Windows 8 File Explorer in Taskbar Shortcuts Keep Disappearing

Reset File Explorer Pinned Items​

• Unpin The Items: Remove all the shortcuts from the File Explorer icon on the Taskbar.
• Reset The Pinned Items: Reset the pinned items in File Explorer to default.
• Open File Explorer.
• Navigate to %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar.
• Delete all the shortcuts in this folder.
  

  Check Group Policy Settings​

• Run Group Policy Editor: Press Win + R, then type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
• Navigate to the Setting: Go to User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Start Menu and Taskbar.
• Check Policies: Ensure that there are no policies set that might control the Taskbar behavior.
  

  Registry Key Check​

• Open Registry Editor: Press Win + R, then type regedit and press Enter.
• Navigate to the Key: Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Taskband.
• Check Values: Look for any entries that might be causing the shortcuts to disappear or prevent new shortcuts from being saved.
  

  Check for Windows Updates​

• Update Windows: Make sure your Windows system is up to date as newer updates might have fixes for Taskbar-related issues.
  

  Create a New User Profile​

• Create a New User: Temporarily create a new user profile and see if the issue persists there. This will help determine if the problem is specific to your current user profile.
  

  Scan for Malware​

• Run Antivirus Scan: Perform a full system scan using your preferred antivirus software to ensure there is no malware causing the issue.
  

  Additional Tips​

• Keep the system clean by regularly running disk cleanup and removing unnecessary files.
• Avoid using third-party taskbar customization tools that might interfere with the default behavior. If the issue persists after trying these steps, let me know for further assistance.