Solved Is it possible to locate Chrome AND Chrome Incognito in the Taskbar

[MitchSC]

I realize this sounds more like a Google Chrome question, but I think it may be more in the Windows 7 realm. If not, my apologies.

I'd like to be able to launch Chrome (normal) AND Chrome Incognito from the taskbar in separate windows and have them able to be open simultaneously.

In my research I haven't been able to find a way to do this. Is this even possible?

I have been able to create a desktop shortcut to Chrome Incognito mode by adding -incognito at the end of the target pathway in the shortcut's properties.

PS: Someone suggested installing Chrome Canary for one mode, and use Chrome Stable for the other ???
I'm not crazy about using an unstable version of the program, however.

Thank you

 

[johnhoh]

this is a windows batch file question, you're in the right place

open notepad and create a file and save it with a name like openboth.cmd (do not save it as a text file). Save it to your desktop then move it to your taskbar. The file needs to have three lines in it, as below

start "Chromeincognito" "C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\Chrome" -incognito
start "Chrome" "C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\Chrome"
exit

Then give it a unique icon - right click on it, select properties, select change icon, navigate to any exe file or to your shell32.dll file and select an icon

 

[MitchSC]

Thank you so much johnhoh.

I haven't tried this yet, so before I do, one question of clarification please.

The batch file looks like it will launch Chrome and Chrome Canary together. I was hoping to treat them like separate programs so I can open one, or the other, or both simultaneously.

If I remove line 2 from the batch file, would this allow me to open Chrome using the normal Chrome application, and Canary using the batch file, individually or at the same time from the taskbar.

I hope my question makes sense . Thanks again...

 

[johnhoh]

Well chrome canary is different from chrome incognito. The batch file above is not meant to invoke chrome canary. What it does is open two separate processes side by side and simultaneously - normal chrome and incognito chrome. To open them separately, you are correct in your 4th paragraph above as to how to do that.

 

[MitchSC]

I'm such an idiot. I was researching Canary, and wrote the term "Canary" in the thread meaning to write Incognito.

Many apologies... So this is what I meant to post:




I haven't tried this yet, so before I do, one question of clarification please.

The batch file looks like it will launch Chrome and Chrome Incognito together. I was hoping to treat them like separate programs so I can open one, or the other, or both simultaneously.

If I remove line 2 from the batch file, would this allow me to open Chrome using the normal Chrome application shortcut, and Incognito using the batch file, individually or at the same time from the taskbar.

I hope my question makes sense . Thanks again...

 

[johnhoh]

yes if you remove line 2, that gives you a way to use one-click to open incognito, and you already have a one click way to open just chrome since you already (I assume) have a shortcut for it. So then if you want a third option, a way to open both simultaneously using only one click, just use the above batch file as-is by keeping line 2 intact

 

[MitchSC]

This is fantastic info johnhoh. Thanks so very much. I'll try it tomorrow.

Just so I'm 100% clear, using my std taskbar shortcut to Chrome, plus the Incognito option from you, will allow both to be open simultaneously (if desired) in separate windows, with no interaction between them?

 

[johnhoh]

that is correct. That's how it works on my PC, so I assume this is the default behavior.

 

[MitchSC]

UPDATE:

Hi johnhoh. Sorry for the delay in posting back. Life got in the way...

I followed your directions and the batch file works beautifully to open Chrome Incognito (from the desktop).

Ran into 2 snags however.

1) I can't find a way to pin the batch file to the taskbar. There's no option in the right-click menu, and it won't let me drag it in.

2) The batch file properties does not give the option to change the icon.
I did find, however, that if I create a desktop shortcut to the batch file, the shortcut properties lets me change the icon.
But I can't put the shortcut in the taskbar either.

Any suggestions? Thanks so much.

 

[johnhoh]

Not sure about pins, but you can enable the link area on your taskbar and put shortcuts there

 

[MitchSC]

Thank you again johnhoh. Got it working using shortcut to batch file. It's perfect !!!