To add Google Chrome to the taskbar in Windows 10, open Chrome, right-click its icon on the taskbar, and choose Pin to taskbar. The icon stays there after you close Chrome. You can also click Start, find Google Chrome in the app list, right-click it, and choose More > Pin to taskbar.
Here are all the ways to pin Chrome, how to pin a specific website or Chrome profile, and what to do if the option is missing.
Method 1: Pin Chrome while it’s open
- Open Google Chrome. Its icon appears on the taskbar.
- Right-click the Chrome icon on the taskbar.
- Click Pin to taskbar.
Method 2: Pin Chrome from the Start menu
- Click the Start button.
- Scroll through the app list to Google Chrome, or type Chrome in the search box.
- Right-click Google Chrome.
- Choose More > Pin to taskbar. In search results, Pin to taskbar appears directly in the menu or in the right-hand panel.
Method 3: Drag the icon to the taskbar
Open the Start menu, then drag Google Chrome from the app list or a Start tile down to the taskbar. When you see Pin to taskbar, let go.
How to pin a website to the taskbar
You can pin a site like Gmail or YouTube so it opens in its own window.
- Open the website in Chrome.
- Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
- Choose Cast, save, and share > Create shortcut. (In some versions this is under More tools or Save and share.) If the site offers an app, you may see Install page as app instead.
- Check Open as window if you want it to look like a separate app, then click Create.
- The site opens or a shortcut appears on the desktop. Right-click its taskbar icon and choose Pin to taskbar.
How to pin a specific Chrome profile
If you use separate profiles, for example for work and personal browsing, you can pin each one.
- Open Chrome with the profile you want.
- Click your profile picture, then click the gear icon (Manage profiles), or go to Settings > You and Google > Customize your Chrome profile.
- Turn on Create desktop shortcut.
- Right-click the new desktop shortcut and choose Pin to taskbar.
How to unpin Chrome from the taskbar
Right-click the Chrome icon on the taskbar and choose Unpin from taskbar. This only removes the shortcut. Chrome stays installed.
Troubleshooting
- No Pin to taskbar option: Your PC may be in Tablet mode, which hides some taskbar options. Open the Action Center in the bottom-right corner and turn Tablet mode off. On work or school PCs, your IT department may also lock the taskbar.
- Two Chrome icons on the taskbar: This usually happens when a pinned shortcut points to an old Chrome location. Unpin both, open Chrome, and pin it again with Method 1.
- The pinned icon is blank or broken: Unpin it, then pin it again. If that doesn’t help, restart Windows Explorer from Task Manager.
- Chrome isn’t installed: Download it from the official Google Chrome website, install it, then pin it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I move Chrome to a different spot on the taskbar?
Click and drag the pinned Chrome icon left or right, then let go.
Does pinning Chrome make it my default browser?
No. To make Chrome your default, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps and choose Google Chrome under Web browser.
Do these steps work in Windows 11?
Mostly. In Windows 11, right-click Chrome in the Start menu and choose Pin to taskbar directly, or search for it and choose Pin to taskbar from the results.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.