Press ⊞ Win + X to open the Power User menu. Use this method if you're missing icons in your taskbar, like your search bar or the clock. 2 Click either Command Prompt (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin).
Also, this is one of those useful computer tips that you can generalize: you can use the same technique to pin any program icon to your Windows taskbar. Simply launch the desired program, right click its icon on your taskbar and select 'Pin to taskbar'. Press and hold (or right-click) an app, and then select More Pin to taskbar. If the app is already open on the desktop, press and hold (or right click) the app's taskbar button, and then select Pin to taskbar. Note: To remove a pinned app from the taskbar, open the app's Jump List, and then select Unpin from taskbar. At the bottom of your Windows 10 desktop is a horizontal black bar called the 'Taskbar.' This bar contains the 'Start' button, the Cortana search box, and icons of programs and apps. A single click or tap on one of these program icons will launch the program or app.
With the introduction of Windows 7, you can pin a program to the Windows taskbar. Pinning creates a shortcut to a program that allows the user to open that program from the taskbar using a mouse or shortcut keys. This feature is beneficial because you don't have to minimize all your windows like you would to use a desktop shortcut.
Quick Launch is a feature that was included with Windows 98 up through Windows Vista. It works the same way as pinning. Locate your version of Windows below and follow the steps.
Windows 7, 8, and 10
Pin an already open program
If the program is open, pin it to the taskbar by right-clicking the icon on the taskbar and clicking Pin to taskbar. Once pinned to the taskbar, it always appears on the taskbar even if the program is closed.
Pin from Start menu
- Press the Windows key to open the Start menu. You see a menu similar to the one below:
- Scroll down the apps list to find the program you'd like to pin.
- Once you located the icon, right-click it, then move your cursor over More and select Pin to taskbar.
- When you're done, you will see the program's shortcut to the right of the search bar.
Drag-and-drop a shortcut
- Locate the shortcut you would like to pin.
- Drag-and-drop the shortcut onto the taskbar.
Removing shortcuts from the taskbar
- Right-click any shortcut icon on the taskbar.
- Select Unpin from taskbar.
The exact Unpin option text will differ depending on the location of the pinned item. For example, if a program is pinned to the taskbar, the option will be named Unpin from taskbar.
Windows 98, 2000, XP, and Vista
Adding a program to Quick Launch
- Right-click an empty portion of the Quick Launch tray, and select Open folder to display the icons stored in the Quick Launch directory.
- Once the Quick Launch folder is open, create new shortcuts in it, or you may drag-and-drop existing ones.
Adding shortcuts to Quick Launch
Drag-and-drop the shortcut you want to add onto the Quick Launch section of the taskbar.
Removing shortcuts from Quick Launch
To remove icons from Quick Launch, right-click the icon you want to delete, and then select Delete.
- When you're done, you will see the program's shortcut to the right of the search bar.
Drag-and-drop a shortcut
- Locate the shortcut you would like to pin.
- Drag-and-drop the shortcut onto the taskbar.
Removing shortcuts from the taskbar
- Right-click any shortcut icon on the taskbar.
- Select Unpin from taskbar.
The exact Unpin option text will differ depending on the location of the pinned item. For example, if a program is pinned to the taskbar, the option will be named Unpin from taskbar.
Windows 98, 2000, XP, and Vista
Adding a program to Quick Launch
- Right-click an empty portion of the Quick Launch tray, and select Open folder to display the icons stored in the Quick Launch directory.
- Once the Quick Launch folder is open, create new shortcuts in it, or you may drag-and-drop existing ones.
Adding shortcuts to Quick Launch
Drag-and-drop the shortcut you want to add onto the Quick Launch section of the taskbar.
Removing shortcuts from Quick Launch
To remove icons from Quick Launch, right-click the icon you want to delete, and then select Delete.
Additional information
How To Pin A Page To The Taskbar
- See the Quick Launch definition for further information and related links.
