Windows 11 doesn’t have a Quick Launch toolbar, and there is no built-in setting to turn one on. The taskbar toolbars that earlier versions of Windows offered through a right-click Toolbars menu are not part of the Windows 11 taskbar, so older guides that tell you to create a “New toolbar” won’t work.
The closest built-in replacement is to pin the apps you use most to the taskbar and open them with a click or with the Windows logo key + a number. You can add Start menu pins, Start folders and a desktop folder of shortcuts for everything else.
Quick Answer
- Open Start and search for an app you use often.
- Right-click it and select Pin to taskbar.
- Drag the pinned icons into the order you want.
- Press Windows logo key + 1, + 2 and so on to open the pinned apps by position.
- For files and folders, use Start pins, a Start folder or a desktop folder of shortcuts.
In This Guide
- What happened to Quick Launch in Windows 11
- Option 1: Pin apps to the taskbar
- Option 2: Launch pinned apps from the keyboard
- Option 3: Use jump lists for files and folders
- Option 4: Pin apps and folders to Start
- Option 5: Build a desktop folder of shortcuts
- What about third-party taskbar tools?
- Which option should you use?
- Troubleshooting
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Happened to Quick Launch in Windows 11
Quick Launch was a small strip of shortcut icons next to the Start button. In older Windows versions you could turn it on by right-clicking the taskbar, choosing Toolbars and pointing a new toolbar at a folder of shortcuts.
As of September 2026, the Windows 11 taskbar settings that Microsoft documents cover pinned apps, taskbar items such as Search and Widgets, alignment and behaviors. They don’t include a toolbars option. Microsoft’s Windows 11 specifications page also notes that apps can no longer customize areas of the taskbar. Right-clicking an empty part of the Windows 11 taskbar shows Taskbar settings rather than a Toolbars menu.
What you need for the alternatives below:
- A PC running Windows 11. The steps follow Microsoft Support documentation as of September 2026. Menu names can change slightly with updates.
- No administrator rights are needed to pin apps or create shortcuts for your own account.
- On a work or school PC, your organization may lock the taskbar or Start layout.
Option 1: Pin Apps to the Taskbar
Pinned taskbar icons are the direct successor to Quick Launch: one click, always visible.
- Select Start or press the Windows logo key, then type the name of the app.
- Right-click the app in the results and select Pin to taskbar. Expected result: The app’s icon stays on the taskbar even after you close the app.
- If the app is already open, you can instead right-click its icon on the taskbar and select Pin to taskbar.
- Drag pinned icons left or right to change their order. Put the apps you open most often first.
- To remove one, right-click it and select Unpin from taskbar.
To give your pins more room, right-click the taskbar and select Taskbar settings (or go to Settings then Personalization then Taskbar). Under Taskbar items you can hide Search, Task view or Widgets. Under Taskbar behaviors you can change Taskbar alignment to Left, which puts your pins beside the Start button, close to where Quick Launch used to sit.
Once the icons are set, you may want to keep them from shifting. Our guide on locking the taskbar in Windows 11 explains the options.
Option 2: Launch Pinned Apps From the Keyboard
Pinned apps come with shortcuts built in. Microsoft lists these Windows keyboard shortcuts:
- Windows logo key + number (0 to 9): open the app pinned to the taskbar in that position. The first pin is 1, the second is 2, and 0 is the tenth.
- Windows logo key + Alt + number: open the jump list for the app in that position.
- Windows logo key + T: cycle through apps on the taskbar.
- Windows logo key + D: display and hide the desktop, which is useful if you keep shortcuts there.
If an app is already open, the number shortcut switches to it instead of opening another copy in most cases.
Option 3: Use Jump Lists for Files and Folders
A jump list is the menu that appears when you right-click a taskbar icon. It shows recent items and quick tasks for that app, which covers much of what people used Quick Launch folders for.
- Pin File Explorer to the taskbar if it isn’t already there.
- Right-click the File Explorer icon. Expected result: A list of recent and pinned folders appears.
- If you see a pin icon next to a folder you use often, select it to keep that folder at the top of the list.
If jump lists are empty, go to Settings then Personalization then Start and turn on Show recently opened items in Jump Lists on Start or the taskbar.
Option 4: Pin Apps and Folders to Start
The Windows 11 Start menu has a Pins section that holds apps, files, folders and websites in a grid. It is one click or one key press away, and it can hold far more than the taskbar.
- Search for an app, right-click it and select Pin to Start.
- To pin a folder, right-click it in File Explorer and look for Pin to Start. In some versions it may be under Show more options.
- Drag pins into the order you want.
- To group pins, drag one pinned item on top of another. Expected result: Windows creates a folder. Select it to open it and give it a name, such as “Work apps.”
- To remove a pin, right-click it and select Unpin from Start.
You can also add shortcuts to common locations beside the Power button. Go to Settings then Personalization then Start then Folders, and turn on the ones you want, such as Documents or Downloads.
Option 5: Build a Desktop Folder of Shortcuts
This recreates the old Quick Launch idea: one folder that holds shortcuts to apps, files and websites.
- Right-click an empty area of the desktop and select New then Folder. Name it something like “Quick Launch.”
- Add app shortcuts. Microsoft’s method is to open Start, select All, then drag an app’s name onto the desktop, which creates a shortcut. Move that shortcut into your folder.
- Add file shortcuts. Right-click a document and select Create shortcut. In Windows 11 you may need to select Show more options first. Move the shortcut into your folder.
- Pin the folder to Start (Option 4) or leave it on the desktop and press Windows logo key + D to reach it.
A shortcut is a small link file that points to the real program or document. Deleting a shortcut doesn’t delete the original. For more ways to make them, see our guide on how to make shortcuts on Windows 11.
What About Third-Party Taskbar Tools?
Some independent programs replace or modify the Windows 11 taskbar and can bring back a toolbar-style launcher. Microsoft doesn’t make or support them. If you consider one:
- Download it only from the developer’s official site or a trusted store, and check recent reviews.
- Expect it to break or behave oddly after a Windows feature update.
- Create a restore point first, and learn how to uninstall it before you rely on it.
- Don’t install taskbar tools on a work or school PC without permission from your IT team.
For most people, the built-in options above give the same one-click access without that risk.
Which Option Should You Use?
| Option | Best for | Clicks to launch | Holds files and folders? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taskbar pins | Your top 5 to 10 apps | 1 (or a key shortcut) | Apps only; folders through jump lists |
| Jump lists | Recent and favorite folders or files | 2 | Yes |
| Start pins and folders | A larger set of apps, grouped | 2 | Yes |
| Desktop shortcuts folder | A mix of apps, files and websites | 2 to 3 | Yes |
| Third-party tool | People who want the classic toolbar look | 1 | Yes, but unsupported |
Troubleshooting
I don’t see Toolbars when I right-click the taskbar
That is expected in Windows 11. The right-click menu offers Taskbar settings. Use pinned apps or one of the other options instead.
Pin to taskbar is missing
Some items can’t be pinned directly. Right-click the app in the Start search results rather than in File Explorer. If the option is still missing on a work PC, your organization may control the taskbar.
The number shortcuts open the wrong app
The numbers follow the order of pinned icons from left to right. Drag the icons to rearrange them, and remember that Windows logo key + 0 opens the tenth icon.
My pinned icons disappeared
Restarting File Explorer or signing out and back in often restores the taskbar. See how to restart the taskbar in Windows 11. If they are still gone, pin the apps again.
Jump lists show no recent items
Turn on Show recently opened items in Jump Lists on Start or the taskbar under Settings, Personalization, Start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn Quick Launch back on in Windows 11 settings?
No. Windows 11 has no built-in toolbars option, so Quick Launch can’t be enabled from Settings or the taskbar menu.
What is the closest replacement for Quick Launch?
Pinned taskbar apps. They launch with one click or with the Windows logo key and a number, which is as fast as Quick Launch was.
Can I move the taskbar pins next to the Start button?
Yes. Set Taskbar alignment to Left under Taskbar behaviors in taskbar settings.
Can I pin a folder to the Windows 11 taskbar?
Not as its own icon in the usual way. Pin File Explorer and then pin the folder in its jump list, or pin the folder to Start.
Are third-party Quick Launch tools safe?
Some are widely used, but they aren’t supported by Microsoft and may break after updates. Use trusted sources, back up first and avoid them on managed PCs.
Will pinning apps slow down my PC?
Pinning only adds a shortcut to the taskbar. The app doesn’t run until you open it.
Summary
- Windows 11 has no Quick Launch toolbar and no built-in way to add one.
- Pin your most-used apps to the taskbar and order them left to right.
- Use Windows logo key + number to open pins from the keyboard.
- Use jump lists, Start pins and Start folders for files and larger app sets.
- Build a desktop folder of shortcuts if you want the classic all-in-one launcher.
Next step: Pin your five most-used apps to the taskbar now and try opening them with Windows logo key + 1 through 5. Microsoft’s guides to customizing the taskbar, customizing the Start menu and Windows keyboard shortcuts have more detail, and the Windows 11 specifications page lists taskbar changes.
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.