Quick Launch - Enable or Disable

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 as a taskbar toolbar using small or large icons in Windows 7.

   Note

Quick Launch is a toolbar on the taskbar. Quick Launch is used to open a program quickly from a shortcut from within it separate from the pinned programs on the taskbar.

The Quick Launch folder is located at the hidden system folder location below to add shortcuts to.

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

   Tip

Microsoft has made available a hotfix that will resolve a problem where the taskbar customizations are lost and reset to defaults when automatic logon is enabled in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. More details are available at FIX: The Taskbar is reset to the default settings when you use the "Automatically Log On" feature in Windows 7 and in Windows Server 2008 R2.



If you still 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 either:

• Save your current theme after adding Quick Launch.
• 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.
• Open the hidden Quick Launch folder in the NOTE box above, then right click in the folder and click on New and Shortcut to add a shortcut into Quick Launch instead.
• Create a new folder, copy the shortcuts in the Quick Launch folder above into the new folder, then pin the new folder to the taskbar instead just like the Quick Launch folder here.
• To use a Microsoft hotfix. It is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.
  • Information: FIX: The Taskbar is reset to the default settings when you use the "Automatically Log On" feature in Windows 7 and in Windows Server 2008 R2
  • Download link: Help and Support

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

To Add Quick Launch to Taskbar

1. Right click on a empty space on the taskbar, then select (hover on) Taskbar and click on New Toolbar. (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 and hold on the dotted separator line just to the left of Quick Launch, 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 dotted separator line just to the left of Quick Launch, 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 dotted separator line just to the left of Quick Launch, 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 and hold on the dotted separator line just to the left of Quick Launch, then drag Quick Launch as far to the left on the taskbar as you are able to and release.

C) If you still have any pinned program icons to the left of Quick Launch, then left click and hold on the dotted separator line just to the left of the icons and hold, and drag it to the right past Quick Launch and release. (See screenshot below)

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

E) Left click and hold on the dotted separator line for the other icons and drag them left or right to make any adjustments to how you want them placed on the taskbar. (See screenshot above)

F) Lock the taskbar.

OPTION TWO

To Remove Quick Launch from Taskbar

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

---

• How to Add Quick Launch to the "Send to" Context Menu in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Backup and Restore Taskbar Toolbars in Vista and Windows 7
• How to Reset and Clear All Taskbar Toolbars in Vista and Windows 7
• How to Pin or Unpin a Folder to the Windows 7 Taskbar
• How to Pin or Unpin a Program to the Windows 7 Taskbar
• How to Use Small or Large Icons on the Windows 7 Taskbar
• How to Enable or Disable Windows 7 Taskbar Button Grouping
• How to Lock or Unlock the Windows 7 Taskbar
• How to Move the Windows 7 Taskbar Location on the Desktop
• How to Show or Hide the Windows 7 Taskbar with Auto-hide
• How to Center the Taskbar Icons in Windows 7
• How to Create a Internet Website Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Use Toolbars in Windows 7 and Vista
• How to Pin or Unpin a Drive to the Windows 7 Taskbar
• How to Add or Remove a Toolbar on the Taskbar in Vista and Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable Adding and Removing Taskbar Toolbars in Vista and Windows 7

 

[Brink]

From where i can download the reg file for it can you give me the link for it mate appreciate it

Hello Simon,

Uh? :huh:

I think you may have posted in the wrong thread.

 

[simonsez9]

no mate hahahahaha i am looking for the reg file for the quick launch bar i read the tutorial but everytime i need to go throuhg whole tutorial so thought to ask if got a reg file for it then it would be easy to install it

 

[Brink]

LOL, oh ok. Sorry, but there wouldn't and couldn't be a REG file involved for this. You're basically just creating a folder with a Recycle Bin shortcut in it, then adding the folder as a toolbar to the taskbar.

 

[muymalestado]

Got it! Now remove the label?

Thank you Brink for the original Tut on Quick Launch - Enable or Disable.

Got that and it is now on the left side of the Task Bar, great stuff - BUT, it retains its label at the left "Quick Launch" beside the Show Desktop icon.

How to get rid of that label?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome muymalestado.

It looks like you just missed step 6 in OPTION ONE to remove it.

 

[muymalestado]

Duh! RTFT, eh?

 

[Brink]

LOL

 

[MichaelTrexel]

Quick Launch icon vertical spacing and keeping it there

I have my taskbar setup to double height of normal, quick launch (QL) bar on the left hand side of the screen, small icons with no text in QL. When I reboot my computer, Windows displays two (2) rows of QL icons, followed by some double arrows that I can click on which brings up a list box with my other shortcuts. When I unlock the taskbar, and quickly drag it to the top of the screen and then back down to the bottom, Windows displays three (3) rows of icons. How do I get Windows to consitently display three (3) rows of icons in the quick launch bar without me having to unlock and move to and from every time I reboot?

 

[Brink]

Hello Michael, and welcome to Seven Forums.

I've been playing with this, and I can't even get it to show 3 rows in QL with the taskbar set to double height. Only if the taskbar was set to triple height.

If you like, a workaround would be to unlock the taskbar, drag the dotted line separator to the right of QL over to the right just a bit until all small icons in QL show without the expansion double arrow, then lock the taskbar.

 

[MichaelTrexel]

My specs if it helps

Screen Resolution: 1280 x 1024

Custom DPI Setting: 125% 9 point Segoe UI at 120 pixels per inch using Windows XP style DPI scaling

Window Color and Appearance:
Caption Buttons - Size: 26
Icon - Size: 32
Icon Spacing (Horizontal) - Size: 62
Icon Spacing (Vertical) - Size: 55

I DO use Aero, not a basic theme.

I just do not understand why it will not show me the three rows until I move the bar around. If it displays it this way once, I should always be able to display it this way.

I have tried holding the shift key down when re-booting, no luck.

 

[IceTheNet]

I Registered Just to post how much I like this. I often have 4 or 5 firefox browsers running and need a new one. IE sometimes too. When they are pinned it makes it hard to launch a new browser I have to open the start menu and go to programs and launch a new one. This is nice now I can launch a new one off the taskbar and that is very convenient. For those who can't figure out why this would be a good idea that is why. if you have 10 tabs open in a browser it is better to open a new one rather than have a hundred tabs better to have 10 browsers. Pinning is ok for single use apps in fact is sometimes convenient to have a program on pinned so you can close it easier. I like having both plus taskbar has nice windows switch and show desktop.

 

[Shivam1]

How to Create shortcut of Local Area Connection in Windows 7

I was having difficult time to sort out how to create a shortcut of Local Area Connection in the Start bar or in the toolbar ,there is no option when right click the local area connection to create shortcut ,only option was there is to create a shortcut to desktop but not in toolbar .But this Quick Launch this has just sorted it out so easily .Now i don't have to go into the Network and Sharing Center and click on Change Adapter Settings and then Local Area Connection to enable it, Now i can enable it here with one two clicks away .Thank You

 

[Shivam1]

Thank you .I was looking for this but it goes after some days and i have to do this thing all over again.

 

[Brink]

Hello Shivam,

Double check to see if the items in the yellow tip box at the top of the tutorial may be able to help with this for now.

 

[DarKnight]

Option 3 :Thank you very very much,good job!

 

[DjDiabolik]

Hi boys.... i continue to have problems whit quicklaunch disappering after random reboot!
I have downdload the Hotfix from link but when i try to install i obtain an error says "It's not applicable" and i need to understand and resolve this problems

I have create a folder on C:\..... called "AAARapidi". I have add to Taskbar and i have pinned and all it's correctly but after some random reboot the quicklauch it's disappering whitout any error!!

Please help........... i have windows 7 x64 whit all windows update............. there's exist some registry voice to add or other similar tweak to my system to fix this problems ??

 

[Brink]

Hello DjDiabolik,

Have you already tried everything in the yellow tip box at the top of the tutorial to see if it may help?

 

[DjDiabolik]

Hello DjDiabolik,

Have you already tried everything in the yellow tip box at the top of the tutorial to see if it may help?

Yes... and in some cases no because i don't have understand the exactly procedure...


Otherwise - Point One - The HotFix:
I have tryed to download and tryed to install but i obtain a errors says "it's not applicable"

Point Two - Save my current theme:
I have save my theme and i have now a file called "Diabolik.theme":

; Copyright © Microsoft Corp.

[Theme]
; Windows 7 - IDS_THEME_DISPLAYNAME_AERO
DisplayName=Diabolik

; Computer - SHIDI_SERVER
[CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\DefaultIcon]
DefaultValue=%SystemRoot%\System32\imageres.dll,-109

; UsersFiles - SHIDI_USERFILES
[CLSID\{59031A47-3F72-44A7-89C5-5595FE6B30EE}\DefaultIcon]
DefaultValue=%SystemRoot%\System32\imageres.dll,-123

; Network - SHIDI_MYNETWORK
[CLSID\{F02C1A0D-BE21-4350-88B0-7367FC96EF3C}\DefaultIcon]
DefaultValue=%SystemRoot%\System32\imageres.dll,-25

; Recycle Bin - SHIDI_RECYCLERFULL SHIDI_RECYCLER
[CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\DefaultIcon]
Full=%SystemRoot%\System32\imageres.dll,-54
Empty=%SystemRoot%\System32\imageres.dll,-55

[Control Panel\Cursors]
AppStarting=
Arrow=
Crosshair=
Hand=
Help=
IBeam=
No=
NWPen=
SizeAll=
SizeNESW=
SizeNS=
SizeNWSE=
SizeWE=
UpArrow=
Wait=
DefaultValue=
Link=

[Control Panel\Desktop]
Wallpaper=%SystemRoot%\Web\Wallpaper\Windows\img1.jpg
TileWallpaper=0
WallpaperStyle=10
Pattern=

[VisualStyles]
Path=%SystemRoot%\resources\themes\Aero\Aero.msstyles
ColorStyle=NormalColor
Size=NormalSize
ColorizationColor=0X6B74B8FC
Transparency=1
Composition=1
VisualStyleVersion=10

[boot]
SCRNSAVE.EXE=

[MasterThemeSelector]
MTSM=DABJDKT

[Sounds]
; IDS_SCHEME_DEFAULT
SchemeName=Predefiniti di Windows

Apparently whit and whitout the additional quicklaunch activated/added the files it's not changed.... otherwise it's not help me to resolve this issue.

Point three - 32bit OS - Disable UAC:
I have Windows 7 X64 but i also disable UAC otherwise... no help me

Point four - i quote:

Open the hidden [B]Quick Launch[/B] folder in the NOTE box above, then right click in the folder and click on [B]New [/B]and[B] Shortcut[/B] to add a shortcut into Quick Launch instead.

I don't have understand how i need to do...... open the quicklaunch folder in the NOTE.. ok i reach the folder. Inside of this i can watch a hidden folder called "User Pinned"........ i need to create inside this folder a new shortcut to same exaxt folder ? It's right ? And after this ?

The next point - i quote:

Create a new folder, copy the shortcuts in the Quick Launch folder above into the new folder, then [URL="http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9305-taskbar-pin-unpin-folder.html"][B][U]pin the new folder to the taskbar[/U][/B][/URL] instead just like the Quick Launch folder here.

It's a second parts of Precedent point ?? I don't have undestand ? how i need to create a new folder ? And the quick launch shortcut it's the same shortcut created on Point four ? I don't have understand this parts..........

The last point - Speak again about fix.......... i already explain i can't apply......

 

[DjDiabolik]

It's unbelievable..... after i post here i'm go to sleep.................. now i'm back and i turn on my pc and.................... BOOM... quicklaunch it's gone!
It's very frustrating this stupid bug.....................and:

My previous "saved" themes it's correctly loaded but no quicklauch it's apparing........



*EDIT*
Otherwise... if i can't use the quicklaunch... it's possibly to make/create a menù inside the Main "Start Menu" ???
Now i have "pinned" a folder contain all app........ but it's possibly to create a multi choice menù ?

 

[Brink]

Point four - i quote:

Open the hidden [B]Quick Launch[/B] folder in the NOTE box above, then right click in the folder and click on [B]New [/B]and[B] Shortcut[/B] to add a shortcut into Quick Launch instead.

I don't have understand how i need to do...... open the quicklaunch folder in the NOTE.. ok i reach the folder. Inside of this i can watch a hidden folder called "User Pinned"........ i need to create inside this folder a new shortcut to same exaxt folder ? It's right ? And after this ?

This would be to create the shortcut directly in the Quick Launch folder instead of dragging and dropping item on Quick Launch on the taskbar.

The next point - i quote:

Create a new folder, copy the shortcuts in the Quick Launch folder above into the new folder, then [URL="http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9305-taskbar-pin-unpin-folder.html"][B][U]pin the new folder to the taskbar[/U][/B][/URL] instead just like the Quick Launch folder here.

It's a second parts of Precedent point ?? I don't have undestand ? how i need to create a new folder ? And the quick launch shortcut it's the same shortcut created on Point four ? I don't have understand this parts..........

The last point - Speak again about fix.......... i already explain i can't apply......

This is to create a new folder where you like, create shortcuts you want in this new folder, then pin the folder to your taskbar to use instead of Quick Launch. The tutorial link in that point will show you how to pin a folder to the taskbar.