Opening Websites from the Taskbar

Written by Eric Wyatt (last updated May 24, 2021)

1

There is a little-known trick or feature with Windows 10 that few users use. This trick allows users to launch websites directly from the Taskbar without a web browser being opened first. If you access websites frequently, enabling a feature to launch websites quickly at first might not sound like a big-time saver, however over time it can add up.

  1. Right-click on an unused space in the Taskbar. Windows opens a Context menu.
  2. At the top of the Context menu choose Toolbars. A flyout menu is displayed.
  3. Choose the Address option at the top of the menu. Windows displays an address box to the right of the Taskbar.

Within the Taskbar's new address box, type the URL you want to visit and press Enter. Windows opens the website you entered in your default web browser. Alternatively, you can press the down arrow to choose a website from your history. You can even take this one step further—if you know the full path to a file on your computer, you can type it in press Enter. Windows opens the file, the same as if you had located it and double-clicked on it.

This simple edit can allow you to quickly access any website directly from the Taskbar without having to launch a web browser.

 This tip (13863) applies to Windows 10.

Author Bio

Eric Wyatt

Eric Wyatt is a swell guy (or so his friends tell him). He is a formally trained designer and branding expert, bringing a wide range of skills to his Tips.Net articles. ...

MORE FROM ERIC

Clean Boot Windows 10

When your computer is not running the way it should, you can try a clean boot. A clean boot in Windows 10 provides more ...

Discover More

Edge Chromium: Clearing All Data on Close

On public computers, it is important to clear all website data between user sessions. Changing Edge Chromium settings ...

Discover More

Using Edge Chromium to Screen Capture a Web Page

Have you ever needed to take a screen capture of a web page? Edge Chromium allows for easy screen capture.

Discover More
More WindowsTips

Moving Your Downloads Folder

If you're on the Internet a lot, chances are you do a lot of downloading. By default, your Downloads folder is on your C: ...

Discover More

Disabling Printing in Edge Chromium

Do you need to disable printing within Edge Chromium? You can use the Registry Editor to disable or enable printing.

Discover More

Understanding Your Hosts File

Your system's Hosts file is an important file that can be used to increase the speed of you network connections, let you ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 6 - 4?

2021-05-24 14:35:22

Brandon Pachol

I've done the same thing with Links under the Context menu of the Toolbars. With the ability to create folders under the Links menu, I can organize my favorite websites, as well as Excel spreadsheets, PDF's, and other documents that I access frequently.

Newest Tips
Links and Sharing
OUR COMPANY
OUR PRODUCTS
OUR SITES
 

Copyright © 2026 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.