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

 

[Shaun Daly]

Hi, new member here.

PLEASE! Dev Team leave the Quicklaunch toolbar exactly where it is with the same starting Icons.

AFAIK it first appeared in IE 4.

You took it our in IE 5. Public outcry.

You put it back in with IE 6?

Leave it where it is - we users love it.

 

[Brink]

Hello Shaun, and welcome to Seven Forums.

I'm afraid that with the ability to now pin items directly on the Taskbar like you could with the old Quick Launch, there will really be no need for Quick Launch since it be rendered obsolete with this feature instead.

Shawn

 

[chrysalis]

ok guys first thanks for the guide.

I have to say I find the decision to remove quick launch quite baffling, it seems microsoft have gone out of their way to specifically remove the feature.

I strongly disagree pinning makes it obselete for the following reasons, mainly that pinning is far more restrictive.

1 - Pinned unlaunched icons are too big and take too much room up.
2 - Pinned launch icons dont even have an icon to click anymore you have to click on a launched window tab.
3 - Unlaunched icons end up out of place when multiple apps are open, eg. I have the WMP icon in between some open explorer and internet explorer icons, it just looks very messy.
4 - Cannot drag and drop the way as before to add easy ways to launch/

In short quick launch is tidy, quick and conveniant whilst this new system is a mess. I dont mind new features but taking old ones away which millions will be used to is just silly. Pinning is a downgrade from quick launch.

I personally have 16 quick launch icons on the left of my taskbar on my XP box, in a custom order I chosen with the most used ones at the top. It allows me to open any of these apps without using the start menu or desktop and they are in a place I am accustomed to. The pinning cannot replicate this so as such doesnt obselete quick launch.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Chrysalis, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Well, I suppose some people will like it while others will not, but at least you can use this workaround to have a from of Quick Launch on the right side of the taskbar. Another option that you can do is to create keyboard shortcuts for the shortcuts you have in the Quick Launch folder as a toolbar on the taskbar.

Hope this helps some,
Shawn

 

[nzmike]

Couldn't agree more Chrysalis!!!!

I do think it's clumsy for a PC like mine where I run lots of different apps (I have 22 on my quick launch bar!) as the task bar just gets too cluttered - but oddly enough I like it on my HTPC as I only ever run about 4 or 5 apps and am happy to have them on the task bar permanently. I just hope MS gives us the option to have it the old way as I still think the quick launch bar is so much more productive.

 

[swarfega]

Actually the new taskbar with the ability to pin items to it negates any need for quicklaunch.

 

[jimwillsher]

Having read this thread I can see arguments for both options. Personally, I'm very relieved to have got my QL bar back!

With the QL bar I get quick access to my most-used apps, but without using up tons of space on the bar. I'm running 1920 x 1200 res on a HP laptop, and have room for 12 frequently-used applications in a QL bar that occupies less than one sixth of the total screen width.

Prior to running a backup or shutting down I can quickly tell that I have no applications running, and when I'm busy working beetween Photoshop and CorelDRAW I can quickly toggle between the applications. I can also have my Webmail client window open (minimized) and see the "0 new Messa.." text, allowing me to quickly see when new mail arrives.

With the taskband, none of this is possible.

To me, the Taskband (Taskbar) should show my what is RUNNING and the QL bar shows what I want to LAUNCH.

So, my setup: I now have a new toolbar at the left for my QL icons, and I've set the Taskbar to show things like they used to be shown in Vista and XP and 2000 and 98 and ME and 2003 and 2008.......

See attachment.


I'm not preaching, and saying one way is better than the other. But for me the QL is vital, and the taskbar is exactly that, to show running tasks.

Just my 2p....


Jim

 

[copernicus]

I also have like 20 programs on my XP machine within toolbars. On first boot of win 7 I thought it was an atrocious system they set up.

Then I realized of those 20 programs, I rarely run more than 5 or 6 at a time and often times the same ones all the time.

I started using 7 as a workstation, and I realized the top used programs amounts to 7 or 8 tops. All others where quick ten to fifteen minute sessions, once or twice per day. Those I relegated to being pinned in the start menuy. Still easily accessible, but way, way, out of sight.

I used to have about 5 or 6 folders within my toolbars on my XP setup. Now those are all easily accessible from the pinned library. 5 icons down to one.

When I switch back to my XP install, it feels so cluttered now.

I will say that one thing I miss is being able to drag any file into the shortcut and have it work as "open with". For instance opening a .nfo with notepad I would normally just drag the file into the quicklaunch notepad.

I really really urge everyone who saw the new taskband and had the knee jerk reaction to swich back to "XP style" give it another chance for more than three or four days.

I have all the same functionality I had with a filled taskbar compacted down to half a taskbar, I think that's quite a feat to accomplish.

 

[chrysalis]

Couldn't agree more Chrysalis!!!!

I do think it's clumsy for a PC like mine where I run lots of different apps (I have 22 on my quick launch bar!) as the task bar just gets too cluttered - but oddly enough I like it on my HTPC as I only ever run about 4 or 5 apps and am happy to have them on the task bar permanently. I just hope MS gives us the option to have it the old way as I still think the quick launch bar is so much more productive.

It would seem to those who only run a few apps like this new pinning system whilst those of us who heavily multitask and need quick access to 10 or more apps need quick launch or an equivelent. Although even on this laptop which I only want quick access to explorer, IE, command prompt and device manager I still find it slows me down. Quick launch on the right is probably something I can eventually get used to over time but will upset employers who's staff will lose productivity because MS have messed with the gui yet again. If this workaround didnt exist I would very likely have already ditched windows 7, this is how big an issue it is.

 

[jimwillsher]

You can easily have your QL on the left. Just unlock the toolbars and drag it across. Mine is on the left, and I have some toolbars via folders on the right.

 

[chrysalis]

When I switch back to my XP install, it feels so cluttered now.

Oddly enough I find win7 cluttered and winxp tidy, the icons on win7 system tray are spread further apart so they take more room for less icons (what happened to the lan status icon and then 1 click to lan status like you could do in XP), the pinned unlaunched icons are huge and have a large gap to the left and right of them so are also inefficient on space. Bear in mind quick launch was optional on XP so if you didnt like it then it could be turned off, I dont understand why people hate the system tray and quick launch, icons as those are very space efficient, the system tray either been used to continiously show you status of apps or to be used to provide quick access to an app, thats why some apps give you the option to minimise to the system tray instead of task bar as the taskbar is far more bulky. Now if quick launch and this pinning system were both in windows 7 properly then MS would have been onto a winner as they would have kept both sets of people happy, why do software companies always insist on removing choice. Oh and after some research I see where MS's motivation came from now, this feature is apparently in OSX? so it seems its more of a case of MS wanting to copy another OS and satisfy those who like OSX rather than keep their loyal users happy who have got used to a established gui.

 

[Mark]

I still use both and I also have one on the left which is my desktop toolbar.

 

[copernicus]

Oh and after some research I see where MS's motivation came from now, this feature is apparently in OSX? so it seems its more of a case of MS wanting to copy another OS and satisfy those who like OSX rather than keep their loyal users happy who have got used to a established gui.

http://blogs.msdn.com/e7/archive/20...-windows-on-the-evolution-of-the-taskbar.aspx

That's a good read regarding the ideas behind the new taskbar.

 

[Brink]

Updated this tutorial to show how to have Quick Launch on the left side of the taskbar.

Shawn

 

[chrysalis]

I still use both and I also have one on the left which is my desktop toolbar.

Hi, how did you get one of your toolbars on the left?

 

[chrysalis]

Updated this tutorial to show how to have Quick Launch on the left side of the taskbar.

Shawn

sweet thanks, ok this is good enough for my liking now it works just fine now. I have removed all pinned icons and have IE etc. back in quick launch on the left.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Chrysalis. I'm happy that you got it back to how you like it now.

 

[nikpav51]

Thanks eyxaristo poly

 

[Brink]

LOL, your welcome Nikpavm and welcome to Seven Forums.

Shawn

 

[kenium]

For me most interesting thing is how remove all icons and leave only expand menu arrow. I tried dragging but anyway one icon still shown. For me small icons on new big toolbar looks a little ugly, but Big icon expand toolbar to much for my resolution. If anyone know solution, help me please.