Windows | 11 Quick Launch [exclusive]

Windows 11 brought a sleek, centered redesign to the Taskbar, but it also removed several legacy features that power users relied on for decades. One of the most missed features is the —that handy little section next to the Start button that housed shortcuts without the "clutter" of pinned apps.

However, the underlying folder structure that powered Quick Launch still exists within the Windows file system. We can leverage this to recreate the experience. Step 1: The "Manual" Workaround (Pinned Apps) windows 11 quick launch

Microsoft’s intended replacement for Quick Launch is . Open the app you want. Right-click the icon on the taskbar. Select Pin to taskbar . Windows 11 brought a sleek, centered redesign to

ExplorerPatcher is a free, open-source tool that restores the Windows 10 taskbar functionality to Windows 11. We can leverage this to recreate the experience

Unlike the old Quick Launch, pinned apps and active windows share the same space. If you want a dedicated area for shortcuts that stays separate from your open programs, you'll need a different approach. Step 2: Recreating Quick Launch with Third-Party Tools