Pinning A Batch File To Windows 11 Taskbar

HDL · Nov 4, 2022

I found instructions on how to attach a batch file to Windows 11's taskbar here: Attach Batch File To Win 11 Taskbar .

To get right to my question, I followed everything it said to do, the file it creates is dependent upon the Command Prompt, and the batch file I created works great. Once the file has been created, using a shortcut on the Desktop, I am supposed to be able to right click it and eventually find the option to "Pin To Taskbar." I tried this on 3 Windows 11 computers and that option of "Pin To Taskbar" does not exist, at least for me it doesn't. I am wondering if anyone else has ever wanted to do this and if so, did you run into the same thing as I did?

I did manage to get the batch file, that was created by the instructions in the link above, pinned to the taskbar by dragging and dropping it there. I am just curious why the instructions in that link did not work for me. Any ideas would be appreciated.

TairikuOkami · Nov 4, 2022

22H2 has removed the ability to pin everything to the taskbar, but you can rename it to .exe and once pinned, you can rename it back.

TM21 · Nov 4, 2022

Or, if you are comfortable that the batch file is exactly the way you want it, you can also convert it to an .exe file, using a program like "Bat2Exe".
The batch file will run faster as an .exe file, and no-one can mess with it.
Just a thought!

HDL · Nov 4, 2022

TairikuOkami said:
22H2 has removed the ability to pin everything to the taskbar, but you can rename it to .exe and once pinned, you can rename it back.

I just have to wonder what MS is doing half the time. it seems like they are intentionally making things difficult for us. Thank you for the reply.

HDL · Nov 4, 2022

TechnoMage2021 said:
Or, if you are comfortable that the batch file is exactly the way you want it, you can also convert it to an .exe file, using a program like "Bat2Exe".
The batch file will run faster as an .exe file, and no-one can mess with it.
Just a thought!

Thank you for that information. I am going to look into that "Bat2Exe" program.

HDL · Nov 5, 2022

TechnoMage2021 said:
Or, if you are comfortable that the batch file is exactly the way you want it, you can also convert it to an .exe file, using a program like "Bat2Exe".
The batch file will run faster as an .exe file, and no-one can mess with it.
Just a thought!

I have to ask about Bat2Exe. I downloaded and converted the bat file I am using to an exe file. When I ran it, Malwarebytes immediately blocked and then quarantined it. Any thoughts on why that would have happened? The same code runs fine as a bat file and also as the file using the command prompt with the file created by the method mentioned in the opening post of this thread.

HDL · Nov 5, 2022

Malwarebytes just did the same thing with the exe file created by Advbattoexeconverter.exe. I wish I could be certain these blocks were False Positives by Malwarebytes. I got a screen shot of Malwarebytes warning when running the exe file created by Advbattoexeconverter.exe. Any thoughts? I have created a ticket with Malwarebytes but it takes a week or two for them to reply, in most cases.

Try3 · Nov 5, 2022

I didn't make any notes about which thread I saw but I did see an explanation that these bat2exe utilities create exe files that, when run, extract the original bat file into temp folders then run it.
Perhaps MWB is reacting to an unknown exe file creating an 'executable' of its own?

Denis

HDL · Nov 5, 2022

HDL said:
Malwarebytes just did the same thing with the exe file created by Advbattoexeconverter.exe. I wish I could be certain these blocks were False Positives by Malwarebytes. I got a screen shot of Malwarebytes warning when running the exe file created by Advbattoexeconverter.exe. Any thoughts? I have created a ticket with Malwarebytes but it takes a week or two for them to reply, in most cases.
View attachment 44313

I don't know. I hope Malwarebytes support people will eventually have an answer. Thanks for the reply.

OAT · Nov 5, 2022

You know you can put any .cmd, .bat to the W11 taskbar by creating a shortcut to that bat file.
Right click on file properties and add explorer.exe before the name of your script.
You can then even choose any icon you like.
I included a screenshot of a batch file (cmd is the same) that kills multiple versions of Edge altogether.
Now that shortcut in order to pin it to the taskbar needs to be in "%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs",
which is where the content of the All Apps sub menu resides.

HDL · Nov 5, 2022

OAT said:
You know you can put any .cmd, .bat to the W11 taskbar by creating a shortcut to that bat file.
Right click on file properties and add explorer.exe before the name of your script.
You can then even choose any icon you like.
I included a screenshot of a batch file (cmd is the same) that kills multiple versions of Edge altogether.
Now that shortcut in order to pin it to the taskbar needs to be in "%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs"
View attachment 44322

Thank you for that information.

das10 · Nov 6, 2022

I see that your batch file is used for opening "Classic File Explorer Ribbon.bat/exe". Are you opening Explorer With Ribbon to the Home folder (as per: Classic File Explorer With Ribbon )?

If so, you can Right-Click the Desktop, click New > Shortcut ; and in the dialog box that appears, under "Type the location of the item:" enter the following line exactly as it appears:

Code:

powershell.exe -nop -ep bypass -c "& {"Start-Process \"Control\"; $wshell = New-Object -ComObject wscript.shell; $null = $wshell.AppActivate(\"Control Panel\"); Start-Sleep 0.75; $wshell.SendKeys("'^"lHome~'")}"

Then click Next, and Type the Name for the Shortcut and Finish. Once the Shortcut is created, Right-Click it, and in the Run option, select "minimised", then you can change the icon as you wish, and finally, Right-Click the Shortcut and select "Pin to Taskbar".

As a single complete command is used for the Shortcut, in this instance, it can do away with dependencies on any bat file.

HDL · Nov 6, 2022

das10 said:
I see that your batch file is used for opening "Classic File Explorer Ribbon.bat/exe". Are you opening Explorer With Ribbon to the Home folder (as per: Classic File Explorer With Ribbon )?

If so, you can Right-Click the Desktop, click New > Shortcut ; and in the dialog box that appears, under "Type the location of the item:" enter the following line exactly as it appears:

Code:

powershell.exe -nop -ep bypass -c "& {"Start-Process \"Control\"; $wshell = New-Object -ComObject wscript.shell; $null = $wshell.AppActivate(\"Control Panel\"); Start-Sleep 0.75; $wshell.SendKeys("'^"lHome~'")}"

Then click Next, and Type the Name for the Shortcut and Finish. Once the Shortcut is created, Right-Click it, and in the Run option, select "minimised", then you can change the icon as you wish, and finally, Right-Click the Shortcut and select "Pin to Taskbar".

As a single complete command is used for the Shortcut, in this instance, it can do away with dependencies on any bat file.

Thank you for the reply. I am opening it to the Documents folder. If I tried your code, as listed above in my quoting your post, could I change your "Home," that I bolded to"Documents and then follow the rest of your instructions? Also would I keep, I believe it is a 1, in front of Documents?

HDL · Nov 6, 2022

I answered my own question. It did work by changing Home to Documents. However, once again, Right Clicking the shortcut did not offer the option of "Pin to Taskbar." But, also once again, the shortcut that was created was able to be dragged and dropped on the Taskbar, which pinned it to the Taskbar. I believe that goes back to what was said above,
"TairikuOkami said:
22H2 has removed the ability to pin everything to the taskbar, but you can rename it to .exe and once pinned, you can rename it back."

OAT · Nov 6, 2022

In order to pin that shortcut to the taskbar, it needs to be in "%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs"

There is no need for any .exe or otherwise.

WinKey+R , paste "%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs" Enter
Put your shortcut there, now you can pin it to the taskbar.

HDL · Nov 6, 2022

OAT said:
In order to pin that shortcut to the taskbar, it needs to be in "%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs"

There is no need for any .exe or otherwise.

WinKey+R , paste "%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs" Enter
Put your shortcut there, now you can pin it to the taskbar.

Thank you for the reply however, I am not understanding what you mean. Do I paste "%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs" in the Run line that says Open, hit Enter and then it opens up some other window where I do what? What shortcut are you referring to, the desktop shortcut that I created by the above instructions or what? Sorry I just don't know what you mean.

OAT · Nov 6, 2022

Copy the shortcut you want to see on the taskbar in "%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs"
Then Right click that shortcut you just copied and you will have the option to pin it to the taskbar.
I am sorry but I can't see any other way to explain it.

HDL · Nov 6, 2022

OAT said:
Copy the shortcut you want to see on the taskbar in "%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs"
Then Right click that shortcut you just copied and you will have the option to pin it to the taskbar.
I am sorry but I can't see any other way to explain it.

OK, thank you. I think I understand it now.

HDL · Nov 6, 2022

OAT said:
Copy the shortcut you want to see on the taskbar in "%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs"
Then Right click that shortcut you just copied and you will have the option to pin it to the taskbar.
I am sorry but I can't see any other way to explain it.

I believe that by putting "%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs" in the run line it opens a folder. In that folder, I believe, I should copy the and paste the shortcut. If I have all that correct, are you then saying I should right click that shortcut and see if "Pin To Taskbar" is an available option?

OAT · Nov 6, 2022

Yes indeed.

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