Solved Taskbar File Explorer open to C:\ possible?

I have gone to battle many times now (over months) trying to get a File Explorer icon on my taskbar that will open File Explorer to C:\ as the pre-expanded folder. Among the (apparent) many shortcomings of the Windows 11 taskbar, it currently does not handle Shortcuts nicely, nor does machinery behind the folder the taskbar shortcuts are in (C:\Users\YourLoginName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar\). I've gone so far as to examine 3rd part file explorers (again), but I dislike them all (all ugly with slow start).

Does anyone have a way to do this yet?

GregJ7 said:

I have gone to battle many times now (over months) trying to get a File Explorer icon on my taskbar that will open File Explorer to C:\ as the pre-expanded folder. ...
Does anyone have a way to do this yet?

Click to expand...

Welcome to Eleven Forum.

No, not yet. I can offer some alternatives:

Create shortcut to C:\ on the Desktop....



That shortcut can be pinned to Start...



After you have opened Explorer at C:\ with either of these, you can right-click on the Explorer icon on the taskbar and pin this destination to its jump list. From then on you can open at C:\ with a right-click, then pick it from the pinned items.

1- Right click on Desktop, select "New>Shortcut", type: "Explorer C:\" (without quotes).
2- Right click on your new shortcut (you have created), select "Show more options" and "Pin to taskbar".

atinfo said:

....select "Show more options" and "Pin to taskbar".

Click to expand...

Yes, that works with your shortcut "Explorer C:\", there's no 'pin to taskbar' for my "C:\" shortcut
(mine does get a prettier name/icon though )

"No, not yet." looks to be the right answer. Your suggestion, @Bree, does not work. Opening it from the taskbar ignores the argument, whether it is C:\ or /e,C:\.

@atinfo, I hadn't thought of that, but in the end, just having it on the desktop is closer to what I want (no extra clicks).

GregJ7 said:

Your suggestion, @Bree, does not work. Opening it from the taskbar ignores the argument, whether it is C:\ or /e,C:\.

Click to expand...

Opening it from the taskbar first requires pinning C:\ to Explorer's jump list. Then you can open Explorer at C:\ any time, just right-click on the Explorer icon and pick it from the pinned names.

Perhaps I have jump lists turned off? I've never used them before. I don't get the option to pin it anywhere after pinning it to the taskbar.

GregJ7 said:

Perhaps I have jump lists turned off? I've never used them before.

Click to expand...

They should be turned on by default, but can be turned off.

GregJ7 said:

Perhaps I have jump lists turned off? I've never used them before. I don't get the option to pin it anywhere after pinning it to the taskbar.

Click to expand...

Thanks to @Bree, as he said, maybe has been turned off (Jump Lists). If you like you can watch the video below (I have explained the process visually! My English is not as good as the Bree, cause isn't my native language!). By RC (Right Click) and creating a new shortcut you can name it and change its icon in progress! I have mentioned it with text in the video! If your pinned Explorer icon doesn't show some options, it is because the new Windows 11 menu function has been changed, you have to press and hold the shift key then RC (right click) on the icon to view the old (classic, legacy or whatever) options.

AFA I can remember, I learned this method from Mr Brink (@Brink), master of these forums' tutor, in SevenForums.

BTW, the video has been uploaded on Vimeo, but is not for monetization purposes (monetization isn't enabled on my Vimeo)!! I used to share my links with MEGA, since this forum (11F) has limited options for video host sites, I chose Vimeo (Actually I hate it!, Vimeo).

@GregJ7

Here's how I did it...

1. Go to: C:\Windows\explorer.exe
2. Right click explorer.exe and choose: Send to > Desktop (create shortcut)
3. On the desktop, right click on the shortcut you just made and choose: Properties.
4. Change whatever is in the "Start in" text box to C:\
5. Click Apply and OK.
6. Delete the File Explorer icon from the Taskbar.
7. Right click the new shortcut on your desktop and choose: Pin to taskbar

Change the Target of the one already pinned there, (if any)

Not sure what is so different about my installation. My Jump Lists were already turned on, but no go. @atinfo's Shift Right-Click was great info I didn't have before. @Ghot's suggestion almost worked, but the value in the "Start in" didn't do anything. However, adding /e,C:\ as an argument did. The secret to me is that there is a difference between Pin to Start and Pin to Taskbar, the latter of which I never have seen before, until Shift Right-Clicking on the desktop shortcut.

Now this does exactly what I wanted! Thanks, all!

@Ghot @atinfo

I don't understand why you think this step is necessary:

6. Delete the File Explorer icon from the Taskbar.

I find the File Explorer icon extremely useful for pinned shortcuts to various places. I wouldn't want to be without its right-click menu.

I followed atinfo's two-step procedure (in #3 above), and it worked perfectly for me. But since I already have my C:\ drive in my right-click File Explorer menu, after I created the new C:\ shortcut, pinned it to the taskbar and tested it, I just deleted it.

Perhaps I misread your instruction #6.




Dan

I delete the old File Explorer icon on the Taskbar, and THEN pin the new one to the Taskbar.

Does that mean that the Pin to Quick Access context item for new shortcuts will pin those shortcuts to the NEW icon, so that it will have the right-click menu available (as in my image above)? Thanks for the help.

Wisewiz said:

Does that mean that the Pin to Quick Access context item for new shortcuts will pin those shortcuts to the NEW icon, so that it will have the right-click menu available (as in my image above)? Thanks for the help.

Click to expand...

I have no idea.
Those steps are just the way my OCD does it.
I removed Quick Access, the day I installed W10 and W11.



Those steps are just the way my OCD does it.
I never liked Microsoft's "Libraries".
I just make folders suited to me, on a storage partition.
This is what my File Explorer looks like on both W10 and W11...




Simple Man - Lynyrd Skynyrd

Gotcha. Thanks again.

@Wisewiz Many thanks for your advice . But I didn't say you have to remove "Explorer" (default pinned Explorer) from the "Taskbar". If you like, you can check the SS below. That's the exact layout I use day to day. My desktop is always almost clean (as in SS). The "Taskbar" has just those three apps always pinned. Sometimes I pin one or more apps I am working with (to the Taskbar), just for one or two days (not more). I have just "Quick Access" in the "Explorer" window (layout in SS). Simple, clean, and neat with custom icons with specific colours and shapes. Maybe I am a bit freaky/obsessed or am very organized!

BTW, I never used JL (=Jump Lists) since its release date (I don't know its release date!). I hate that (JL)! Just my personal opinion.