If we say that the Taskbar in Windows 11 is a useful tool, it falls short. In this new iteration of the Windows operating system, the taskbar is more icon driven and the ability to pin your most frequently used apps is an added bonus. Not only does it make things easier, it also helps you save time in the long run.
But Windows removed some useful tools like the Toolbar in Windows 11 and now adding folders and files to the Taskbar is a bit of a hassle. We have a small solution.
So, if you want your laptop’s Taskbar to be the center of all important things, here’s how to pin File Explorer and folders to the taskbar in Windows 11.
How to Add File Explorer to the Taskbar in Windows 11
The Taskbar in Windows 11 has the File Explorer icon pinned to the Taskbar by default. If you accidentally unpin it, it’s easy to get it back.
Stage 1: Open File Explorer (Win + E) and you will see File Explorer icon in Taskbar
step 2: Right-click on it and select Pin to taskbar. This much.
The File Explorer icon will now be pinned to the Taskbar until manually removed. The good thing is that the list also includes all your favorite folders. So, if you open Folder A and Folder C every day, you will see all the folder names under Frequency.
Second, all folders under Quick Access (in File Explorer) will be automatically pinned to this list. Unpin a few folders from this list to remove the ones you don’t like. All you have to do is click on the Unpin icon.
While a simple right-click on the File Explorer icon will let you access all your favorite folders, the click sequence may seem a bit too much. Fortunately, there is a small workaround that allows you to add the folder of your choice to the Taskbar.
How to Add Folders to the Taskbar in Windows 11
Windows 11 does not have a native feature to add folders to the Taskbar.
Stage 1: Right-click the folder you want to pin and select Show More Options, then Send > Desktop (create shortcut).
As the name suggests, this action will create a shortcut on the desktop.
step 2: Press Win + D to go to the desktop. Now, right-click on the folder you just created and select Properties.
Stage 3: Click on Shortcut and add the word ‘explorer’ to the Target string.
Make sure to add a space after ‘explorer’ as shown in the screenshot below. This will automatically add the Explorer path when you hit the Apply button.
At the same time, rename the file under the General tab. This is not a mandatory step and you can skip it.
Now let’s choose an icon.
Step 4: Click the Change Icon button and select an icon from the available gallery.
If you are looking for new system icons for Windows 11, you can type. imageres.dll In the search field and press Enter.
After selecting the icon, hit Apply All and OK.
step 5: Return to your computer desktop and right-click on the new icon. Next, select Show more options and then Pin to Taskbar. This much!
The new icon will be added to the Taskbar. Just click to download to the folder you want.
You can follow the above steps to add your favorite files to the Taskbar.
If you don’t want to mess with the settings, you can go with the native method and add folders to the Start menu (instead of the Taskbar). It’s simple and easy and takes no more than a few seconds.
How to Add Folders to the Start Menu
Stage 1: Go to Settings (Win + I) and select Personalization from the left panel. Now select Start and then Folders to see the available options.
step 2: Change the switch next to the Personal folder. It will add a shortcut to the User folders under the start menu.
Alternatively, if you want to see other folders in the Start menu, you can toggle the switch next to the folders.
The only limitation of this method is that it does not allow you to add any random folders to the Start menu. Instead, you have to choose from the given list of options.
In One Click
Quick access to all folders and apps can help you save time in the long run. You can also drag and drop newly created icons wherever you want. Note that icons such as Start, Search, and Widgets are fixed and cannot be moved.
