Best 3rd party quick launch added to taskbar

GerryPeters · Sep 6, 2024

I really miss having the Win 10 quick launch on the taskbar. Is there a 3rd party add on that will work with Win 11?

allan · Sep 6, 2024

You can use an app such as Explorer Patcher to make the task bar look and act like W10 (including the ability to add Quick Launch)

GerryPeters · Sep 7, 2024

WIN 11 explorer patcher is great. It brought back the Win 10 quick launch area on the far left of the taskbar. After you install it right click taskbar - properties - opens explorer patcher settings. Check out this video

The video doesn't get into the advanced settings which to me is the best part returning the quick launch to the Win 10 version. advanced - check pinned items act as quick launch

Ghot · Sep 7, 2024

@GerryPeters

I gave you ten cookies for filling out your computer specs.

allan · Sep 8, 2024

Glad you're happy with it

Johnb54 · Oct 29, 2024

Just a heads up, you will not get the latest versions of Windows 11 if you have Explorer Patcher installed. Microsoft is forcing everyone to not allow the code to allow the quicklaunch anymore. If its installed, windows will not update to 24H2. I just did a fresh install of 24H2 and installed Explorer Patcher to start setting it up and it won't allow it. I researched it and thats what I found. There are more apps that if they are installed will block the update from installing.

Edwin · Oct 29, 2024

Johnb54 said:
Microsoft is forcing everyone to not allow the code to allow the quicklaunch anymore.

allan · Oct 30, 2024

Johnb54 said:
Just a heads up, you will not get the latest versions of Windows 11 if you have Explorer Patcher installed. Microsoft is forcing everyone to not allow the code to allow the quicklaunch anymore. If its installed, windows will not update to 24H2. I just did a fresh install of 24H2 and installed Explorer Patcher to start setting it up and it won't allow it. I researched it and thats what I found. There are more apps that if they are installed will block the update from installing.

Simply not true. Just read through this thread. You have to uninstall EP, install 24H2, add exclusions to your AV (instructions on GitHub and elsewhere), then install THE LATEST version of EP.

GerryPeters · Oct 30, 2024

Good to hear we can still use EP, I need Quick launch on the taskbar and it seems that one is the only real option available. I'm amazed at the arrogance of MS in regard to this.

Johnb54 · Oct 30, 2024

allan said:
Simply not true. Just read through this thread. You have to uninstall EP, install 24H2, add exclusions to your AV (instructions on GitHub and elsewhere), then install THE LATEST version of EP.

Thanks. Got it working like it should now, just had to disable realtime protection in Windows security. Now I can do it on my pc which hasn't updated since December of last year cause of EP.

hdmi · Oct 31, 2024

Johnb54 said:
Thanks. Got it working like it should now, just had to disable realtime protection in Windows security. Now I can do it on my pc which hasn't updated since December of last year cause of EP.

You don't have to turn off real-time protection in Windows Security. Instead, you can just add the necessary file/folder exclusions to the list of exclusions in Windows Security. From an elevated command prompt, run this:

Code:

"%WinDir%\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe" -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Command if([Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity]::GetCurrent().Groups -contains 'S-1-5-32-544'){Add-MpPreference -ExclusionPath @('%ProgramFiles%\ExplorerPatcher','%AppData%\ExplorerPatcher','%WinDir%\dxgi.dll','%WinDir%\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy','%WinDir%\SystemApps\ShellExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy','%UserProfile%\Downloads\ep_setup.exe') -force;(Get-MpPreference).ExclusionPath}else{'Please run with Administrator privileges.'}

This is assuming that you intend to download the file ep_setup.exe from GitHub to your Downloads folder so, if you prefer to download it to a different folder location, then be sure to substitute %UserProfile%\Downloads with the folderpath of that folder.

Underclocked · Nov 13, 2024

Try True Launch Bar V8.0 Post any issues (such as any sort of malware). I'm running it now.

GerryPeters · Nov 13, 2024

Does True Launch Bar V8.0 pretty much work like Win 10 quick launch? Is there a bar in between the quick launch and the other apps open like win 10? Can you drag a folder to it?

Underclocked · Nov 13, 2024

Well, I expect it to do exactly that but I have already abandoned Win11 24H2 and provided my feedback to MS. I believe they have lost their collective minds quite some time ago.

GerryPeters · Nov 13, 2024

What's wrong with Win11 24H2?

Underclocked · Nov 14, 2024

VirusTotal

www.virustotal.com

werty · Nov 14, 2024

Yesterday, I've downloaded Explorer Patcher and installed with without any issues from Windows Security.

GerryPeters · Nov 14, 2024

I'm currently using Explorer Patcher.

Underclocked, what does that virus link mean. I see Acronis listed 2x in there. I've used Acronis for many years, but now I prefer Macrium. I make a new image any time I install Win updates, which is sometimes 2 or 3 months other times days.

hdmi · Nov 14, 2024

werty said:
Yesterday, I've downloaded Explorer Patcher and installed with without any issues from Windows Security.

Underclocked · Nov 14, 2024

Okay Gerry, so I tried it again.

Screen shot (size reduced of course) of what the Quick Launch looks like on the 24H2 desktop . It just seems to me that every time MS makes major changes they eliminate practical and useful features. Screwing up the start menu was just the beginning of a long trend.

The link means that only one of the virus scans of True Launch Bar V8.0 ran by Virus Total saw anything at all suspicious and that is a common false issue that Trapmine reports.

HDMI, you should do stand-up.

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