create shortcut for network drive on mac

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How can I create a desktop shortcut to a network drive that is persistent even if the machine disconnects from the network?

I have a MacBook Pro that I'd like to create a couple desktop shortcuts for that point to different network share locations. I'm able to create the desktop shortcuts easily but whenever the MBP disconnects from the network the shortcuts disappear and do not reappear when it reconnects to the network.

How can I go about making these persistent? This is a very simple thing to do on PC but I'm unsure how to go about doing it on a Mac.

To make a Dock shortcut: Drag the mounted share icon from the desktop to the Dock, in the end near Downloads and Documents.

To make a desktop Alias: Select (click to highlight) the network share on the desktop and press Command+L (or from the Finder File menu, choose Make Alias.)

In either case, the alias should persist when the original share is disconnected.

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Creating Persistent Shortcuts to Network Drives (OSX)

Mac OSX machines do not save persistent mappings to network drive connections and you may find shortcuts are needed to reconnect when on the network and when connecting remotely via VPN.  The following will walk you through creating a 'Network Folders' shortcut  that will contain quick access to your network drives / shares. 

NOTE: You will need to be connected to the FBRI wired network or  FBRI VPN  to access these resources.

1. Make sure the network drives you wish to mount are connected following the articles found here: https://vtcri.kayako.com/article/148-accessing-lab-and-project-shares-mac-osx and https://vtcri.kayako.com/article/170-home-directories  

2. Close or minimize all windows. 

3. Click an open space on your desktop.

4. Open your local home directory by pressing Command, Shift, and H at the same time.

5. Create a folder in your local home directory called Network Folders:

6. Click an open space on your desktop, then click FInder  then Preferences  in the menu bar at the top of the screen. 

8. You should now see the network folders you connected to appear on your desktop. 

9.  Drag the icons for them into the Network Folders  folder you created in your local home directory: 

NOTE: You can reverse step 7 if you wish to NOT show Connected Servers on your desktop. 

Shortcuts User Guide

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Create a custom shortcut on Mac

It’s easy to create a new, custom shortcut using the Shortcuts app for Mac:

Step 1: Create a new shortcut in your shortcuts collection.

Step 2: Add actions in the shortcut editor.

Step 3: Run your new shortcut to test it.

Create a new shortcut

An empty, untitled shortcut appears in the shortcut editor.

Click Shortcut Name, then type a name for your shortcut.

Select a category from the sidebar on the right (Documents, for example), then double-click an action in the list that appears.

You can also drag an action from the list to the position you want in the shortcut editor.

To add another action, repeat step 3.

When you’re finished adding actions to your workflow, click the close button.

The shortcut appears in the main Shortcuts window, in the All Shortcuts category.

For information on customizing the appearance of your new shortcut (the rectangle in your shortcuts collection), see Modify shortcut colors and icons on Mac .

Tip: You can also create a new shortcut by Control-clicking the Shortcuts app in the Dock and then choosing New Shortcut.

For information on rearranging your shortcuts collection, see Reorder shortcuts on Mac .

Undo or redo steps while composing your shortcut

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How to Create Desktop Shortcuts on a Mac

Open your favorite files and folders quickly with desktop shortcuts.

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What to Know

• Go to the Menu > File > Make Alias .
• Right-click (or Control + Click ) on the file and select Make Alias from the menu. 
• For a website shortcut, highlight the URL and drag and drop it from the address bar to the desktop.

This article provides instructions for creating desktop shortcuts on a Mac computer for files, folders, and websites.

How to Create Desktop Shortcuts for Files and Folders on a Mac

A shortcut is a quick way to access files, folders, applications, and disks you use the most. Shortcuts are used to save you from digging into the depths of your folders.

The term “desktop shortcut” is a more familiar term to Windows users. Apple introduced the “alias” to serve as a shortcut before Microsoft with the launch of the Mac OS 7 in 1991. An alias is a tiny file with the same icon as the parent file it links to. You can personalize the appearance of this icon like any other icon on the desktop.

Select the Finder icon which is the leftmost icon on the Dock.

Use the Finder to locate the folder, file, or application you'd like to create a shortcut for on the left side of the window.

Select the file or folder to highlight it.

Use any of the three methods mentioned below to make an alias for the file, folder, or application. A shortcut for the file is created in the same location. 

Go to the Menu bar. Select File > Make Alias .

Right-click on the file and select Make Alias from the menu. 

Press Option + Command together as you drag the original item to another folder or the desktop. Release the shortcut first and then the Option + Command keys to place the shortcut in the new location.

Select the shortcut with the "Alias" suffix. Press Enter to rename it by removing the “Alias” suffix. 

Drag the alias file to the desktop if it's in any other location. You can also copy and paste this to any location on the Mac. 

Every shortcut has a small arrow on the bottom left corner. Shortcuts continue to work even if you change the location of the original file or folder. To view the location, right-click on the shortcut and select Show Original .

How Do You Add a Website to Your Home Screen on a Mac?

A website shortcut can help you quickly launch a site without digging through bookmarks or typing the URL in the address bar. 

Open any browser and select the URL in the address bar. 

Resize the browser window to position the computer's desktop and the browser window on the same screen.

Drag and drop the highlighted URL from the address bar to the desktop or any location on the Mac. It is saved as a shortcut file with the WEBLOC file extension and takes the site page's name.

You can add the website shortcut to the Dock too. Drag the URL from the address bar to the right-hand side of the Dock.

You can create as many shortcuts as you want. But they can clutter the desktop too. So, delete unwanted shortcuts by dragging them to the Trash icon on the Dock or right-click on the alias and select Move to Trash .

You can create custom keyboard shortcuts for any existing menu commands in apps. Select  System Preferences  >  Keyboard  >  Shortcuts  >  App Shortcuts  >  Plus sign  ( + ) to add a new shortcut. Select the app from the  Application  drop-down menu, type the exact menu command name, and click  Add .   To apply a shortcut that works in multiple apps, select  All Applications .

Create a keyboard shortcut from  System Preferences  >  Keyboard  >  Shortcuts > App Shortcuts  >  Plus sign  ( + ). Choose  Chrome  from  Applications , enter the user's name (from the Chrome Profiles menu), and assign a custom keyboard combination.

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