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How to Add the Quick Launch Toolbar in Windows 10
Tired of pinning apps? You can get your quick launch toolbar back!
By Jeremy Laukkonen Jeremy Laukkonen Writer Shoreline Community College Jeremy Laukkonen is automotive and tech writer for numerous major trade publications. When not researching and testing computers, game consoles or smartphones, he stays up-to-date on the myriad complex systems that power battery electric vehicles . lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on August 4, 2021 Reviewed by Jon Fisher Reviewed by Jon Fisher Wichita Technical Institute Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA certified technologist with more than 6 years' experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Windows The Ultimate Laptop Buying Guide What to Know
The quick launch toolbar has been gone since Windows 7, but you can bring it back.Right-click the taskbar and navigate to Toolbars > New Toolbar to add a quick launch toolbar.Consider using the pin feature if you want easy access to a handful of commonly used apps. This article explains how to add a Quick Launch toolbar to the taskbar in Windows 10. How to Add the Quick Launch Toolbar in Windows 10
Microsoft added the quick launch toolbar in Windows XP to provide an easy way to access common apps from your taskbar, but it disappeared with the introduction of Windows 7. If you miss the quick launch toolbar and pinning apps to the taskbar isn’t good enough, it’s pretty easy to add a quick launch toolbar yourself. Here’s how to add a quick launch toolbar to the taskbar in Windows 10: Right-click your taskbar to bring up the menu. Make sure to click a blank area. Don’t click an app icon, the search field, the system tray, or anything other than a blank area of the main taskbar. Navigate to Toolbars > New toolbar. Enter %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\ into the navigation field at the top of the window, and press Enter. Click Select Folder. You now have a quick launch toolbar on your taskbar. However, it’s on the right side, and the original quick launch was on the left. If you prefer it on the left, continue following these directions. Right-click the taskbar, and make sure the taskbar is unlocked. If there’s a check next to Lock the taskbar, click the check to unlock the taskbar. If there is no check, it’s already unlocked. Click the vertical line that’s located to the right of the search field and Cortana button, and drag it all the way to the right. If you do this successfully, it will push the quick launch menu to the left side of the taskbar. The quick launch bar is now on the left. To hide the icons, click the vertical line that’s between your quick launch icons and the rest of the taskbar, and drag it left. You now have a quick launch toolbar on your taskbar. Click the >> icon to access your quick launch toolbar. If you want to hide the quick launch text, right-click the quick launch toolbar and click the checkmark next to Show title. When the checkmark is gone, the quick launch text will disappear from your taskbar, leaving just the >> icon. For a more classic Windows XP look and feel, right-click the taskbar and navigate to Search > Hidden to hide the search box. Then click the checkmarks next to the Show Cortana text and Show task view button. You now have a quick launch toolbar directly next to the Start menu, just like Windows XP, either with or without the quick launch title text, depending on your own preference. Why Was the Quick Launch Toolbar Removed
While the Quick Launch toolbar was quite helpful, and many people liked it, the ability to pin apps to the taskbar took its place in the default Windows design. If you don’t already take advantage of app pinning, it’s pretty useful in its own right. You can right-click any app on your taskbar and choose to pin it to either the start menu or taskbar for easy access. If you have a set of apps that you use regularly but don’t necessarily want them to run on startup, consider pinning them to the taskbar. The quick launch menu is better if you have more than a handful of apps you want easy access to, but pinning is convenient for a handful of your most commonly used apps. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Pin and Unpin a Program in Windows 7 Windows 10: Release Date, Editions, Features, and More How to Disable Taskbar Button Grouping in Windows How to Open File Explorer in Windows 11 How to Open Internet Explorer 11 in Windows 10 Windows 11: News, Release Date, and Specs How to Remove the Recycle Bin From a Windows Desktop How to Remove Chat From Windows 11 How to Create a Printer Shortcut in Windows 10 Windows 7 Sticky Notes: Post-It Notes for Your Computer How to Lock a Folder in Windows 10 How to Boot to the Desktop in Windows 8.1 How to Move a Window That Is Off-Screen How to Move the Taskbar in Windows 10 How to Add or Remove Shortcuts on Facebook How to Add Groups to Your Shortcut Bar on Facebook Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies