Adding a Toolbar to the Taskbar

by Allen Wyatt
(last updated November 30, 2015)

1

It sounds odd to talk about adding a toolbar to the taskbar, but that is exactly what Windows allows you to do. If you right click on the taskbar, Windows displays a Context menu on which you should click Toolbars. (This option is typically at the very top of the Context menu.) You can then see the various types of toolbars you can add. The toolbars available depend on the version of Windows you are using, but there is a good bet they will include at least some of the following:

  • Address. This toolbar looks just like the address bar in a web browser. Type in an address and Windows opens your browser to display the page.
  • Links. This toolbar is handy for visiting the websites you commonly visit.
  • Tablet PC Input Panel. This toolbar is only of use if you have a touch-screen, as it allows the input of text using a pen or other non-keyboard input device.
  • Desktop. Displays the desktop when things get cluttered and you cannot see the desktop.

In addition, some applications (such as iTunes) may also allow you to add toolbars. If so, you'll see them noted in the Context menu. You can also click the New Toolbar option which allows you to navigate to a folder that contains the proper files (presumably put there by an application you installed) that allow the addition of a toolbar.

When you enable a toolbar, it is displayed at the right of the taskbar, just to the left of the notification area. To get rid of a toolbar, simply use the same steps you used to display it. (The display of toolbars on the taskbar is a toggling process—click the option once to display it and a second time to hide it.)

 This tip (12627) applies to Windows 7, 8, and 10.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He  is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

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What is three minus 2?

2015-11-30 10:25:59

Henry Noble

Even though Microsoft has hidden the Quick Launch toolbar, it still exists and can be restored. The beauty of Quick Launch is that it holds lots of icons in a small space. In contrast, pinning items to the task bar is crude and inefficient.

There are many online how-to descriptions showing the way to create a New Toolbar, that really is an old toolbar. Here's one:
http://www.online-tech-tips.com/computer-tips/how-to-add-buttons-to-the-quick-launch-toolbar-in-windows/

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