The current versions do not support creating shortcuts on your desktop to the Outlook folders. Outlook doesn't support creating shortcuts to folders on the Quick Access toolbar (QAT) or ribbon, but you can put macro on the QAT or ribbon that opens a folder.

But you can create shortcuts to open folders, using one of these options, in my order of preference:

1. Add the folder to Outlook's Favorites
2. Use a macro on the QAT or ribbon
3. Use VBScript or PowerShell to open the folder
4. Create a shortcut on the Shortcut navigation pane

Tip: Using a shortcut on the Shortcut nav pane is a two-step process, add it to Favorites in Mail instead. The exception would be if you constantly jump between specific folders, including contacts, calendar and tasks and you want a simplified Folder list view

To use these macros

Go to File, Options, Trust Center,Macro Settings and set macro security to low for now. After you are finished creating and testing the macros, you can use Selfcert to sign the macros and change the settings to only signed macros.

1. Open the VBA editor using Alt+F11
2. Right-click on Project1 and choose Insert Module
3. Paste the appropriate macro into the new module
4. Change the macro name
5. Correct the folder names as needed
6. Repeat steps 3, 4, and 5 as needed. You can use one module for all of these macros.

In Outlook:

1. Go to File, Options
2. Select Customize Ribbon or Quick Access Toolbar
3. Select Macros from the Choose Commands From dropdown
4. If adding it to the ribbon, add a New Group or a New Tab and New Group
5. Select your macro and click Add

Open a default folder

This code sample opens a default folder, the Junk Email folder in this example.

Sub openJunkFolder()
 Dim objOlApp As Outlook.Application
 Set objOlApp = CreateObject("Outlook.Application")
 Dim objFolder As Outlook.Folder

 Set objFolder = Session.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderJunk)
 
 Set objOlApp.ActiveExplorer.CurrentFolder = objFolder

 Set objFolder = Nothing
 Set objOlApp = Nothing
End Sub

To open Exchange public folders, you'll use the GetDefaultFolder method and to get the olPublicFoldersAllPublicFolders folder type. Walk to subfolders using the same method used for mailbox subfolders.

Set objFolder = Session.GetDefaultFolder(olPublicFoldersAllPublicFolders).Folders("my folder")

Open a subfolder of a default folder

Use this code sample to open a subfolder under one of Outlook's default folders.

Sub openSubFolder()

 Dim objOlApp As Outlook.Application
 Dim objFolder As Outlook.Folder
 Set objOlApp = CreateObject("Outlook.Application")

 Set objFolder = Session.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderInbox).Folders("subfolder name")

 Set objOlApp.ActiveExplorer.CurrentFolder = objFolder

 Set objFolder = Nothing
 Set objOlApp = Nothing

End Sub

To open nested subfolders, add Folders("foldername") as needed:
Set objFolder = Session.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderInbox).Folders("subfolder name").Folders("subfolder name")

Open a folder at the same level as the default folders

This code sample opens a folder at the same level as the Inbox. Add .Folders("Folder name") as needed to locate nested subfolders.

Sub openOtherFolder()

 Dim objOlApp As Outlook.Application
 Dim objFolder As Outlook.Folder
 Set objOlApp = CreateObject("Outlook.Application")

 Set objFolder = Session.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderInbox).Parent.Folders("Subfolder name")

 Set objOlApp.ActiveExplorer.CurrentFolder = objFolder

 Set objFolder = Nothing
 Set objOlApp = Nothing

End Sub

Open a folder in another data file

If you need a shortcut to a folder in another data file, you'll need to use the GetFolderPath function with the data file display name and the path to the folder.

Add the function to the bottom of the module. The one function can be used with any macro that needs it.

Sub openOtherPST()

 Dim objOlApp As Outlook.Application
 Dim objFolder As Outlook.Folder
 Set objOlApp = CreateObject("Outlook.Application")

' Get GetFolderPath Function from http://slipstick.me/qf#GetFolderPath
Set objFolder = GetFolderPath("display-name\Inbox\Test")

Set objOlApp.ActiveExplorer.CurrentFolder = objFolder

Set objFolder = Nothing
Set objOlApp = Nothing

End Sub

Use with several folders

If you want to create shortcuts for multiple folders, use this code sample. It's more compact and easier to read compared to repeating the full macros for each folder.

To use these macros, copy the openInbox macro, changing the name and the folder path. Add the open macros to the ribbon or Quick Access toolbar.

Public objfolder As Outlook.MAPIFolder

Sub openInbox()
 Set objfolder = Session.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderInbox)
 openOutlookFolder
End Sub

Sub openTest()
 Set objfolder = Session.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderInbox).Folders("Test")
 openOutlookFolder
End Sub

Private Sub openOutlookFolder()
 Dim objOlApp As Outlook.Application
 Set objOlApp = CreateObject("Outlook.Application")
 Set objOlApp.ActiveExplorer.CurrentFolder = objfolder
 Set objOlApp = Nothing

End Sub

How to use the macros on this page

First: You need to have macro security set to the lowest setting, Enable all macros during testing. The macros will not work with the top two options that disable all macros or unsigned macros. You could choose the option Notification for all macros, then accept it each time you restart Outlook, however, because it's somewhat hard to sneak macros into Outlook (unlike in Word and Excel), allowing all macros is safe, especially during the testing phase. You can sign the macro when it is finished and change the macro security to notify.

To check your macro security in Outlook 2010 and newer, go to File, Options, Trust Center and open Trust Center Settings, and change the Macro Settings. In Outlook 2007 and older, look at Tools, Macro Security.

After you test the macro and see that it works, you can either leave macro security set to low or sign the macro.

Macros that run when Outlook starts or automatically need to be in ThisOutlookSession, all other macros should be put in a module, but most will also work if placed in ThisOutlookSession. (It's generally recommended to keep only the automatic macros in ThisOutlookSession and use modules for all other macros.) The instructions are below.

The macros on this page should be placed in a module.

Open the VBA Editor by pressing Alt+F11 on your keyboard.

To put the code in a module:

1. Right click on Project1 and choose Insert > Module
2. Copy and paste the macro into the new module.

More information as well as screenshots are at How to use the VBA Editor