Windows 7: Taskbar - Backup and Restore Pinned Items in Windows 7

   Information

This will show you how to back up and restore your pinned taskbar items (program icons) automatically with one click in Windows 7.

This can be handy if you do not want to have to manually pin and restore your currently pinned taskbar items say after a clean install of Windows 7.

This only includes backing up and restoring your pinned programs and shortcuts on the taskbar, and not taskbar toolbars or Jump Lists.

   Note

By default, your pinned taskbar programs/shortcuts are saved in both locations below. This is what this tutorial will be backing up and restoring for you using a BAT file.

In the registry:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Taskband

In the hidden TaskBar folder:
C:\Users\(user-name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar

1. Click on the Download buttom below to download the .bat file below, then run it.

Backup-Restore_Pinned_Taskbar_Items.bat

2. If prompted, click on Run, and do step 3 or 4 below for what you would like to do.
NOTE: If you like, you can stop getting the Run prompt by unblocking the downloaded .bat file.

3. To Back Up Pinned Items on your Taskbar

A) In the command prompt, type B and press Enter.

B) When finished, press any key to close the command prompt.

C) You will now have a Taskbar-Pinned-Items-Backup folder on your desktop that is the backup of your pinned taskbar items.

D) Move this folder to where you like for safe keeping.
NOTE: Do not rename this folder since it must remain the exact same name to be able to use it in step 4 below to restore your pinned taskbar items with.

E) If you like, you might also back up your Jump Lists as well.

4. To Restore Pinned Items on your Taskbar

A) If you have not already, make sure that any 3rd party programs that were pinned to your taskbar when the backup was created in OPTION ONE are still installed to the same location first.
NOTE: Since the pinned taskbar items are just shortcuts that point to the program, the programs must still be at the same location when the backup was created before restoring the pinned taskbar items.

B) Move or copy the Taskbar-Pinned-Items-Backup folder created from step 3 above to your desktop.

C) In the command prompt, type R and press Enter.

D) When finished, press any key to restart explorer and close the command prompt.

E) If you like, you might also restore your previously backed up Jump Lists as well.