Windows 7 - Taskbar - Pin or Unpin a Folder

Information

This will show you how to pin a folder to the Windows 7 taskbar as a toolbar with a small or large custom icon, and with or without a text name.

Note

The pinned taskbar items are located in this hidden systen folder: C:\Users\(User-Name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar

Tip

You can use this tutorial to pin either one of these hidden folders below to simulate the Classic Start Menu. NOTE: Leave the arrows to expand the folder by. Start Menu Used By Current User Account Only: C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs Start Menu Used By All User Accounts: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

Warning

You cannot pin a root folder directly to the taskbar. Instead, you can only pin a subfolder in that root folder instead. You just need to make sure that there is only one subfolder in the root folder though. If not, then the other subfolders in the root folder will show up on the taskbar as well. For example, if you selected your C:\Users\(User-name) folder instead to pin the My Music in the example in step one below, then you would have all of the (User-Name) subfolders pinned to the taskbar as well since they are all subfolders in the C:\Users\(User-name) root folder.

1. In Windows Explorer, navigate to the folder that you want to pin to the taskbar, and create a new folder in that folder as a subfolder in it. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: For example, I wanted to pin the C:\Users\(user-name)\My Music folder (root folder) to the taskbar. I would then create a new folder (subfolder) in the My Music folder.

2. Right click on the new folder (subfolder) and click on Rename. Rename the folder to any name that you want. (See screenshot above)
NOTE: If you choose to Show Text (step 10) later, then this is the name that will display for the folder on the taskbar.

3. If you want to Change the Folder Icon -
NOTE: This will show you how to change the icon for the new folder (subfolder) to a icon of your choice. This is the icon that will display on the taskbar.

A) Right click on the new folder (subfolder), and click on Properties. (See screenshot below step 1)

B) Click on the Customize tab, then click on the Change Icon button. (See screenshot below)

C) Either select a icon here, or click on Browse, navigate to the icon (.ico file) that you want to use and select it. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)

D) Click on OK. (See screenshot below step 3B)

E) Your icon is now changed.

4. Unlock the taskbar.

5. Right click on a empty space on the taskbar and click on Toolbars and New toolbar. (See screenshot below)

6. Navigate to the root folder (ex: "My Music" in step 1) and select it, then click on the Select Folder button. (See screenshot below)

7. On the taskbar, left click on the dotted lines and hold, then drag it to the left until you see the new folder (subfolder) without the expansion arrow. Release the left click when done. (See screenshots below)

8. Right click on the root folder (ex: My Music) toolbar title name, then uncheck Show Title by clicking on it. (See screenshot below)

9. To Select a Small or Large Folder Icons -

A) Right click on the new folder (subfolder) text name, then click on View and select either Large Icons or Small Icons for the folder on the taskbar. (See screenshots below)

10. To Keep or Remove Folder Text Name -

A) Right click on the new folder (subfolder) text name, then click on View and click on Show Text to check (keep) or uncheck (remove) the folder name. (See screenshots below)

11. To Keep the Folder on Right Side of Taskbar -

A) Left click on the dotted lines to the left of the folder and hold, then drag it to the left and right to make any adjustments to how you want the folder positioned on the right side of the taskbar. (See screenshot below)

B) Release the left click when done.

C) Go to step 13.

12. To Have the Folder on Left Side of Taskbar -

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

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

13. Lock the taskbar.

14. You now have a pinned folder on the taskbar. (See example screenshots at the top of the tutorial)

15. You can now open the pinned folder and put whatever other files, folder, or shortcuts you want in this folder as you would any other folder for easy access to them from the taskbar.

1. Right click on a empty space on the taskbar and click on Toolbars and the new folder (subfolder) name (steps 1 and 2)to uncheck and remove the folder from the taskbar. (See screenshot below)