The Windows 11 taskbar is the single most-used strip of screen real estate on your PC, yet most people leave it half-empty. Pinning your favorite apps, folders, and even websites to it means a single click gets you where you need to go, without hunting through the Start menu or typing searches. This guide walks you through every way to add items to the taskbar, how to reorder them, and how to remove the ones you no longer want.
Before you start, keep in mind that the taskbar lives at the bottom of your screen by default and can hold both app shortcuts and live pinned items. The steps below work on Windows 11 Home and Pro, and also apply to Windows 11 Enterprise editions, since Microsoft keeps the taskbar behavior consistent across all variants. You will not need any third-party tools or command-line knowledge to follow along.
Step 1: Pin an app from the Start menu
Right-click the app icon in the Start menu and choose Pin to taskbar. Click the centered Start button (the four-square Windows icon) at the bottom of your screen to open the menu, then scroll through your apps or use the search box at the top. When you find the app you want, position your cursor over it and press the right mouse button. A small context menu appears, and you select Pin to taskbar from the list.
You will see the app’s icon snap onto the taskbar almost immediately, sitting to the left of the system tray near the clock. This works for most installed programs, including built-in tools like Settings, Calculator, and the Microsoft Store. If the option is grayed out, the app may already be pinned, or it is a modern app that only lives in the Start menu and cannot be pinned directly.
Step 2: Pin an app from Search
Type the app name in Search, right-click the result, and select Pin to taskbar. Click the Search icon next to the Start button, or press the Windows key plus the letter S to open the search pane. Begin typing the name of your app, and Windows lists matching results at the top of the panel. Hover over the correct result, right-click it, and choose Pin to taskbar.
This method is handy when you know the name of an app but do not want to scroll through your full list. The icon appears on the taskbar the moment you confirm the choice. If nothing shows up in Search, press the Windows key and type the name again, or confirm the app is installed under Apps > Installed apps in Settings.
Step 3: Pin an app or folder from File Explorer
Locate the program or folder in File Explorer, right-click it, and choose Pin to taskbar. Open File Explorer by clicking the folder icon on your taskbar, then navigate to the app. For a desktop program, browse to its location, usually under C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (x86), and find the .exe file. For a folder, simply open File Explorer and find the folder in your left navigation pane or your file list.
Right-click the item and look for the Pin to taskbar option in the menu. Apps pin as their own icons, while folders pin as a small folder shortcut you can open with one click. This is the most reliable method for pinning folders, since the Start menu does not always offer that option for regular folders.
Step 4: Pin a running app from its taskbar icon
Right-click the app icon while it is open and choose Pin to taskbar. Open the program you want to keep close, then look at the taskbar for its icon, which shows a small dot or underline while running. Press the right mouse button over that icon, and a menu appears with several options including Pin to taskbar.
This is the fastest route when an app is already in use, because you never have to search for it again. Once pinned, the icon stays on the taskbar even after you close the program, so it is ready for next time. If you do not see the option, the app may already be pinned, in which case you can skip this step.
Step 5: Pin a website to the taskbar
Open your website in Microsoft Edge, use the Apps menu to install it, then pin the resulting icon. Launch Edge and navigate to the website you want to keep handy, such as your email or a work dashboard. Click the three dots menu in the top-right corner, then move your cursor to Apps and select Install this site as an app. A small dialog asks you to confirm a name for the app, so click Install when ready.
Edge then creates a lightweight app version of the site and drops an icon into your apps list. Right-click that new icon and choose Pin to taskbar to place it alongside your other shortcuts. This turns a regular webpage into a clean, windowed app that opens without your usual browser tabs and extensions.
If you prefer Google Chrome, click the three-dot menu at the top-right, choose More tools, then Create shortcut. Check the box that says Open as a window before clicking Create, then right-click the new app icon in your apps list and pin it to the taskbar. Browser menus shift over time, so if you cannot find these options, look for a star or gear icon near the address bar that offers a similar add-to-taskbar choice.
Step 6: Rearrange your pinned taskbar icons
Click and hold an icon, then drag it to a new position along the taskbar. Position your cursor over any pinned icon until the pointer changes, press and hold the left mouse button, and slide the icon left or right to your preferred spot. Release the button once you reach your desired location, and the icons snap back into a tidy row.
Put the apps you use most often nearest the Start button, and move rarely used ones toward the right side near the system tray. You can also drag pinned apps off the taskbar and drop them onto the desktop to create a regular shortcut instead. If an icon refuses to move, make sure Taskbar settings are not locked, which some system management tools enable.
Pro Tip: Right-click any empty part of the taskbar and open Taskbar settings to group icons, hide the search box, or show only the icons for open apps. This keeps the taskbar tidy when you run several programs at once, so each app shows as a single button rather than piling up.
Step 7: Unpin apps you no longer use
Right-click a pinned icon on the taskbar and choose Unpin from taskbar. Find the app you want to remove from the taskbar, press the right mouse button over it, and select Unpin from taskbar from the menu. The icon disappears from the taskbar instantly, freeing up space for something more useful.
Unpinning does not uninstall the app, so you can always pin it again later from the Start menu or Search. This is a clean way to keep your taskbar focused on the handful of tools you actually reach for every day.
Troubleshooting common pinning problems
The Pin to taskbar option is missing or grayed out. This usually happens with certain modern Store apps or system components that Microsoft does not allow on the taskbar. Try the File Explorer method instead, right-clicking the app’s executable file directly, since that route works for most installed programs. If the app is a Store-only program, look for it in the Start menu list and pin it from there rather than from Search.
The pinned icon shows a blank page or broken picture. A missing thumbnail often means the original app moved or was uninstalled, leaving a broken shortcut. Re-pin the app using the correct file path in File Explorer to replace the broken link, and the proper icon returns. You can also right-click the icon, choose More, then Open file location to see where the shortcut points.
The website icon will not pin or the site crashes. Browser menus change frequently, so if the Apps or Create shortcut options are gone, update Edge or Chrome to the latest version and try again. Make sure the website loads fully before you attempt to install it, since a blank page cannot be converted into an app. If the problem persists, try pinning the site from a different browser and compare the options available.
Closing tips for a leaner taskbar
Keep only the apps you touch multiple times a day pinned, and move the rest into the hidden overflow menu by clicking the up-arrow at the far right of the taskbar. Review your pinned list every few weeks and unpin anything you have not opened recently, so the taskbar stays fast and clutter-free. With your most-used programs, folders, and websites one click away, you will spend less time searching and more time actually working.
Have you tried turning your favorite websites into taskbar apps yet, or do you stick with classic app pinning? Let us know which tools you keep pinned every single day.
Over to you: Which apps do you keep pinned to your taskbar every single day?
