The Quick Launch Toolbar

The Quick Launch toolbar allows you to quickly and easily access your favorite programs just by clicking on the program's icon.

How to Add an Item to the Quick Launch Toolbar

Right-click on the desired program and select "Add to Quick Launch" as shown below.

Shows how to add a program to the Quick Launch toolbar.

An alternative method is to find the program you want, position the cursor over it, press and hold the left mouse button, and then (while still holding the left mouse button), drag the icon to the quick launch toolbar and release the mouse button. This method is shown in the picture below. The icon will be added to the quick launch toolbar, but will not be not removed from the place from which it was dragged (in this case the start menu).

Shows how to drag a program to the Quick Launch toolbar.

How to Remove an Item from the Quick Launch Toolbar

There are two easy ways to do this:

  1. Position the cursor over the item, press and hold the left mouse button, drag it to the Recycle Bin, and then release the button.
  2. Right-click on it, and select "Delete" from the pop-up menu.

In both cases, you will be prompted to confirm the removal. Note that this only removes the shortcut from the Quick Launch toolbar, and does not also delete it from other places (such as the Start menu).

If the Quick Launch Toolbar Becomes Full

If there are more items than can be displayed in the available space, you'll see an arrow symbol on the right hand side of the toolbar, as shown in the picture below. Clicking on this will bring up a menu containing the programs which could not be shown in the main toolbar space.

Shows what happens when not all items in the Quick Launch toolbar can be displayed.

How to Change the Size of the Quick Launch Toolbar

you prefer all of your icons to be visible, the size of the toolbar can be increased. To do this, right-click on the Taskbar, and ensure that the "Lock the Taskbar" item is unchecked (if there's a tick next to it, click on it to uncheck it).

Shows how to unlock the Taskbar.

When you've done this, you'll see a patterned border at the edge of the Quick Launch toolbar. If you place the cursor over this, and press and hold the left mouse button, you can drag it to resize the toolbar.

Shows how to resize the Quick Launch toolbar.

Special Buttons

There are two special buttons which are usually present in the Quick Launch toolbar by default:

Shows the Show Desktop button. Show Desktop: This iconizes (removes them from the screen, but leaves them running so they can be opened again when required) all the programs that are currently running so that the empty desktop can be seen. This is useful if the desktop has become cluttered, or if you want to access a shortcut on the desktop.

Shows the Switch Windows button.Switch Between Windows: This displays a view like the one below, which shows all the currently running programs, and allows any one to be selected.

Shows how to switch between windows.

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