Bring the Quick Launch Toolbar Back to the Desktop in Windows 8

Bring the Quick Launch Toolbar Back to the Desktop in Windows 8



In Windows 8, the Quick Launch Toolbar seems to be a thing of the past.
But with this quick hack, you can easily bring it back.

The Windows 8 Desktop is missing more than just the Start button. You also won’t
find the Quick Launch toolbar—that useful toolbar containing your frequently accessed
programs that lived to the right of the Start menu. You could have several
programs there, and see them all just by clicking a small double-arrow icon.

It’s easy to bring it back to the Windows 8 Desktop. Launch File Explorer, click the View
tab on the toolbar, and turn on the “Hidden items” checkbox. That displays folders
and files that are normally hidden from view.

Now head to the Desktop, right-click the Taskbar, and select Toolbars→New Toolbar
(Figure ).


Figure 1.
Adding a new toolbar to the Taskbar

On the screen that appears, type

%appdata%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\QuickLaunch

That places a Quick Launch toolbar at the far right of the taskbar. It also includes
the Show Desktop button that is missing from the Windows 8 Desktop. If you
want to move the Quick Launch toolbar to the left, right-click the taskbar, uncheck
“Lock the Taskbar,” and drag to the right. Lock it when you have it where you want. You
can now use the Quick Launch toolbar by clicking the double-headed arrow
(Figure 2). It works just like previous versions of Windows.


Figure 2.
An old friend: the Quick Launch toolbar, now in Windows 8

See Also
• “Bring Back the Windows Start Menu to Windows 8”