[Update] Restore Quick Launch Toolbar in Windows 7 [How To]

By Rich on May 15, 2011 (95 Comments)

5 15 2011 8 57 25 PM [Update] Restore Quick Launch Toolbar in Windows 7 [How To]

Remember the quick launch bar in Windows Vista? The one with the Flip-3D, Show desktop, and IE shortcuts? You can have it in Windows 7 too; in this guide, you’ll learn how to restore this toolbar.

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Updated 2011/05/15: Updated guide and screenshots after feedback in the comments. Thank you for providing feedback.

Note: If you’d like to get Windows 7 looking just like Windows Vista, scroll further down to “Make Windows 7’s Taskbar look like Vista’s“

Get the Quick Launch Toolbar

To enable the quick launch toolbar:

Right click the Taskbar and click Toolbars > New Toolbar…
Paste the following into the folder field and click Select Folder:

%AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
Right click the Taskbar and uncheck Lock the taskbar
Optional: To remove the text next to the icons, right click the toolbar and uncheckShow Textand Show Title
Optional: To enable large icons, right click the toolbarand click View > Large Icons
Now move the quick launch bar to the left (where it was in previous versions of Windows) by clicking and dragging it to the left of you pinned shortcuts:
(Click to enlarge)
Optional: Lock the task bars to get rid of the resize bars by right clicking the Taskbar and checking Lock the taskbar

You now have your Quick Launch toolbar back:

5 15 2011 8 57 25 PM [Update] Restore Quick Launch Toolbar in Windows 7 [How To]

Add Shortcuts to the Quick Launch Toolbar

There are a few ways to add shortcuts to the Quick Launch toolbar. By far the easiest way is to find the shortcut on your desktop or start menu and drag it to the toolbar:

5 15 2011 9 01 08 PM [Update] Restore Quick Launch Toolbar in Windows 7 [How To]

About Rich

Rich is the owner and creator of Windows Guides; he spends his time breaking things on his PC so he can write how-to guides to fix the problems he creates.

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Comments

DarthGuybrush

Brilliant! My “gadgets” refuse to appear and won’t launch from Desktop or Control Panel. Help!
http://www.actcfug.com/ DarthGuybrush

Brilliant! My “gadgets” refuse to appear and won’t launch from Desktop or Control Panel. Help!
- http://www.mintywhite.com/tech/ Rich
  
  Silly question, but did you try restarting first? What caused this?
http://www.actcfug.com/ DarthGuybrush

Brilliant! My “gadgets” refuse to appear and won’t launch from Desktop or Control Panel. Help!
- http://www.mintywhite.com/tech/ Rich
  
  Silly question, but did you try restarting first? What caused this?
Rich

Silly question, but did you try restarting first? What caused this?
elwoode

Trouble is this appears to work for me but on restarting the taskbar has gone back to default. I have tried resetting it for quick launch several times. Also if i remove an icon in the sytem tray it is also back on reboot.
elwoode

Trouble is this appears to work for me but on restarting the taskbar has gone back to default. I have tried resetting it for quick launch several times. Also if i remove an icon in the sytem tray it is also back on reboot.
- http://richr.org/ Rich
  
  This was fixed in the final, public version, of Windows 7. If anyone still experiences this, please let me know.
elwoode

Trouble is this appears to work for me but on restarting the taskbar has gone back to default. I have tried resetting it for quick launch several times. Also if i remove an icon in the sytem tray it is also back on reboot.
dfx

thank you, this helped me a lot :)
dfx

thank you, this helped me a lot :)
dfx

thank you, this helped me a lot :)
oxytoca

I installed the 7057 version of W7 64x, and everytime I restart the PC the quick launch toolbar is gone, have to do it all over. This is just stupid, and I started to like w7. If you pin mozilla to taskbar you can open only 1 mozilla at a time ( from the toolbar ). I really don`t get this, why you change something that is already working great.
oxytoca

I installed the 7057 version of W7 64x, and everytime I restart the PC the quick launch toolbar is gone, have to do it all over. This is just stupid, and I started to like w7. If you pin mozilla to taskbar you can open only 1 mozilla at a time ( from the toolbar ). I really don`t get this, why you change something that is already working great.
oxytoca

I installed the 7057 version of W7 64x, and everytime I restart the PC the quick launch toolbar is gone, have to do it all over. This is just stupid, and I started to like w7. If you pin mozilla to taskbar you can open only 1 mozilla at a time ( from the toolbar ). I really don`t get this, why you change something that is already working great.
Windows 7 – Bob’

[…] http://www.mintywhite.com/tech/windows-7/windows-seven-7-restore-quick-launch-toolbar/ […]
Pingback: Windows 7 - Bob’s Blog
Snajo

@oxytoca: You can open multiple windows from pinned apps by clicking with your scroll-weel on them (middle mouse button, if i remember correctly).
I honestly don’t see why this “Quick Launch” bar is different from pinning apps to the taskbar. Why wouldn’t you just do that, as it works great.
Snajo

@oxytoca: You can open multiple windows from pinned apps by clicking with your scroll-weel on them (middle mouse button, if i remember correctly).
I honestly don’t see why this “Quick Launch” bar is different from pinning apps to the taskbar. Why wouldn’t you just do that, as it works great.
Snajo

@oxytoca: You can open multiple windows from pinned apps by clicking with your scroll-weel on them (middle mouse button, if i remember correctly).
I honestly don’t see why this “Quick Launch” bar is different from pinning apps to the taskbar. Why wouldn’t you just do that, as it works great.
Eagle Creek

I hate it, I really hate the 7 taskbar.
This doesn’t work for me. Now I have a double taskbar with 18 icons. There’s no way I can get that back in 7. What do I need to do? Buy a 45″ widescreen? No Microsoft, wrong choise..
Eagle Creek

I hate it, I really hate the 7 taskbar.
This doesn’t work for me. Now I have a double taskbar with 18 icons. There’s no way I can get that back in 7. What do I need to do? Buy a 45″ widescreen? No Microsoft, wrong choise..
- http://richr.org/ Rich
  
  Have you tried using “small icons” in your Quick Launch? This essentially makes them like they are, by default, in Vista/XP.
Eagle Creek

I hate it, I really hate the 7 taskbar.
This doesn’t work for me. Now I have a double taskbar with 18 icons. There’s no way I can get that back in 7. What do I need to do? Buy a 45″ widescreen? No Microsoft, wrong choise..
z7

thx!
z7

thx!
z7

thx!
Sam_VDC

Listen to us MS…..We want the old QUICK LAUNCH toolbar back.
Sam_VDC

Listen to us MS…..We want the old QUICK LAUNCH toolbar back.
Sam_VDC

Listen to us MS…..We want the old QUICK LAUNCH toolbar back.
Guest

I cannot stand this new Quick Launch. The above hack does not even work.. the programs still open inside the effing quick launch. What if you want multiple instances of one program. You have to right-click and click open? Lame. I pray they are bringing back the option of old-school quick launch before Oct.
Guest

I cannot stand this new Quick Launch. The above hack does not even work.. the programs still open inside the effing quick launch. What if you want multiple instances of one program. You have to right-click and click open? Lame. I pray they are bringing back the option of old-school quick launch before Oct.
Guest

I cannot stand this new Quick Launch. The above hack does not even work.. the programs still open inside the effing quick launch. What if you want multiple instances of one program. You have to right-click and click open? Lame. I pray they are bringing back the option of old-school quick launch before Oct.
prafuitu

Here’s a “How to” video for all those ^&%@# that just can’t stop whining about Windows 7’s taskbar: http://www.screencast.com/t/gLGCRNHN6
prafuitu

Here’s a “How to” video for all those ^&%@# that just can’t stop whining about Windows 7’s taskbar: http://www.screencast.com/t/gLGCRNHN6
- http://richr.org/ Rich
  
  @7a163ff873c810450e3c24db2f5802ab:disqus Thanks! I’ve included this as an option in the guide.
prafuitu

Here’s a “How to” video for all those ^&%@# that just can’t stop whining about Windows 7’s taskbar: http://www.screencast.com/t/gLGCRNHN6
daniel

that leaves only the nasty disappearing of the quick launch from time to time :)
regards
- http://richr.org/ Rich
  
  @a183d26596611ecbfb7b50b09541e670:disqus Does this still happen? I haven’t experienced it but it would be good to find out why this happens.
daniel

that leaves only the nasty disappearing of the quick launch from time to time :)
regards
daniel

that leaves only the nasty disappearing of the quick launch from time to time :)
regards
Nadeem

Microsoft should reconsider the decision of Removing the Classic start menu & quick launch.
Atleast they should provide it with settings.

So users dont have to depend on third party softwares. now the time has started of Microsoft will get Shut Down like Windows ME.
- http://richr.org/ Rich
  
  Yes, it would be nice to not use other tools. If you don’t mind using tools, check out CSMenu.
Nadeem

Microsoft should reconsider the decision of Removing the Classic start menu & quick launch.
Atleast they should provide it with settings.

So users dont have to depend on third party softwares. now the time has started of Microsoft will get Shut Down like Windows ME.
Nadeem

Microsoft should reconsider the decision of Removing the Classic start menu & quick launch.
Atleast they should provide it with settings.

So users dont have to depend on third party softwares. now the time has started of Microsoft will get Shut Down like Windows ME.
Pingback: Windows 7: Restore Quick Launch Toolbar | Windows 7 Customization … | www.windows7vista.com
Brystro

It doesn’t work for all apps. I use Netbackup 6.5 java client, and when I pin it to the taskbar, it pins a command prompt app.
Brystro

It doesn’t work for all apps. I use Netbackup 6.5 java client, and when I pin it to the taskbar, it pins a command prompt app.
Brystro

It doesn’t work for all apps. I use Netbackup 6.5 java client, and when I pin it to the taskbar, it pins a command prompt app.
- http://richr.org/ Rich
  
  @a6f2f749fbd04bd9da8e1df631165215:disqus Have you tried dragging it to the Quick Launch Toolbar instead of pinning it to the Taskbar? I don’t have this app to test but I think that may do the trick.
sandman

My problem is that after reboot the quick lunch toolbar disapear and I have to make it again. Any fix for that?
Tnx.
sandman

My problem is that after reboot the quick lunch toolbar disapear and I have to make it again. Any fix for that?
Tnx.
sandman

My problem is that after reboot the quick lunch toolbar disapear and I have to make it again. Any fix for that?
Tnx.
- http://richr.org/ Rich
  
  @29514a7ead54def38b3fc85877388981:disqus Does this still happen? I haven’t experienced it but it would be good to find out why this happens.
Ali Ajda Zharfan

What!! the Hell, i don’t know what to do after paste the link
- http://richr.org/ Rich
  
  When you paste the link (step 2) and click Select Folder, what happens?
Ali Ajda Zharfan

What!! the Hell, i don’t know what to do after paste the link
Ali Ajda Zharfan

What!! the Hell, i don’t know what to do after paste the link
Rich

Are you having trouble with step 3 (Right click the Taskbar and uncheck Lock the taskbar)?

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