Anyone know how to add Quick Launch to the taskbar in Windows 11?


Here's my taskbar with the address bar positioned above a taskbar toolbar:

View attachment 12106

I am running Windows 11, and, if you still can't figure it out, then look inside my address bar. :ROFLMAO:
How did you make the address bar so small? Here it takes no less than 2 rows.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
How did you make the address bar so small? Here it takes no less than 2 rows.
In ExplorerPatcher settings, you can change the Taskbar icons size to 'Small' (default = 'Large'). In Windows settings I have also changed the scaling for my 4k TV to 200%. As for the horizontal size, there is an empty toolbar to the right side of my address bar. Without it, the refresh button of my address bar was almost touching my system tray icons. I can't remember what else I had to change, but you may have to futz around with the taskbar height by changing it to 3 rows before you change the display scaling to 200% and then change it back to 2 rows again after that. And basically that's it (I think).
 

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    i7 13650HX
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    16GB DDR5
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    GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile
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    11 Home
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    Intel Iris Xe
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    Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Supreme; Emotiva UMC-200; Astell & Kern AK240
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    Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
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    3840×2160
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    2TB SSD internal
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    Logitech K800
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    FF

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System One System Two

  • OS
    11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus TUF Gaming (2024)
    CPU
    i7 13650HX
    Memory
    16GB DDR5
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile
    Sound Card
    Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Supreme; Emotiva UMC-200; Astell & Kern AK240
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
    Screen Resolution
    3840×2160
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD internal
    37TB external
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    Li-ion
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    2× Arc Flow Fans, 4× exhaust vents, 5× heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
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    Logitech G402
    Internet Speed
    20Mbit/s up, 250Mbit/s down
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    FF
  • Operating System
    11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Medion S15450
    CPU
    i5 1135G7
    Memory
    16GB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe
    Sound Card
    Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Supreme; Emotiva UMC-200; Astell & Kern AK240
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
    Screen Resolution
    3840×2160
    Hard Drives
    2TB SSD internal
    37TB external
    PSU
    Li-ion
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Internet Speed
    20Mbit/s up, 250Mbit/s down
    Browser
    FF
Does anyone know how to add Quick Launch to the taskbar in Windows 11
please?

1 Yes. Here is a snip of QuickLaunch on my Windows 11 Taskbar.
TaskbarToolbar-QuickLaunch-D11m.png


2 I used the UndockingDisabled method to restore Taskbar Toolbar capabilities.
EnableUndockedTaskBar.reg
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
;This creates the UndockingDisabled entry to enable the Taskbar to show Taskbar Toolbars again
; Windows must be restarted for the change to take effect
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell\Update\Packages]
"UndockingDisabled"=dword:00000001
I had found this method in Change Taskbar to old form [#4, 20-21] - ElevenForum

One side-effect of the UndockingDisabled method is that the Start button no longer does anything. It just sits there like a lemon. So you can either use an alternative method of enabling Taskbar Toolbars or you can, like me, use a Taskbar Toolbar to do that job [see para 4 below].


3 QuickLaunch is no longer offered in the list of ready-made Taskbar Toolbars
TaskbarToolbar, selection menu-D11m.png
so I clicked on New toolbar then browsed to
Code:
%UserProfile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
and selected it.


4 You can add, edit, remove Taskbar Toolbar shortcuts. I started off with a clean slate for my main one and built it up to hold all I need.
TaskbarToolbar-Menus-D11m.png
Taskbar Toolbars - Creating and naming, customising, moving - TenForums


5 I also did some other Taskbar-related changes. See My Taskbar setup [post #6] - ElevenForum
Hollywood post #19 has warned that the next Cumulative update will affect Taskbar/SysTray icons under these conditions.



All the best,
Denis
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home x64 Version 23H2 Build 22631.3296
Here's my taskbar with the address bar positioned above a taskbar toolbar:
So I must be dense this morning. First, are you running an Insider version of W11?

How did you get the Taskbar to double height (with a 3 line calendar/clock)? Mine appears to be "Locked" but there is no option to unlock it.

When I right click on the Taskbar, my only option is "Taskbar settings" and there is no option in there to add toolbars. So how did you get the Address bar in there?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W10 Pro
In ExplorerPatcher settings, you can change the Taskbar icons size to 'Small'
Of course, it is set to small.
I see this:
1635835970932.png
The Address bar is huge and always occupies the whole vertical space of the taskbar. It also makes the taskbar 2-row even if it was 1-row before adding the address bar. I cannot make the address bar smaller.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
Of course, it is set to small.
I see this:
View attachment 12244
The Address bar is huge and always occupies the whole vertical space of the taskbar. It also makes the taskbar 2-row even if it was 1-row before adding the address bar. I cannot make the address bar smaller.
Maybe I'm just too smart... :p Try resizing the taskbar height to 3 rows before dragging the toolbar to the bottom row and then finally resize the taskbar height to 2 rows.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus TUF Gaming (2024)
    CPU
    i7 13650HX
    Memory
    16GB DDR5
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile
    Sound Card
    Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Supreme; Emotiva UMC-200; Astell & Kern AK240
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
    Screen Resolution
    3840×2160
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD internal
    37TB external
    PSU
    Li-ion
    Cooling
    2× Arc Flow Fans, 4× exhaust vents, 5× heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Internet Speed
    20Mbit/s up, 250Mbit/s down
    Browser
    FF
  • Operating System
    11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Medion S15450
    CPU
    i5 1135G7
    Memory
    16GB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe
    Sound Card
    Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Supreme; Emotiva UMC-200; Astell & Kern AK240
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
    Screen Resolution
    3840×2160
    Hard Drives
    2TB SSD internal
    37TB external
    PSU
    Li-ion
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Internet Speed
    20Mbit/s up, 250Mbit/s down
    Browser
    FF
So I must be dense this morning. First, are you running an Insider version of W11?
No.
How did you get the Taskbar to double height (with a 3 line calendar/clock)? Mine appears to be "Locked" but there is no option to unlock it.
I can't remember exactly. See my previous reply to this thread.
When I right click on the Taskbar, my only option is "Taskbar settings" and there is no option in there to add toolbars. So how did you get the Address bar in there?
Download and install ExplorerPatcher from a guy named Valentin-Gabriel Radu (valinet) on GitHub. Be sure to consult the README page first.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus TUF Gaming (2024)
    CPU
    i7 13650HX
    Memory
    16GB DDR5
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile
    Sound Card
    Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Supreme; Emotiva UMC-200; Astell & Kern AK240
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
    Screen Resolution
    3840×2160
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD internal
    37TB external
    PSU
    Li-ion
    Cooling
    2× Arc Flow Fans, 4× exhaust vents, 5× heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Internet Speed
    20Mbit/s up, 250Mbit/s down
    Browser
    FF
  • Operating System
    11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Medion S15450
    CPU
    i5 1135G7
    Memory
    16GB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe
    Sound Card
    Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Supreme; Emotiva UMC-200; Astell & Kern AK240
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
    Screen Resolution
    3840×2160
    Hard Drives
    2TB SSD internal
    37TB external
    PSU
    Li-ion
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Internet Speed
    20Mbit/s up, 250Mbit/s down
    Browser
    FF
Maybe I'm just too smart... :p Try resizing the taskbar height to 3 rows before dragging the toolbar to the bottom row and then finally resize the taskbar height to 2 rows.
That's the first thing I tried and it does not work. It is simple with W10, just like resizing an open window. But W11, nothing happens when I try to grab the top edge. I will check out ExplorerPatcher and see if that helps.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W10 Pro
My theorie:

The whole "Quick Launch"-thing ("Taskbar") is linked to Internet Explorer. See the link given above by:
Code:
%UserProfile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

And Internet Explorer was deeply rooted into the (Windows) system (at least) since Windows 98.

Now Microsoft would like to get rid of Internet Explorer. ...

But they can't !

I am not 100% sure (don't know enough about coding), but I believe that's it.
feng shui
Yes :wink: !
 
Last edited:

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  • OS
    WIN 11 / WIN 10 dual boot
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    Intel Pentium G 4400 (Skylake)
    Motherboard
    MS 7971, Bios: American Megatrend C.E0 (2018)
    Memory
    DDR4 12 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    internal (Intel HD 510)
    Hard Drives
    2x Western Digital (no SSD)
My theorie:

The whole "Quick Launch"-thing ("Taskbar") is linked to Internet Explorer. See the link given above by:

Roger,

Whilst the Quick launch folder is at
Code:
%UserProfile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
it does not mean that Taskbar Toolbars are linked to IE.
The Quick launch Taskbar Toolbar is merely one example of a pre-built Taskbar Toolbar. It has no particular significance other than that it was what the OP asked about.
- MS might or might not keep that folder if it eventually removes all references to IE but the shortcuts exist independently of that anyway.
- The only one of its shortcuts that is at all difficult to track down elsewhere is the Windows switcher / Switch between windows one [the WinKey-Tab shortcut] so I've attached a zipped copy.

You can make a Taskbar Toolbar out of any folder you want. My main one is a folder on my data HDD.

All the best,
Denis
 

Attachments

  • Window Switcher [WinKey-Tab].zip
    379 bytes · Views: 8
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home x64 Version 23H2 Build 22631.3296
1 Yes. Here is a snip of QuickLaunch on my Windows 11 Taskbar.
View attachment 12121


2 I used the UndockingDisabled method to restore Taskbar Toolbar capabilities.
EnableUndockedTaskBar.reg
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
;This creates the UndockingDisabled entry to enable the Taskbar to show Taskbar Toolbars again
; Windows must be restarted for the change to take effect
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell\Update\Packages]
"UndockingDisabled"=dword:00000001
I had found this method in Change Taskbar to old form [#4, 20-21] - ElevenForum

One side-effect of the UndockingDisabled method is that the Start button no longer does anything. It just sits there like a lemon. So you can either use an alternative method of enabling Taskbar Toolbars or you can, like me, use a Taskbar Toolbar to do that job [see para 4 below].


3 QuickLaunch is no longer offered in the list of ready-made Taskbar Toolbars
View attachment 12122
so I clicked on New toolbar then browsed to
Code:
%UserProfile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
and selected it.


4 You can add, edit, remove Taskbar Toolbar shortcuts. I started off with a clean slate for my main one and built it up to hold all I need.
View attachment 12124
Taskbar Toolbars - Creating and naming, customising, moving - TenForums


5 I also did some other Taskbar-related changes. See My Taskbar setup [post #6] - ElevenForum
Hollywood post #19 has warned that the next Cumulative update will affect Taskbar/SysTray icons under these conditions.



All the best,
Denis

Thanks for replying. :)

Yeah I got the Quick Launch toolbar running... I did the other day too but it mysteriously disappeared since then. But how did you get it to sit over to the left next to the Start button please? :unsure:

I unlocked the toolbars and tried to drag the Quick Launch toolbar double vertical lines over like that way I have in previous versions of Windows but it will only go as far as halfway in my Windows 11!! :crys:

Tips please!!

Thanks. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Insider Preview 21390

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home x64 Version 23H2 Build 22631.3296

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Ryzen 9
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    ASUS ROG Strix X570-E Gaming
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    32Gb
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    Sound Blaster Z
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Create a folder and name it QUICK LAUNCH

Follow these steps to pin it to the taskbar.


 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    No Name - Assembled by a Compute shop in a Strip Mall.
    CPU
    Intel i511400
    Motherboard
    ASUS PRIME B560-PLUS motherboard
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    0
    Sound Card
    0
    Monitor(s) Displays
    28 in Samsung
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    6 SSDs a mixture of 3 Nvme and 3 Sata.
    PSU
    600w
    Case
    Antec- VSK4000E-U3 Mid Tower
    Internet Speed
    40 MPS download and 3.5 MPS upload. The condo building is nor wired with Fibe yet
    Browser
    Firefox, Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
And a little late to the party! However, I just stumbled across adding the Quick Launch Bar to my Taskbar via Explorer Patcher here:


If you've added the QL Bar to Windows 10, 8, 7, etc., once you have Explorer Patcher installed, it's a piece of cake to get your QL Bar going again.

Before I found this, I was pinning things to the Taskbar, but it's not ideal, since they take up too much space for my liking.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 23H2 22631.2861
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy TE01-1xxx
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-10700 CPU @ 2.90GHz 2.90 GHz
    Motherboard
    16.0GB Dual-Channel Unknown @ 1463MHz (21-21-21-47)
    Memory
    16384 MBytes
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    Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Monitor 1 - Acer 27" Monitor 2 - Acer 27"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    WDC PC SN530 SDBPNPZ-512G-1006 (SSD)
    Seagate ST1000DM003-1SB102
    Seagate BUP Slim SCSI Disk Device (SSD)
    PSU
    HP
    Case
    HP
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    Standard
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    Logitech Wave K350
    Mouse
    Logitech M705
    Internet Speed
    500 mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    That's all Folks!
  • Operating System
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 (10th gen) 10700
    Motherboard
    Intel
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Built-in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 27" & Samsung 24"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x
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    SSD (512 GB)
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    Seagate
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    Intel i7 10th Generation
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    HP
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    HP/Intel?
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    Logitech M705
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wave K350
    Internet Speed
    50 mbps
    Browser
    Firefox 90.2
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Headphone/Microphone Combo
    SuperSpeed USB Type-A (4 on front)
    HP 3-in-One Card Readr
    SuperSpeed USB Type-C
    DVD Writer

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