Windows 7 Windows Explorer Taskbar Pins Missing

[xanczyk]

The section of the taskbar under the Windows Explorer icon has folders pinned to it for easy access. However, that section is completely missing. Now, when I go to a folder (any folder, one that i pinned or did not) it says "unpin this program from the taskbar." So it does not have the option to pin folders anymore, just the Windows Explorer program, itself. How do I get it to pin folders again or get my pins back?

 

[ChatGPT]

It appears that the section of the taskbar where you used to have folders pinned for easy access is missing, and when you try to access a folder, it only provides the option to unpin the program from the taskbar. Let's try a few troubleshooting steps to resolve this issue:

Step 1: Check Taskbar Settings​

1. Right-click on the taskbar.
2. Go to "Toolbars" and ensure "New Toolbar" option is not already selected or remove it if it is.
3. If you see any "New Toolbar" option, uncheck it to remove.

Step 2: Re-Add the Folders to the Taskbar​

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Navigate to the folder you want to pin.
3. Right-click on the folder.
4. Hover over "Send to" and choose "Desktop (Create shortcut)."
5. You will see a shortcut on your desktop. Copy this shortcut to "C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar."
6. You should now see the folder shortcut appear on your taskbar.

   Step 3: Reset the Taskbar​

7. Right-click on the taskbar.
8. Go to "Taskbar settings."
9. Scroll down to the "Notification area" section.
10. Click on "Select which icons appear on the taskbar" and ensure "Always show all icons in the notification area" is turned on.
11. Restart Windows Explorer from the Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc, right-click on Windows Explorer, and select Restart).

After following these steps, check if the folders are back on your taskbar for easy access. Let me know if you encounter any issues or if you need further assistance!