Taskbar - Pin or Unpin a Folder

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    Taskbar - Pin or Unpin a Folder

    Taskbar - Pin or Unpin a Folder

    How to Pin or Unpin a Folder to Taskbar in Windows 7 and Windows 8
    Published by
    Designer Media Ltd


    How to Pin or Unpin a Folder to Taskbar in Windows 7 and Windows 8


       Information
    This will show you how to pin a folder to the taskbar directly or as a toolbar with a small or large custom icon, and with or without a text name in Windows 7 and Windows 8.

       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


    EXAMPLE: Folder Pinned on the Right Side of the Taskbar
    NOTE: This with using OPTION TWO and the folder having a large icon with and without a text name.
    Taskbar - Pin or Unpin a Folder-right_side_example.jpg

    Taskbar - Pin or Unpin a Folder-right_side_text_example.jpg
    EXAMPLE: Folder Pinned on the Left Side of the Taskbar
    NOTE: This with using OPTION TWO and the folder having a large icon with and without a text name.
    Taskbar - Pin or Unpin a Folder-left_side_example.jpg

    Taskbar - Pin or Unpin a Folder-left_side_text_example.jpg



    OPTION ONE

    To Pin a Folder Directly to Taskbar


       Note
    This option will show you a workaround to pin a folder directly to the taskbar that behaves the same as any other pinned program to the taskbar.


    1. In Windows Explorer (Windows 7) or File Explorer (Windows 8), navigate to the folder that you want to pin to the taskbar.

    2. Right click or swipe down on the folder, click/tap on Send to and Desktop (create shortcut), and close Explorer.

    3. On your desktop, right click or swipe down on the folder shortcut, click/tap on Properties, Shortcut tab, type explorer in front of the Target path of the folder leaving a space inbetween them, and click/tap on Apply. (see example screenshots below)
    Taskbar - Pin or Unpin a Folder-target1.jpgTaskbar - Pin or Unpin a Folder-target-2.jpg
    4. In the same Shortcut tab, click/tap on the Change Icon button. (see screenshots above)

    5. In the Change Icon window, type imageres.dll in the "look for" field and press Enter, then select the folder icon and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
    NOTE: You can use any icon that you would like to have displayed on the taskbar for this folder though.
    Taskbar - Pin or Unpin a Folder-icon.jpg
    6. Click/tap on OK. (see screenshots below step 3)

    7. Right click or swipe down on the folder shortcut on your desktop, and click/tap on Pin to Taskbar. You could also drag and drop the pinned folder icon to where you like within the other pinned icons on the taskbar.

    8. When finished, you can delete the folder shortcut on your desktop if you like. It will not affect the pinned folder icon.



    OPTION TWO

    To Pin or Unpin a Folder as a Toolbar to Taskbar


       Note
    You cannot pin a root folder directly to the taskbar using this option. 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. Unlock the taskbar.

    2. Right click or swipe down on an empty space on the taskbar, and click/tap on Toolbars and New toolbar. (see screenshot below)
    Taskbar - Pin or Unpin a Folder-step2.jpg
    3. Navigate to the folder (ex: C:\Users\(user-name)\My Music) and select it, then click/tap on the Select Folder button. (see screenshot below)
    Taskbar - Pin or Unpin a Folder-step3.jpg
    4. Right click or swipe down on the dotted lines, then uncheck Show Title by clicking on it. (see screenshot below)
    NOTE: If you leave Show Title checked, then the icon of the selected folder (step 3) will not show, and only the folder name would.
    Taskbar - Pin or Unpin a Folder-step5.jpg
    5. To Select a Small or Large Folder Icons
    A) Right click or swipe down on the dotted separator line, then click/tap on View and select either Large Icons or Small Icons for the folder on the taskbar. (See screenshots below)
    Taskbar - Pin or Unpin a Folder-step6a.jpgTaskbar - Pin or Unpin a Folder-step6b.jpg
    6. To Keep or Remove Folder Text Name
    A) Right click or swipe down on the dotted separator line, then click/tap on View and click on Show Text to check (keep) or uncheck (remove) the folder name. (See screenshots below)
    Taskbar - Pin or Unpin a Folder-step7a.jpgTaskbar - Pin or Unpin a Folder-step7b.jpg
    7. To Keep the Folder on Right Side of Taskbar
    A) Click/tap on the dotted separator line 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)
    Taskbar - Pin or Unpin a Folder-step8.jpg
    B) Release the left click when done.

    C) Go to step 9.
    8. To Have the Folder on Left Side of Taskbar
    A) Click/tap on the dotted separator line 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)
    Taskbar - Pin or Unpin a Folder-step9a.jpg
    B) Click/tap on the dotted separator line 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)
    Taskbar - Pin or Unpin a Folder-step9b.jpg
    9. Lock the taskbar.

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

    11. 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.

    12. To Unpin a Folder from the Taskbar
    A) Right click or swipe down on an empty space on the taskbar, click/tap on Toolbars, and click/tap on the pinned folder (step 3) to uncheck and remove it from the taskbar. (see screenshot below)
    Taskbar - Pin or Unpin a Folder-step10.jpg
    That's it,
    Shawn








  1. Posts : 52
    Windows 7 - x64 Professional
       #1

    Hi Shawn,

    Awesome info. I am trying to do something similar: I have a folder with all my shortcuts in it. I have created a shortcut to that folder which sits on the desktop. By clicking the shortcut I immediately have all my shortcut icons in one window. I would like to place the shortcut icon to this folder permanently on the taskbar alongside the "Start" button. Can this be done?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Hello Greg,

    Yes, you can follow the tutorial step by step to add the folder's full path location (step 6), then do step 12 to have it next to the Start Menu. Afterwards, you can click on it to open that folder.

    Hope this helps,
    Shawn
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 52
    Windows 7 - x64 Professional
       #3

    Thank you Shawn - really appreciate it! Will try this when I get home later!
    Cheers,

    Greg
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    You're welcome Greg. Please let us know how it went. :)
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 52
    Windows 7 - x64 Professional
       #5

    I think I am doing somewthing wrong... When I do this I end up seeing ALL the shortcuts on the taskbar (about 20 of them). I cant seem to get it right that just the folder is displayed an the taskbar (preferably with a different icon) and then when I click on that, all the icons appear in a window. Either that or I just get the text for the folder name but no icon for the folder shows up and clicking on the text does nothing. Any ideas on where I am going wrong? I went thru your instructions step by step but clearly I am missing something.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Greg,

    I think you may have missed part of Step 1. You need to place a new folder in a folder, then select the original folder to see the new folder icon on the taskbar. All files or shortcuts will need to be placed in the New Folder.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 52
    Windows 7 - x64 Professional
       #7

    Thanks Brink - I think you might be right - I created the new folder inside the main folder but then I selected this new folder and changed its icon. Will give it another shot. Thanks again.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    You're welcome Greg. Please let us know how it went. :)
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 59
    Windows 7 x64 SP1 - Ubuntu 10.10 x64 - Linux Mint 10 (dual boot + Virtual Box)
       #9

    Uh guys, thats nice and works.

    BUT:

    Is there any way to make the pinned folder cascade its contents like in the classic start menu in vista?
    I would Kill for that feature ... I miss it terribly...
      My Computer


 
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