Win 11 Pro can't add specific folder to Taskbar quick launch

GerryPeters · Sep 2, 2024

I wonder if this is a limitation in Win 11 Pro. In Win 10 I had a quick launch area on the taskbar. I had several specific folder shortcuts there. I could drag a file to that specific folder. Win 11 has File Explorer pinned and I can right click and see that folder, but can't drag the file to it. I'd also like to add a some specific rtf docs to the taskbar and they show up under wordpad, but not by itself. Also when I right click the taskbar I only see 2 options, not the toolbar option

Brink · Sep 2, 2024

Hello Gerry,

The Toolbar feature has indeed been removed from Windows 11.

You can still pin a folder to the taskbar using option nine in the tutorial below, but you will only be able to open the folder from the taskbar to add a file into the folder though.

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

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...

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Edwin · Sep 2, 2024

GerryPeters said:
I wonder if this is a limitation in Win 11 Pro.

Yes it is.
Many are resorting to using 3rd party utilities to circumvent the limitation, such as StartAllBack or Explorer Patcher.

Edwin · Sep 2, 2024

GerryPeters said:
I'd also like to add a some specific rtf docs to the taskbar

A point of interest...,
WordPad is also being depreciated, as least in later W11 Builds, but, there is also 3rd party apps for that too!

Brink · Sep 2, 2024

Another option is to add the "Copy To folder" and "Move to folder" context menu below back to Windows 11 to copy/move files/folders into folders/drives of your choice.

Add or Remove "Copy To folder" and "Move To folder" Context Menu in Windows 11 Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to add or remove "Copy To folder" and "Move to folder" to the context menu for your account or all users in Windows 11. When you press and hold or right click on selected file(s) and folder(s), click/tap on Show more options, and click/tap on Copy To folder, it...

www.elevenforum.com

"Pin to Quick Access" folders to the navigation pane for folders you copy/move to often to save time.

Pin to Quick Access and Unpin from Quick Access in Windows 11 Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to Pin to Quick access and Unpin from Quick access local and network folders, drives, libraries, OneDrive, This PC, Recycle Bin, etc... locations for your account in Windows 11. Quick access in the navigation pane of File Explorer (Win+E) allows you to quickly...

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TairikuOkami · Sep 2, 2024

GerryPeters said:
I'd also like to add a some specific rtf docs to the taskbar and they show up under wordpad, but not by itself.

You can pin exe to taskbar, thus rename .rtf to .exe, pin it, rename orig file back to .rtf, then rename the shortcut.

GerryPeters · Sep 2, 2024

I installed StartAllBack, but I still can't add a specific folder or rtf file to it. Any suggestions?

Wordpad is working and when I dbl click on a rtf file it opens wordpad. What does WordPad is being depreciated mean?

Kees · Sep 2, 2024

GerryPeters said:
What does WordPad is being depreciated mean?

Please read this thread:

WordPad app has been deprecated in Windows 10 and Windows 11

Microsoft Learn: WordPad is no longer being updated and will be removed in a future release of Windows. We recommend Microsoft Word for rich text documents like .doc and .rtf and Windows Notepad for plain text documents like .txt. Source...

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And may be this little discussion is helpfull:

What will you use instead of WordPad (Poll)?

The default app for opening Rich Text Format (.rtf) files is currently WordPad. WordPad has been a part of the Windows Operating System since 1995. With Microsoft planning to depreciate WordPad, what do you intend to use to read/edit the .rtf files in the future...

www.elevenforum.com

dacrone · Sep 2, 2024

create a shortcut to the folder you want on your taskbar. right click the shortcut and in the Target Field, add "explorer " (explorer SPACE - without quotes) before the beginning of the target line. you can then pin the shortcut to the taskbar. this will, however, change the icon to the file explorer icon, so you'll have to change it back to whatever you had before (or browse to the wordpad.exe file in C:\Program Files\Windows NT\Accessories).

*also, even after deprecation, im almost positive we'll be able to export wordpad exe and dlls to make it run in the next build - just as msconfig, notepad, etc old versions still can)

Edwin · Sep 2, 2024

GerryPeters said:
I installed StartAllBack, but I still can't add a specific folder or rtf file to it. Any suggestions?

GerryPeters · Sep 2, 2024

Edwin I don't see that window. I assume that's when you right click the Taskbar. I have Win Pro and it only has 2 options upon right clicking. The StartAllBack config window doesn't have that either. Do I need to reboot?