To get to your essential programs and folders, you must link to them on the taskbar. Programs and websites are easier to add, while files and folders are slightly trickier.
To create shortcuts on the Windows 10 taskbar and the Windows 11 taskbar, follow these steps:
- On the Windows 10 taskbar, click on the three lines in the top left corner of the screen. This will open a menu that looks like this:
- Scroll down to the bottom of this menu and select “Shortcuts.”
- In the “Shortcuts” window, you’ll see a list of all of your current windows. To create a shortcut for one of these windows, click on it and then press “Create shortcut.”
- The shortcut will be created in your desktop and will be named “MyNewShortcut.”
Pin Shortcut to Taskbar via Start Menu
If you want to create a taskbar shortcut for a program on your computer, the quickest way is to pin it via the Start menu and then right-click on it and select “Pin to taskbar.”
In Windows 11, you can open the Start menu and locate the application by right-clicking on it and selecting More > Pin to taskbar.
The shortcut to the shortcut bar should appear immediately on the taskbar. Repeat for any other programs you want to add.
Pin Running Programs to Taskbar
To pin an application to the taskbar, right-click the icon in the toolbar and select Pin to taskbar.
Pin Desktop Shortcuts to Taskbar
To add a shortcut to the taskbar, right-click an item and select Pin to taskbar.
Pin Programs to Taskbar via Applications Folder
Windows 10 and 11 feature a special Applications folder that lists all Microsoft Store and non-Store apps on your computer. The folder also lists apps you typically won’t find within the Start menu—e.g., the Control Panel and the Command Prompt console. This folder can be used to find apps you typically wouldn’t find in the Start menu, such as the Control Panel and Command Prompt console.
Type “cmd” and hit the Enter key to run the command prompt.
Type AppsFolder and select OK.
TheAppsFolder is now open.
Right-click the app you want to pin to the taskbar and select Pin to taskbar.
Pin Apps to Taskbar via File Explorer
To create taskbar shortcuts for a desktop program, open File Explorer and locate the primary executable file for that program. Then, open the shortcut and press the key combination that corresponds to the app you want to launch.
You can also visit the hidden WindowsApps folder and create shortcuts to Microsoft Store apps the same way, but we recommend you avoid that since it’s difficult to distinguish between folders and files within the directory.
Pin Folders and Files to Taskbar
The first way is to right-click on a file or folder and select “Pin to Taskbar.” This will add the file or folder to the taskbar, but it won’t show up in the list of open windows. The second way is to use the “ pinned files and folders” option in the “Taskbar Options” window. This will add the file or folder to the taskbar, but it will also show up in the list of open windows if you have an associated pinned folder.
Use Create Shortcut Wizard
Create and Modify Shortcut
If you want to move a file from one location to another, you can use the drag and drop feature of your computer. To move a file from one location to another, you can use the drag and drop feature of your computer.
In Windows 10 and 11, pinned taskbar folders display the generic File Explorer icon. To change that, open the shortcut’s Properties dialog and use the Change Icon button under the Shortcuts tab. Learn more about customizing icons in Windows 10 and 11. ..
Pin Websites to Taskbar
If you use Microsoft Edge, you can add websites to the taskbar by using a built-in option. If you use a different browser such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, you must rely on a workaround similar to adding files and folders.
Microsoft Edge
Other Browsers
Pin Websites as Apps to Taskbar
If you use Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge, you can install websites as progressive web apps (or PWAs) and then add them to the taskbar without any modifications. PWAs also sport site favicons, making it easier to distinguish between websites.
Google Chrome
Microsoft Edge
Instant Access to Apps, Files, and Websites
In Windows 10 and 11, you can rearrange apps, files, and websites by dragging them around. You can also unpin taskbar icons by right-clicking the icon and selecting Unpin from taskbar. Shortcuts aside, you can also customize the taskbar in Windows 10 and 11.
