Windows 7 - Quick Launch - Enable or Disable

**Brink** · **OPTION ONE:**

How to Enable or Disable Quick Launch in Windows 7

Information

By default Quick Launch is disabled in Windows 7. This will show you how to enable or disable Quick Launch on the taskbar in Windows 7 as a toolbar with small or large icons.

Note

Quick Launch is used to open a program quickly from a shortcut on the taskbar. In this case in a toolbar The Quick Launch folder is located at the hidden system folder location (step 2) of:

C:\Users\(user-name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

Tip

If you have the issue of where the pinned Quick Launch used in this tutorial disappears on you after logging off and on or restarting the computer, then a workaround for this issue is to create a new folder, copy the shortcuts in the Quick Lauch folder above into the new folder, then pin the new folder to the taskbar instead just like the Quick Launch folder here.

EXAMPLE: Default Windows 7 Taskbar

EXAMPLE: Quick Launch Enabled on Right Side of Taskbar
NOTE: This is the new Quick Launch toolbar with text and title, small icons, or large icons.

EXAMPLE: Quick Launch Enabled on Left Side of Taskbar
NOTE: This is the new Quick Launch toolbar without text and title, and with small icons or large icons.

OPTION ONE:
Add Quick Launch

1. Right click on a empty space on the taskbar and click on New Tool. (See screenshot below)

2. In the Folder line, type or copy the location below. (See screenshot below)

%userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

3. Click on the Select Folder button. (See screenshot above)

4. You now have a Quick Launch toolbar on the taskbar. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: Click on the arrow to see your Quick Launch shortcuts.

5. To Expand the Quick Launch Toolbar -
A) Unlock the taskbar.

B) Left click on the dotted lines and hold, then drag it to the left or right to adjust to unhide all of the icons. Release the left click when done. (See screenshot below)

C) Lock the taskbar.

6. To Remove Quick Launch Toolbar Icon Text or Title -
A) Unlock the taskbar.

B) Right click on the Quick Launch toolbar title name, then uncheck the Show Text and Show Title by clicking on them. (See screenshot below step 5B)

C) Lock the taskbar.

7. To Have Small or Large Icons for Quick Launch Toolbar -
A) Unlock the taskbar.

B) Right click on the Quick Launch toolbar title name, then click on View and select to have Large Icons or Small Icons. (See screenshot below step 5B)

C) Lock the taskbar.

8. To Have Quick Launch Toolbar on Left Side of Taskbar -
A) Unlock the taskbar.

B) Left click on the dotted lines of the pinned taskbar programs of the left side and hold, then drag it to the right past the Quick Launch toolbar and release. (See screenshot below)

C) The Quick Launch toolbar is now on the left side of the taskbar. (See screenshot below)

D) Left click on the dotted lines of these and hold and drag them to make any adjustments to how you want them place on the taskbar. (See screenshot above)

E) Lock the taskbar.

9. Now that you have Quick Launch on the taskbar, you will need to save your current theme (step 4 at this link).
NOTE: If you make any changes to your theme, you will need to save the theme afterwards, or you will lose Quick Launch the next time you restart the computer.

10. If you have a 32-bit Windows 7, then it has been reported that you may need to turn off UAC if Quick Launch is disappearing on you after every restart.

OPTION TWO:
Remove Quick Launch

1. Right click on a empty space on the taskbar and click on Toolbars and Quick Launch to uncheck and remove it from the taskbar. (See screenshot below)

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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**mansrm81** · 12-10-2008

Thanks Shawn would have been nice if it wasn't disable to begin with.

**Brink** · 12-10-2008

Hello mansrm81,

True, but with being able to pin items to the taskbar directly now I'm afraid that it will be a fading feature.

Shawn

**natri23** · 12-10-2008

Before I saw this tut, I had already tried to make a new toolbar with the Folder named Quick Launch. And then after tried this tut, nothing thing happen, the Win just take my Quick Launch folder as it original's one and now whenever I delete it, the Quick Launch disappear too...

**garysgold** · 12-10-2008

Quote: Originally Posted by natri23

Before I saw this tut, I had already tried to make a new toolbar with the Folder named Quick Launch. And then after tried this tut, nothing thing happen, the Win just take my Quick Launch folder as it original's one and now whenever I delete it, the Quick Launch disappear too...

Same here. Moved the folder I created, log off/on, still no quicklaunch bar. Oh well, just put the folder in documents or wherever and create a new toolbar. Doesn't matter what it's called as long as I can drop files on the shortcut icon and have the program open with the files already opened. Can't do that with the icons pinned to the task bar. I've sent feedback about this. Would be nice to be able to drop files on the pinned icons and have the program open instead of just pinning the files to the list IMHO.

Gary

**Brink** · 12-10-2008

Hi Natri and Gary,

Were you guys able to get your Quick Launch working?

**davehc** · 12-11-2008

Fwiw. Hi Brink. According to Microsoft, the whole of the new taskbar is now merged into the quick launch. There is no need for a hack. Works for me!
Quote from the Microsoft Engineers:
"If one increases the size of Quick Launch, one must then determine what to do with the taskband. As previously discussed, we observed that under many scenarios of single-instance programs, launching and switching were equivalent. Hence, we decided to standardize this behavior and have program launchers turn into window switchers when they are launched. Effectively, we unified Quick Launch and the taskband. While some other operating systems have similar concepts, one difference with our approach is that our default experience always optimizes for a single representation on the taskbar. This means that regardless of a window’s state (e.g. minimized, maximized or restored) there are no new or duplicate buttons created. Also, the default taskbar doesn’t allow destinations to be pinned to the top-level which prevents duplication of a pinned file and a running window with that same file open. When we say there is “one button to rule them all” we’re serious. This approach to a single, unified button keeps the taskbar uncluttered and gives the person a single place to find what she’s looking for."

**Brink** · 12-11-2008

Yes, I agree Dave. I just added this for those that would still like to have a separate Quick Launch area anyway.

**natri23** · 12-11-2008

We still have the Quick Launch working but actually it is a folder on my computer rather than the original one of Windows 7

Kika · 01-04-2009

Thanks for this great tutorial

But does anyone know how to add "send to quick launch" under mouse right-click when clicking on file? Must be some registry setting I guess.