Custom toolbar/taskbar

Hi,

New to this forum, was wondering if I could get back my custom toolbar that points to a folder? I really like having often used programs on my task bar. Also, I like to have them on the right side of the task bar I can only find the option to place the main task bar on the left or middle.

I've search through Youtube and could not find any solution.

If there is no Win11 solution is there any kind of widget or 3rd party program I could use?

Thanks,

Vanz

Also, Win11 won't let me right click and select "pin to taskbar" on any icons. I went into "Edit Group Policy" and tried to enable "Do not allow pinning programs to the taskbar"... also tried to disable, double negative should allow... (disable a "do not allow" = allow right?)

bump... no suggestions?

I can't customize the taskbar the way I like it anymore, I though Microsoft was trying to be more customer friendly?

Vanz

Vanz said:

Also, Win11 won't let me right click and select "pin to taskbar" on any icons. I went into "Edit Group Policy" and tried to enable "Do not allow pinning programs to the taskbar"... also tried to disable, double negative should allow... (disable a "do not allow" = allow right?)

Click to expand...

You should be able to pin any shortcut to the Taskbar or the Start Menu.


Here are some tweaks to get you started...



This may help with the right side of the Taskbar...

From the full menu, you have to pin an icon to the Start first, then you can pin that icon to the Taskbar (both using right-click context menu)

That's Microsoft's bizarre sense of user friendliness ....

EDITED
Dunno where I got that silly idea from, some people shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a computer. Doh !!

@OP - of course you can pin to the Tasbar, like @Ghot says below.

Right click > More > Pin to Taskbar.

idgat said:

From the full menu, you have to pin an icon to the Start first, then you can pin that icon to the Taskbar (both using right-click context menu)

That's Microsoft's bizarre sense of user friendliness ....

Click to expand...

I can pin right to the Taskbar from the right click menu.
I don't see any tweaks in my tweak folder about that.
I don't see anything in Winaero about that either.

Welcome to ElevenForum @Vanz

May I make a couple of suggestions that may help if you want specific help.

Fill out your computer specs under My Computer (helps other identify system specific issues)
When posting try and be specific, for example:-
What build of Windows11
Are you using - Pro or Home
Are you on a retail version or an insider version.

Now onto your questions.
There are numerous third party application that can modify how Windows works:-
StartallBack
Open-Shell
Start11 from Stardock
explorerpatcher
and plenty more.
A number of these have informative threads on site

Have you checked out the wonderful tutorials on site Tutorials

Have you checked out @Ghot Windows 11 Tweaks thread https://www.elevenforum.com/t/windows-11-tweaks-leader-board.1842/anc

"I though Microsoft was trying to be more customer friendly?" This is funny, sorry but IMO Microsoft never makes things easy for customers

From a shortcut...



From an actual Program...




Maybe this...

Hello @Vanz, and welcome.

If you like, you could also pin a folder to the taskbar to help for now.

Vanz said:

New to this forum, was wondering if I could get back my custom toolbar that points to a folder? I really like having often used programs on my task bar.

Click to expand...

Are you talking about Taskbar toolbars?


There are several ways of getting them to run in WIndows11. This is what I did
My Taskbar setup [post #6] - ElevenForum
You'll find other methods referred to in that thread such as ExplorerPatcher & TLB.
I wasn't particularly interested in using third-party utilities to replace the Start menu because my Taskbar toolbars have been my primary menu system for over a decade. I'm quite happy for my Start button to be inoperative.


Best of luck,
Denis

Try3 said:

Are you talking about Taskbar toolbars?
View attachment 40893

There are several ways of getting them to run in WIndows11. This is what I did
My Taskbar setup [post #6] - ElevenForum
You'll find other methods referred to in that thread such as ExplorerPatcher & TLB.
I wasn't particularly interested in using third-party utilities to replace the Start menu because my Taskbar toolbars have been my primary menu system for over a decade. I'm quite happy for my Start button to be inoperative.


Best of luck,
Denis

Click to expand...

Thanks Denis, will give this a try... here's how I want to get my win 10 toolbar back, Shortcuts on the taskbar to the right...

For those asking about not being able to pin shortcuts to the taskbar try this,
1. Right click on your desktop and create a text document
2. Add some text to it
3. Right click on the text document and select "show more options" -> "create a short cut"
4. Right click on the short cut and ss if you can pin the shortcut to the task bar?

If I run the text document and then while its running on the taskbar if I right click it on the taskbar I can pin to taskbar, but then when I close it and press the taskbar icon it runs a generic notepad document not my document. This goes for any program type, word, excel ...etc. I can't pin a shortcut to the task bar.

Vanz

shortcut pointing to text document,


options I see when I right click on the shortcut icon,

my toolbar

Edwin said:

View attachment 40961

Click to expand...

you're getting me excited Edwin...

So I changed the .txt file to .exe, created a new shortcut and you are right I was able to pin the new shortcut. Then I changed the .exe back to .txt and went into the shortcut and changed its target back to .txt, but when I now click on the shortcut on the taskbar I get the following error,

hmm, I also tried to not create the short cut, so changed the .txt to .exe, pinned the .exe to the taskbar and changed the .exe back to .txt... same error...

one thing to note, if I right click on the exe that is pinned on the task bar, I only get the following 2 options... I can't changed the pinned objects properties...

You pin the file itself, you don't create a shortcut.
The file in question needs to stay where it is, or you'll break the path to the implicit shortcut it creates upon pinning.
Change the extension to .exe, pin it...



Change the original back to whatever it was...



Change the pinned one back by right click, right click Properties...




It will only work for that particular file!
Middle clicking, in my case, will simply open a new blank Word document.

Thanks Edwin, will give it a try later... thanks...

Edwin said:

You pin the file itself, you don't create a shortcut.
The file in question needs to stay where it is, or you'll break the path to the implicit shortcut it creates upon pinning.
Change the extension to .exe, pin it...

View attachment 40985

Change the original back to whatever it was...

View attachment 40987

Change the pinned one back by right click, right click Properties...

View attachment 40988
View attachment 40989

It will only work for that particular file!
Middle clicking, in my case, will simply open a new blank Word document.

Click to expand...

great Edwin, this works, thank you...

is there anyway to get the shortcuts to show up on the bottom right, seems like middle and left are the only options I see?