The taskbar holds shortcuts you use most — add them by dragging or right-clicking
The taskbar is the bar at the bottom of your screen that shows open programs and the Start button. You can add shortcuts to programs, folders, or files you use regularly so they sit there permanently, ready to click. Windows lets you add items three ways: drag a program onto the taskbar, right-click a program and choose "Pin to taskbar", or drag a folder directly from File Explorer onto the taskbar.
Once pinned, a shortcut stays on the taskbar even after you close the program. You can rearrange the order by dragging shortcuts left or right, and remove one by right-clicking it and choosing "Unpin from taskbar". The taskbar can hold as many shortcuts as fit on your screen — if you add too many, they compress or scroll.
Key Takeaways
- You can pin a program to the taskbar by dragging it there, right-clicking and selecting "Pin to taskbar", or using the Start menu.
- Pinned shortcuts stay on the taskbar permanently until you unpin them, even if you close the program.
- You can rearrange taskbar shortcuts by dragging them left or right, and remove them by right-clicking and choosing "Unpin from taskbar".
- Folders and files can also be pinned to the taskbar for quick access, though programs are the most common use.
- If the taskbar becomes crowded, Windows will compress or scroll the icons, but you can also resize the taskbar or move it to a different edge of the screen.
Pinning a program from the Start menu
Open the Start menu by clicking the Windows logo in the bottom left corner. Search for the program you want — type its name into the search box. When you see it in the results, right-click the program name and select "Pin to taskbar". The shortcut appears on the taskbar when ready.
This method works for any program installed on your computer. If you have already opened the program before, it may appear in your recent list on the Start menu, and you can right-click it there instead of searching.
Dragging a program onto the taskbar
If a program is already open, you can drag its window onto the taskbar. Click and hold the title bar of the program window (the colored bar at the very top), then drag it down to the taskbar. Release the mouse button when the taskbar highlights. The shortcut pins to the taskbar, and the program window stays open.
You can also drag a program shortcut from your desktop directly onto the taskbar. Find the icon on your desktop, click and hold it, drag it to the taskbar, and release. This works the same way whether the program is running or not.
Adding folders and files to the taskbar
You can pin folders to the taskbar for quick access to files you use often. Open File Explorer (the folder icon on your taskbar or in the Start menu). Navigate to the folder you want to pin. Right-click the folder name and look for "Pin to Quick Access" or drag the folder directly onto the taskbar. Some versions of Windows allow this; others require you to use Quick Access instead, which appears in the left sidebar of File Explorer.
Individual files can sometimes be pinned to the taskbar as well, depending on the program that opens them. Right-click the file and see if "Pin to taskbar" appears in the menu. If it does not, you can still create a shortcut to the file on your desktop and then pin that shortcut to the taskbar.
Rearranging and removing taskbar shortcuts
To change the order of shortcuts on your taskbar, click and hold any pinned icon and drag it left or right. Release when it is in the position you want. The other shortcuts shift to make room. You can do this as many times as you like without affecting the program itself.
To remove a shortcut from the taskbar, right-click it and select "Unpin from taskbar". The shortcut disappears, but the program remains installed on your computer. You can pin it again later using any of the methods above. Unpinning does not delete the program or any of your files.
What to do if the taskbar is too crowded
If you pin many shortcuts, the taskbar may compress the icons so they become small, or it may add a scroll arrow so you can see more. You can make the taskbar larger by moving your mouse to the top edge of the taskbar, waiting for the cursor to change to a resize arrow, then dragging upward. This gives the icons more room.
Alternatively, you can move the taskbar to a different edge of the screen. Right-click an empty area of the taskbar (not on an icon), select "Taskbar settings", and choose a new position. Some people prefer the taskbar on the left or right side to give it more vertical space. You can also hide the taskbar when you are not using it by checking "Auto-hide the taskbar" in the same settings menu.
Pinning shortcuts from File Explorer
Open File Explorer and navigate to the program file you want to pin. Program files usually live in C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (x86). Find the program's .exe file (it has a small icon next to its name). Right-click the .exe file and select "Pin to taskbar" if that option appears. If it does not, drag the .exe file directly onto the taskbar.
This method is useful if you have installed a program but it did not create a Start menu entry, or if you want to pin a specific version of a program when multiple versions are installed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pin a website or web page to the taskbar?
Not directly to the Windows taskbar, but you can pin websites to the Start menu. Open Microsoft Edge or another browser, go to the website you want, click the three-dot menu, and select "Pin to Start". The website appears as a tile in your Start menu and opens in your browser when you click it.
What is the difference between pinning and creating a desktop shortcut?
A pinned taskbar shortcut is always visible at the bottom of your screen and takes up taskbar space. A desktop shortcut sits on your desktop background and only appears when you minimize all windows. Pinned shortcuts are faster to access if you use a program often; desktop shortcuts are better for programs you use occasionally.
Can I pin the same program twice to the taskbar?
Windows does not allow you to pin the same program twice in the standard way. However, some programs let you create multiple shortcuts with different settings. For example, you could create two shortcuts to a text editor that open different default files. You would then pin both shortcuts to the taskbar.
Why does a program not have a "Pin to taskbar" option?
Some older programs or portable programs do not support pinning. If right-clicking does not show the option, try dragging the program window or its .exe file onto the taskbar instead. If that does not work, create a shortcut to the program on your desktop first, then pin that shortcut to the taskbar.
Does unpinning a program from the taskbar uninstall it?
No. Unpinning only removes the shortcut from the taskbar. The program remains installed on your computer and continues to work normally. You can pin it again at any time using the Start menu or File Explorer.