General Pin to Taskbar an App, Drive, File, Folder, or Site in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to pin an app, drive, file, folder, or site to the taskbar for your account in Windows 11.

The taskbar in Windows 11 shows the Start menu, Search, Task View, Widgets, Chat, File Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and Microsoft Store buttons (icons) aligned to the center by default.

The taskbar will also show the icon of the app for any window you have open. If you like, you can pin an app to the taskbar to always show the app's icon on the taskbar whether the app is open or not. Pinning an app to the taskbar makes it easier to open the app on demand from the taskbar.

References:

Items you pin to the taskbar are stored and referenced in both locations below for your account.

In the registry:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Taskband

In a folder:
%AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar

EXAMPLE: Apps on taskbar

This option is only available starting with Windows 11 build 22557.

1 Drag an app or app shortcut from your Desktop, File Explorer, or Start Menu > All Apps to the taskbar until you see Link, then drop the app on the taskbar to "Pin to taskbar". (see screenshots below)








1 While you have the app open, perform the following steps: (see screenshot below)

• Right click or press and hold on the app's icon on the taskbar.
• Click/tap on Pin to taskbar.

This option is for an app that has been pinned to Start.

1 Open the Start menu . (see screenshot below)

2 Right click or press and hold on the app's icon on Start.

3 Click/tap on Pin to taskbar.







1 Open the Start menu , and click/tap on the All apps button at the top. (see screenshot below)


2 Right click or press and hold on the app in the All apps list. (see screenshot below)

3 Click/tap on More.

4 Click/tap on Pin to taskbar.







1 While on your desktop (Win+D) on in File Explorer (Win+E), right click or press and hold on the app. (see screenshot below)

2 Click/tap on Show more options (Shift+F10).

3 Click/tap on Pin to taskbar.







1 Open Microsoft Edge.

2 Open the site (ex: "www.elevenforum.com") you want to pin to the taskbar.

3 Click/tap on the Settings and more (Alt+F) 3 dots menu icon, click/tap on More tools, and click/tap on Pin to taskbar. (see screenshot below)

When you open a pinned drive on the taskbar, its taskbar thumbnail preview will still show on the File Explorer icon on the taskbar and not the drive's icon on the taskbar.

1 Open This PC in File Explorer (Win+E).

2 Right click or press and hold on the drive, click/tap on Show more options, and click/tap on Create shortcut. (see screenshot below)


3 Click/tap on Yes to confirm creating a shortcut of the drive on your desktop. (see screenshot below)


4 You can now close File Explorer if you like.

5 Right click or press and hold on the drive shortcut on your desktop, and click/tap on Properties. (see screenshot below)


6 In the Shortcut tab, add explorer with a space after it in front of the Target path, and click/tap on Apply. (see screenshot below)


7 Click/tap on Change icon. (see screenshot below)


8 Under Look for icons in this file, type imageres.dll, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)


9 Select a drive icon you want, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot above)

You can use any icon that you would like to have displayed on the taskbar for this drive.

10 Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)


11 Right click or press and hold on the drive shortcut on your desktop, click/tap on Show more options, and click/tap on Pin to taskbar. (see screenshots below)


12 You can now safely delete the drive shortcut on your desktop. It's no longer needed.

When you open a pinned file on the taskbar, its taskbar thumbnail preview will still show on the File Explorer icon on the taskbar and not the file's icon on the taskbar.

1 Right click or press and hold on the file, click/tap on Show more options, click/tap on Send to, and click/tap on Desktop (create shortcut). (see screenshot below)


2 Right click or press and hold on the file shortcut on your desktop, and click/tap on Properties. (see screenshot below)


3 In the Shortcut tab, add explorer with a space after it in front of the Target path, and click/tap on Apply. (see screenshot below)


4 Click/tap on Change icon. (see screenshot below)


5 Under Look for icons in this file, type imageres.dll, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)


6 Select a file icon you want, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot above)

You can use any icon that you would like to have displayed on the taskbar for this file.

7 Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)


8 Right click or press and hold on the file shortcut on your desktop, click/tap on Show more options, and click/tap on Pin to taskbar. (see screenshots below)


9 You can now safely delete the file shortcut on your desktop. It's no longer needed.

When you open a pinned folder on the taskbar, its taskbar thumbnail preview will still show on the File Explorer icon on the taskbar and not the folder's icon on the taskbar.

1 Right click or press and hold on the folder , click/tap on Show more options, click/tap on Send to, and click/tap on Desktop (create shortcut). (see screenshot below)


2 Right click or press and hold on the folder shortcut on your desktop, and click/tap on Properties. (see screenshot below)


3 In the Shortcut tab, add explorer with a space after it in front of the Target path, and click/tap on Apply. (see screenshot below)


4 Click/tap on Change icon. (see screenshot below)


5 Under Look for icons in this file, type imageres.dll, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)


6 Select a folder icon you want, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot above)

You can use any icon that you would like to have displayed on the taskbar for this folder.

7 Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)


8 Right click or press and hold on the folder shortcut on your desktop, click/tap on Show more options, and click/tap on Pin to taskbar. (see screenshots below)


9 You can now safely delete the folder shortcut on your desktop. It's no longer needed.


That's it,
Shawn Brink