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

 

[trekfrk]

Has anyone noticed when adding the Quick Launch bar to Windows 7 that it creates a new Quick Launch Desktop Folder. If you remove it, all your pinned programs in the Start Menu will not function. The only solution I have found so far is to move it to another location so it is not on the desktop.
Thanks for your thoughts

Reports: ·

 

[Brink]

Hello Trekfrk,

Sorry, but this is the first time this has been reported of a Quick Launch folder being created on the desktop and the problem you mention of removing it. Are you sure this is not from some Quick Launch program that came preinstalled with your computer instead? The method used in the tutorial is not capable of adding Quick Launch to the desktop.

 

[trekfrk]

I built this computer so nothing was preinstalled. I have my system configured to show hidden files which is why this is occurring. It seems that this modification causes this folder to be created which is also necessary for pinning to the start menu. It is not a quick launch toolbar but rather a file folder. If you are running Win7 can you try enabling "show hidden files" and see if you can duplicate this issue?
Thanks

 

[Brink]

I have "show hidden files" enabled, but using the exact steps in the tutorial, I cannot reproduce what you say. If you use the exact steps in the tutorial I just do not see how you get what you say.

 

[trekfrk]

Do you know what the "path" is for items pinned to the Start Menu? Could you right click on any program you have pinned, and go to Properties>General and tell me what it says for Location
Thanks

 

[Brink]

The pinned items in the Start Menu are located in the hidden system folder:

C:\Users\(User-Name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\StartMenu

 

[trekfrk]

Fixed it Somehow my 'user pinned' folder got associated with my desktop. I'm guessing it happened when I was dragging the Quick Launch all the way to the left. Once I corrected it to the path you sent, it works perfectly. Your help was invaluable, thanks again.
On a similar note, you mentioned you 'show hidden and system operating files' so you must have two 'desktop.ini' folders on your desktop. Have you found anyway to hide or move them while still keeping those settings?

 

[churin]

The pinned items in the Start Menu are located in the hidden system folder:

C:\Users\(User-Name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\StartMenu

Hi, Brink;
I still have QL dissapperance problem even on new machine I just built. I copied the pinned short-cuts on the taskbar and saved the theme as suggested in the past.
In the above path, all the short-cuts are still in the Quick Launch folder and two desktop.ini files. One is desktop(1).ini though. I wonder if there is a way to tweak this area to fix the problem.

 

[Brink]

Hello Churin,

I still haven't narrowed down why Quick Launch will disappear after a restart for a few people. I have noticed that it seems to happen mostly on laptops though.

You might see if pinning a new folder to the taskbar with a copy of the Quick Launch folder contents in it instead may work better than pinning the actual Quick Launch folder.

 

[churin]

Thanks, that's interesting alternative. Presently I am using the blank space opened when the start button is clicked on to place those short-cuts I used to put in the quick launch.

 

[Tkach]

Thanks alot!

 

[rcohn]

Useful information

Thanks very much for the Quick Launch how-to. Saved me a lot of time in trying to figure out where that useful feature was hidden.

Regards,

Robert Cohn

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Robert, and welcome to Seven Forums.

 

[AhmedCo]

I noted that every few days the Quick launch disappears by itself and I have to re-do the steps again ..
Any one have an idea on this ?!

 

[Brink]

Hello Ahmed,

Sometimes steps 9 or 10 may help with this. If not, the yellow TIP box at the top of the tutorial should work instead.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[kayakee]

Thank you very much for this tutorial.

It's a shame that Microsoft didn't set any options to keep some previous default configuration as to add the Quick Lauch set easily(Add least, available from the toobar options).

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Kayakee, and welcome to Seven Forums.

 

[SevenUser7]

Love that Quick Launch

Worked like a charm. I didn't like the pins, missed the quick launch. Well done.

 

[Kari]

I'm sorry to bother you geeks once again with this Quick Launch issue of mine, but I'm desperate to find a fix.

I've described the issue here earlier, here's a short version once again:

After a reboot, Quick Launch loses all the shortcut's I've added myself, showing only those shortcuts added by respective installation programs.

For instance, after a reboot I'll add Snipping Tool to Quick Launch. It stays there as long as I do not reboot. It 'survives' hibernation but not reboot, i.e when I hibernate the computer in the evening and resume it next morning, the Snipping Tool shortcut is still in the Quick Launch, but if I shut down and reboot, it's gone and I have to add it manually once again.

Any tip really appreciated.

Kari

 

[Brink]

Hello Kari,

Have you tried the 2nd part of the TIP box at the top of the tutorial to pin a folder to the taskbar with the Quick Launch shortcuts copied into it instead? Hopefully that workaround will work for you instead.