Dot button in the top right. You will find it below the Close and Minimize buttons.
- In the Three Dot button menu, move down to the "Cast, save, and share" option, then click the “Create shortcut…” option.
- You should receive a pop up window at the top of the page to “Create a shortcut to this page”. Rename your shortcut something simple like “Gmail” and click the “Create” button
- A File Explorer window will pop up with your newly created shortcut highlighted, you can close this.
- On your Desktop you should now see an icon! If you ever wish to remove the icon you've created, it can simply be deleted.
Aesop
Finding Aesop
To find Aesop, please follow the guide below.
- Start by opening Google Chrome. If you haven't already, please sign into Chrome using your BCSC Email account.
- Once signed in, Please navigate to the BCSC Schools website, https://www.bcscschools.org/
- After getting to the BCSC Schools website, click the “Resources” button and select “FOR EMPLOYEES” from the drop down menu.
- Once the page loads, scroll down and click the “Web Accessible Links”, scroll further down in that menu to the Aesop link and select it.
Creating a Desktop Icon Shortcut
If you would still like to add an Aesop shortcut to your desktop, Please follow the steps below.
- While still on the "Frontline/Aesop" website, click the Three Dot button in the top right. You will find it below the Close and Minimize buttons.
- In the Three Dot button menu, move down to the "Cast, save, and share" option, then click the “Create shortcut…” option.
- You should receive a pop up window at the top of the page to “Create a shortcut to this page”. Rename your shortcut something simple like “Aesop” and click the “Create” button
- A File Explorer window will pop up with your newly created shortcut highlighted, you can close this.
- On your Desktop you should now see an icon! If you ever wish to remove the icon you've created, it can simply be deleted.
Skyward
Finding Skyward
To find Skyward, please follow the guide below.
- Start by opening Google Chrome. If you haven't already, please sign into Chrome using your BCSC Email account.
- Once signed in, take a look in our “Managed bookmarks”. You will find it in the top left corner below the Tabs.
- In the “Managed bookmarks” You will find Skyward Employee Access
Creating a Desktop Icon Shortcut
If you would still like to add a Skyward shortcut to your desktop, Please follow the steps below.
- While still on the Skyward website, click the Three Dot button in the top right. You will find it below the Close and Minimize buttons.
- In the Three Dot button menu, move down to the "Cast, save, and share" option, then click the “Create shortcut…” option
- You should receive a pop up window at the top of the page to “Create a shortcut to this page”. Rename your shortcut something simple like “Skyward and click the “Create” button
- A File Explorer window will pop up with your newly created shortcut highlighted, you can close this.
- On your Desktop you should now see an icon! If you ever wish to remove the icon you've created, it can simply be deleted.
Incident IQ
Finding Incident IQ
To find Incident IQ, please follow the guide below.
- Start by opening Google Chrome. If you haven't already, please sign into Chrome using your BCSC Email account.
- Once signed in, take a look in our “Managed bookmarks”. You will find it in the top left corner below the Tabs.
- In the “Managed bookmarks” You will find Incident IQ
Creating a Desktop Icon Shortcut
If you would still like to add an Incident IQ shortcut to your desktop, Please follow the steps below.
- While still on the Incident IQ website, click the Three Dot button in the top right. You will find it below the Close and Minimize buttons.
- In the Three Dot button menu, move down to the "Cast, save, and share" option, then click the “Create shortcut…” option.
- You should receive a pop up window at the top of the page to “Create a shortcut to this page”. Rename your shortcut something simple like “Incident IQ” and click the “Create” button
- A File Explorer window will pop up with your newly created shortcut highlighted, you can close this.
- On your Desktop you should now see an icon! If you ever wish to remove the icon you've created, it can simply be deleted.
Destiny / Library
Finding Destiny
To find Destiny, please follow the guide below.
- Start by opening Google Chrome. If you haven't already, please sign into Chrome using your BCSC Email account.
- Once signed in, take a look in our “Managed bookmarks”. You will find it in the top left corner below the Tabs.
- In the “Managed bookmarks” You will find Destiny
Creating a Desktop Icon Shortcut
If you would still like to add a Destiny shortcut to your desktop, Please follow the steps below.
- While still on the Destiny website, click the Three Dot button in the top right. You will find it below the Close and Minimize buttons.
- In the Three Dot button menu, move down to the "Cast, save, and share" option, then click the “Create shortcut…” option.
- You should receive a pop up window at the top of the page to “Create a shortcut to this page”. Rename your shortcut something simple like “Destiny” and click the “Create” button
- A File Explorer window will pop up with your newly created shortcut highlighted, you can close this.
- On your Desktop you should now see an icon! If you ever wish to remove the icon you've created, it can simply be deleted.
Renaissance Place
Finding Renaissance Place
To find Renaissance Place please follow the guide below.
- Start by opening Google Chrome. If you haven't already, please sign into Chrome using your BCSC Email account.
- Once signed in, take a look in our “Managed bookmarks”. You will find it in the top left corner below the Tabs.
- In the “Managed bookmarks” You will find Destiny
Creating a Desktop Icon Shortcut
If you would still like to add a Renaissance Place shortcut to your desktop, Please follow the steps below.
- While still on Renaissance Place website, click the Three Dot button in the top right. You will find it below the Close and Minimize buttons.
- In the Three Dot button menu, move down to the "Cast, save, and share" option, then click the “Create shortcut…” option.
- You should receive a pop up window at the top of the page to “Create a shortcut to this page”. Rename your shortcut something simple like “Renaissance Place” and click the “Create” button
- A File Explorer window will pop up with your newly created shortcut highlighted, you can close this.
- On your Desktop you should now see an icon! If you ever wish to remove the icon you've created, it can simply be deleted.
Sites Not Listed:
This "3 Dot" button method of shortcut creation can be used on any website. If a site you would like on your desktop is not listed you are still able to use these steps to add it.
If you ever wish to remove icons you've created, they can can simply be deleted.
Microsoft Office Word, PowerPoint, and Excel:
The standard Microsoft Office applications should be installed on your device already!
If you open a previously made Word, PowerPoint, or Excel file they should open straight into the program.
Finding Microsoft Office Apps
If you would like to find an Office app without a file to open, please follow the guide below.
- You can find them by clicking on your Windows Start Menu, it is the four blue squares on the bottom bar.
- After opening the Start Menu, click the “All” button in the top right. It will list your installed applications.
- Scrolling through this "All" section, you should find Excel, PowerPoint, and Word listed alphabetically.
Creating a Word, PowerPoint, or Excel Desktop Icon
If you would still like to add an Office App shortcut to your desktop, Please follow the steps below.
- Following the previous steps of finding the program, simply hold a click on the application, drag it to the desktop, and release the click. This will create a desktop shortcut for any applications you drag over.
- On your Desktop you should now see an icon! If you ever wish to remove the icon you've created, it can simply be deleted.
Microsoft Publisher Discontinuation
Microsoft is actively retiring Microsoft Publisher. Because of this Microsoft Publisher will no longer be available and has been removed from the standard Office suite.
Microsoft Office Suite Missing
Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel should be installed on your device already. If they are not, they may be actively installing in the background.
If this is not the case and you cannot find these applications after a longer period of using your device, please create an Incident IQ ticket for your tech team to look into the issue.
Applications Through Company Portal:
Some staff will remember using Zenworks, a program that worked like an app store and let you download approved software. The Company Portal is our replacement for Zenworks in Windows 11 and can be used in the same way! All staff members, please take a look through the Company Portal for any missing software or programs you want to add before requesting it. There is a likely chance it is in Company Portal currently or is planned to be added.
SmartBoard Users!
SmartBoard software like SMART Notebook does NOT come preinstalled and will need to be installed from the Company Portal. Please follow the guide below.
ViewBoard Users!
ViewBoard software like myViewBoard, vCastSender, or AirSync Sender does NOT come preinstalled and will need to be installed from the Company Portal. Please follow the guide below.
Finding Company Portal
If you would like to find an Office app without a file to open, please follow the guide below.
- To find Company Portal, begin by clicking on the Start Menu, its the four blue squares at the bottom.
- Next, click in the Search Box to type.
- In the Search Box, please type Company Portal and select the Company Portal app once it appears.
If Company is Portal Missing
If the Company Portal program is missing when following the steps above, please create an Incident IQ ticket for your tech team to look into the issue.
- Once in the Company Portal program, you will already be logged in and see a Home screen with "Recently published apps".
- To view all of the available applications and programs, please select either “Apps” from the menu on the far left of the screen, or "See all" to the upper right of the “Recently published apps”
- Please take the time to browse all of the available applications and view anything you may need!
- Reminder: If you use your SmartBoard's pens or touchscreen you will need to install SMART Notebook.
- Reminder: If you use your ViewBoard's casting tools and classroom features, you will need to install myViewBoard, vCastSender, and AirSync.
- Once you have selected a software, you will be taken to a software description screen.
- On this screen, you can click the “Install” button if you would like to have the application on your device.
- After clicking the “Install” button, you should notice a “Installing…” progress bar and percentage in the top right of window. Please wait for it to complete and say "Installed".
- After Installing your program you can find it by clicking the Start Menu at the bottom.
- It may appear in your “Recommended” area at the bottom of the window. If it does not, please select the “All” button at the top right.
- In the “All” menu, scroll down to till you find the software you just added.
Creating an Icon for a Company Portal added Application
If you would still like to add a desktop shortcut for an app installed through Company Portal, please follow the steps below.
- Following the previous steps of finding the program, simply hold a click on the application, drag it to the desktop, and release the click. This will create a desktop shortcut for any applications you drag over.
- On your Desktop you should now see an icon! If you ever wish to remove the icon you've created, it can simply be deleted.