The Windows taskbar is like a quick launch pad for your go-to apps. Pinning apps, folders, and even specific files there can make your life easier by cutting down on how many clicks it takes to get to them. But, you might have hit a bump with Windows 11 not letting you pin some stuff like batch files or Command Prompt with extra powers to the taskbar. The trick is to make shortcuts for these items and pin those shortcuts instead. We’ll walk you through how to do this, step by step.
Also see: How to Pin Folders to Taskbar in Windows 11
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Getting to know batch files and Command Prompt (Admin)
Batch Files: These are like to-do lists for your computer, telling it to run a bunch of commands in order. They’re super handy for automating repetitive tasks.
Command Prompt (Admin): Think of this as the Command Prompt’s more powerful sibling, letting you run commands that need special permissions to tweak system files or settings.
Useful tip: How to Ungroup Taskbar Items in Windows 11
Why can’t you stick batch files and CMD (Admin) directly on the taskbar?
First off, let’s talk about why Windows 11 gives us the cold shoulder when we try to pin batch files or Command Prompt with admin rights straight to the taskbar.
The taskbar prefers shortcuts to apps. Pinning an app creates a shortcut. But batch files and the admin version of Command Prompt aren’t seen as apps in the usual sense, so no direct pinning.
Recommended resource: How to Run CMD or PowerShell as SYSTEM in Windows 11
Sticking a batch file to the taskbar in Windows 11
Since a direct pin move isn’t in the cards, you’ll need to make a shortcut to your batch file first, then pin that. Here’s the play-by-play:
- Find the batch file you want to pin. Right-click it, choose “Show more options”, then “Send to” > “Desktop (create shortcut)”.
- Head to your desktop, find the new shortcut, and right-click it for “Properties”.
- In the Properties window, hit the “Shortcut” tab. Add
cmd.exe /cbefore the path in the “Target” field. This tells your computer to use Command Prompt to open the batch file. Change the target from"C:\Users\YourUsername\Documents\yourfile.bat"tocmd.exe /c "C:\Users\YourUsername\Documents\yourfile.bat".
- Hit “Apply” then “OK” to lock in those changes.
- Finally, right-click the shortcut on your desktop, pick “Show more options”, then “Pin to taskbar”.
And just like that, your batch file is now a single click away on your taskbar.
Linked issue: Batch (.BAT) Files Not Running in Windows 11/10
How to get Command Prompt (Admin) on your taskbar
Pinning Command Prompt with admin rights to your taskbar is a similar vibe. Here’s what you need to do:
- Hit the Windows key, type “CMD” in the search, and you should see Command Prompt pop up.
- Right-click on “Command Prompt” and pick “Open file location”. This opens up the folder where the shortcut lives.
- In that folder, right-click the “Command Prompt” shortcut and hit “Copy”.
- Go back to your desktop, right-click somewhere empty, and choose “Paste” to drop the shortcut there.
- Right-click on the new Command Prompt shortcut on your desktop and go for “Properties”.
- (Optional) In the Properties window, hit the “Shortcut” tab and find the “Shortcut key” spot. Here you can set up a keyboard shortcut to launch Command Prompt as admin, like Ctrl + Alt + C.
- Still in the “Shortcut” tab, click the “Advanced” button. In the next window, tick the box next to “Run as administrator”. Hit “OK” to close this window, then “Apply” and “OK” again to wrap up with the Command Prompt Properties window.
- Last step, right-click on the Command Prompt shortcut on your desktop, choose “Show more options”, then “Pin to taskbar”.
Boom! Now your Command Prompt with admin rights is just a taskbar click (or keyboard shortcut) away.
Wrapping it up
The taskbar is your best buddy for making things quick and easy (like launching programs) on Windows 11. Even though some things can’t be pinned right off the bat, this shortcut trick gives you a backdoor. It’s perfect for anyone who wants to keep things swift, from devs and power users to anyone who just likes their Windows interface tidy and, most importantly, efficient.
