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How to pin shortcuts to your taskbar on Windows
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Published onSeptember 30, 2022
published onSeptember 30, 2022
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The Windows taskbar is the central hub for all kinds of apps and files on your Windows desktop. It comes with a bunch of apps set up there by default. However, you don’t have to stick with preset apps or icons. Among a host of things that Windows lets you tweak about it—be ithiding your taskbaroreven centering it in Windows 10—you can also pin new taskbar shortcuts within it.
In what follows, we’ll look at the different ways to pin new app shortcuts on your taskbar on Windows PC. Let’s get started.
How to pin shortcuts to your Windows taskbar
So, there’s no one way to go about this. But don’t panic, as we’ll cover all of the methods one by one. So let’s start with the desktop shortcuts first.
1. Pin shortcuts by dragging and dropping from desktop
When you’re on your PC’s desktop, you can simply drag the app icon you’d like to add to the taskbar and then drop it there.That’s it. Do this, and your taskbar will have a new shortcut.
2. Through the Start menu
Alternatively, if the app you’d like to add to the taskbar is not on the desktop, then using theStart menuis your best bet. Here’s how you can get started:
Press theWindows keyand click onAll appsto see a complete list of all the apps on your Windows. Then right-click on the app you’d like to add, selectMore, and click onPin to taskbar.
Your taskbar will get a new shortcut as soon as you do this.
3. Through File Explorer
File Explorer is the default GUI application used for accessing and managing files on Windows. All you’ve to do isopen the File Explorer, locate the file you’d like to pin to the taskbar, right-click on it and selectPin to taskbar.
That’s it — your app will be pinned to the taskbar.
4. How to pin programs that are running
In some cases, you might already be running the processes you’d like to pin in the background. In cases like that, it’ll be best to right-click on the app icon from the taskbar and selectPin to taskbar from the list of available options. The new shortcut will be pinned to the taskbar.
5. Pin websites to your taskbar
Apart from the methods discussed above, Windows also lets you add entire websites as a shortcut to your taskbar settings. While the specifics may be different for different browsers, the general structure and process of carrying out the tasks are pretty similar. Here’s an example of using Microsoft Edge:
Microsoft Edge
If you’re on Microsoft Edge, follow the steps below:
That’s it; your new Progressive Web App (PWA) will now have an icon on the taskbar. You can follow a similar method for other browsers.
Pinning shortcuts to the taskbar on Windows
These are all the different ways to add new shortcuts to your taskbar on Windows. Microsoft has made tons ofimprovements in the taskbar over the years, so you can expect them to follow a similar trend and keep improving the taskbar settings. Meanwhile, you can make sure you’remanaging your taskbar settings like a pro.
Radu Tyrsina
Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time).
For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web.
Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they’re looking for.
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Radu Tyrsina
