Will Deleting a Shortcut Delete the File?

Deleting a shortcut does not remove the file itself, removing a shortcut to a program will normally bring up a warning to that effect and that you would still need to uninstall the program.

How do I delete a shortcut without deleting the file?

Hover over the icon you want to remove, click on it, hold the button down (or keep your finger on the touchpad), and then drag the icon to the bottom of the screen, releasing it over the “Trash” icon.

Is it safe to delete shortcuts?

A shortcut is a tiny file that points to an actual file or folder that resides on your hard drive. While it's safe to delete a shortcut, you should verify the folder you're about to delete is not a real folder before sending it to the Recycle Bin.