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How to Put Calculator on Desktop

Reviewed by Calculator Editorial Team

Adding a calculator to your desktop makes it easily accessible for quick calculations. This guide covers methods for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems, as well as tips for mobile devices.

Windows

Windows includes a built-in calculator that you can pin to your desktop for quick access.

Method 1: Using the Calculator App

  1. Open the Start menu and search for "Calculator".
  2. Right-click on the Calculator app and select "Pin to taskbar".
  3. To pin it to the desktop, right-click on an empty area of the desktop, select "New" > "Shortcut".
  4. In the "Type the location of the item" field, type calc.exe and click "Next".
  5. Name the shortcut "Calculator" and click "Finish".

Method 2: Using the Run Dialog

  1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
  2. Type calc.exe and press Enter.
  3. Right-click on the calculator window and select "Pin to taskbar".
  4. To pin it to the desktop, follow steps 3-5 from Method 1.

Tip

You can also create a desktop shortcut by copying the calculator executable from C:\Windows\System32\calc.exe to your desktop.

Mac

Mac computers come with a built-in calculator that you can add to your desktop.

Method 1: Using the Calculator App

  1. Open Finder and go to Applications > Utilities.
  2. Find the Calculator app and drag it to your desktop.
  3. Right-click on the new desktop icon and select "Options" > "Keep in Dock".

Method 2: Using Spotlight

  1. Press Command + Space to open Spotlight.
  2. Type "Calculator" and press Enter.
  3. Right-click on the calculator window and select "Options" > "Keep in Dock".
  4. To create a desktop shortcut, drag the Calculator icon from the Dock to your desktop.

Note

MacOS may show a security warning when opening the Calculator. Click "Open" to proceed.

Linux

Linux distributions typically include a calculator application that you can add to your desktop.

Method 1: Using the Terminal

  1. Open a terminal window.
  2. Type gnome-calculator (for GNOME) or kcalc (for KDE) and press Enter.
  3. Right-click on the calculator window and select "Add to Favorites" or "Keep in Launcher".
  4. To create a desktop shortcut, right-click on the calculator icon in the launcher and select "Add to Desktop".

Method 2: Using the Application Menu

  1. Open the application menu and search for "Calculator".
  2. Right-click on the calculator icon and select "Add to Desktop".
  3. Right-click on the new desktop icon and select "Allow Launching".

Alternative Commands

Depending on your distribution, you might need to use different commands:

  • qalculate (for Qalculate!)
  • xcalc (for XCalc)
  • speedcrunch (for SpeedCrunch)

Mobile Devices

For mobile devices, you can create a home screen shortcut to your device's calculator app.

Android

  1. Open the calculator app.
  2. Tap the three-dot menu icon and select "Add shortcut to Home screen".
  3. Name the shortcut and confirm.

iOS

  1. Open the calculator app.
  2. Press and hold the calculator icon until it starts wiggling.
  3. Drag the icon to your home screen.

Tip

On iOS, you can also use the "Add to Home Screen" feature from Safari to create a direct link to the calculator.

FAQ

Can I customize the calculator appearance?

Most built-in calculators don't support extensive customization. However, you can use third-party calculator apps that offer more customization options.

Will pinning the calculator to my desktop use more system resources?

No, pinning the calculator to your desktop doesn't increase system resource usage. The calculator only runs when you open it.

Can I remove the calculator from my desktop later?

Yes, simply right-click on the desktop icon and select "Delete" or "Remove from Desktop".

Is there a way to make the calculator open in a specific mode?

Some calculators allow you to save your preferences. Check the settings menu for options to set a default mode (e.g., scientific, standard).