Microsoft has added some interesting new features to the taskbar in Windows 7. This includes the ability to pin programs to it and make use of jumplists to access program functions and recently used files. Some users recently contacted me asking if there was a way to add files and folders to the taskbar.
And there is indeed a way to add files and folders to the Windows 7 taskbar just like executable programs. The process is a little bit more complicated but it works just fine. Just follow the steps below to pin as many folders or files to the taskbar as you want.
Create a new text document and rename its file extension so that it becomes an executable file, e.g. downloads.exe. Drag and drop the program to the Windows 7 Taskbar so that it is pinned to it.
You can skip the next step if you know the path of the file or folder. If you do not know it you need to find it out first. Open Windows Explorer and locate the folder or file that you want pinned on the taskbar. Hold down the shift key and right-click the file or folder. Select Copy as path from the menu. This copies the path to the Windows Clipboard.
Now right-click the new icon in the Windows 7 taskbar and right-click its name again that is showing up after the first right-click. Select properties from the menu. You should be in the Shortcut tab of the window that opened.
Paste the clipboard contents into the Target field to replace the original file path with the desired one. It is now possible to change the icon of the file or folder by clicking on the Change Icon button in the same menu.
A click on OK finalizes the process and the file or folder can from then on be opened by left-clicking the icon in the Windows 7 taskbar. This step can be repeated if more than one file or folder need to be pinned to the taskbar. The original file that was used to pin the icon to the taskbar can be deleted afterwards.
Related Articles:
Pin Folders And Files To The Windows 7 Start MenuHow To Place Drives In The Windows 7 Taskbar
Fix Pinned Items Opening As New Icons In Windows 7 Taskbar
Windows 7 Taskbar Items Pinner
Windows 7: How To Copy Or Move Files From Multiple Folders
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Wow! You call this “a little bit more complicated”.
Just use JUMPLIST LAUNCHER
http://en.www.ali.dj/jumplist-launcher/
MUCH easier
Jumplist Launcher might be interesting for some users but it has some severe disadvantages like being another program that needs to be running and the fact that it limited to one icon and therefor requires at least one additional click to launch the folder or file.
Hi, nice tip.
One problem: I couldn’t change icon for the newly added shortcut.
Its icon just looks like the rightmost icon on your screen-shot and never changes.
Any advise?