How do I add an application to the Windows Quick Launch Bar?

I want to add Outlook Express to the Quick Launch taskbar in Windows XP Pro SP2. I have looked in a few places but I cannot seem to find a way. Help!

Dave's Answer:

This isn't too difficult once you realize that you need to ensure that you can see your Quick Launch area of the taskbar and you need to be viewing the folder that contains the icon of the application you want to add too.

First step is to turn on the Quick Launch area. You can either do that by right-clicking on the taskbar and choosing Quick Launch from the list of possible Toolbars, or you can right-click and choose Properties, one option of which is to show the Quick Launch area:

Mine isn't selected (I don't personally use the Quick Launch capability in Windows), but you can easily check it, click "Apply" and you'll be ready to go.

The next step is to find the folder that contains the specific application you want to add. In your case it's Microsoft Outlook Express, but for purposes of my demo, I'll use my favorite voice over IP (VOIP) telephony application, Vbuzzer instead. I find the folder by right-clicking on the desktop shortcut I have, then choosing "Properties" and clicking on the "Find Target..." link:

Next thing I see is the folder that contains the icon in question:

Make sure you pick the application, not one of the helper files or data files or dynamic link libraries, etc., or you'll have the wrong thing in your Quick Link toolbar!

Now all that's left is to drag the icon from the application directly into the Quick Launch area of the Taskbar. That should just add the shortcut and you'll forevermore be good to go:

Windows XP Taskbar Quick Launch Shortcut

Hope that helps you out!

Categorized: Windows PC Help (Article 4689, Written by Dave Taylor)
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Comments

Also note that you can drag shortcuts that you already have on your desktop to the quick launch bar, but if you try to do the same thing from the programs list in the start menu, that it actually moves them instead of copying them..

Posted by: NutDaily.com at August 16, 2006 10:16 PM

When I click on the Show Desktop icon in the Quick Launch toolbar, it closes
Outlook and minimizes all other windows. Is there anyway to make it stop
closing Outlook and simply minimize it as it does the other windows?

Posted by: Bob Awrey at April 16, 2007 7:47 AM

That's strange behavior, Bob, and I'm not sure what would cause it. You might check the Microsoft knowledgebase at microsoft.com to see if they have any tech notes on what's happening. Does Outlook close if you click on the minimize button itself in the program?

Posted by: Dave Taylor at April 16, 2007 11:41 AM

hi sir..
whenever i am restarting my pc the items in the tool bar starts automatically like, AIM messanger,Yahoo messanger and so on. Could you help me removing this items from the tool bar and getting rid of them while restarting.

Posted by: biju sharma at May 3, 2007 12:34 PM

Thank you - your site answered my question.

Posted by: Rob Torres at September 7, 2007 11:37 AM

I'm having trouble with Win2K. I can't copy to my desktop (I can do the "Send To Desktop" though), add to my quick launch area. Also, I have recently lost all of my Thunderbird profile settings and the link to their email locations!!

Any help?!

Posted by: Paul Jarvis at September 15, 2007 3:17 AM

Dave: Somehow i have messed up my QuickLaunch Bar. When I unlock it and try to add shortcuts to applications that i use all the time, it doubles in height, but adds the 4 shortcuts w/small icons. I have to unclick lock toolbar,I then can drag the size down to a single bar. But my icons disapear and quicklaunch is unchecked. When i re-check quick launch it doubles the size again. What should i do?
I also have picked up a little silver bar above the task bar. Can i get rid of that too?

Posted by: Scott at June 12, 2008 5:21 PM

Thanks, great instructions and answered my question!

Posted by: Kristen at August 8, 2008 7:51 PM

what is the hot key for windows swither in vista?

Posted by: Abhaya at October 3, 2008 1:55 PM

For a month looking for add quick launch in my Windows XP, thanks Dave for great help.

I got this problem even click once :
Too many comments have been submitted from you in a short period of time. Please try again in a short while.

Posted by: Lozz at July 6, 2009 1:15 AM

Here's where you can add them for default user:

C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

You can also replace "Default User" with your username and add them there also.

Posted by: Brett Anderson at September 24, 2009 12:12 PM

After cracking my head for sometime...thks for the solution, finally its on my quick lauch!

Posted by: Chelvi at November 13, 2009 2:15 AM

nice Article. Really Helpful. Thanks

Posted by: Rahul Anand at January 7, 2010 11:34 PM

Can you please tell me how many icons I can put into the Quick Launch toolbar? I currently have 3 and an arrow indicating the others I can open, but I would really like to have five sitting there and available. Thanks in anticipation.

Posted by: Debbie at February 11, 2010 6:59 PM

Seriously!?!? All of this useless text just to say find program and drag to task bar?...what a waste of time and energy

Posted by: Knox Lively at August 2, 2010 1:31 PM

"Seriously!?!? All of this useless text just to say find program and drag to task bar?...what a waste of time and energy" ...useful info, but I agree: far too much vebiage to say so simple a thing!

Posted by: Derek at August 4, 2010 11:31 AM

One person's "useless" verbiage is another person's "a ha!" insight and understanding about what's going on and why, rather than just "take a, move to b". Chill out a bit, lads, you might not be a typical computer user after all. :-)

Posted by: Dave Taylor at August 4, 2010 11:44 AM

I have something to say, now that you mention it, but ...

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!

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