How to Pin a File, Folder, App or Website to the Taskbar in Windows Pinning apps, files, and websites to the Windows 11 taskbar v\can dramatically improve productivity. For IT professionals, it’s also a useful way to enforce standardization across environments. In this walkthrough, we'll cover the most common ways to pin items to the taskbar, plus highlight where to find more advanced XML and Group Policy options for large-scale deployment. Before we begin, be sure to subscribe to NinjaOne's IT Video Hub and our YouTube channel for more tech content like this. How to Configure Windows Taskbar Pins Here are a few points to keep in mind before you get started. Administrator rights are required for scripting or large-scale deployment. Pinning behavior may differ between consumer and enterprise builds. Websites must be opened in supported browsers (like Edge or Chrome) to enable pinning. Files and folders require a shortcut workaround to be taskbar compatible. Method 1: Pin Apps via GUI The simplest method for pinning apps is using the Start menu or Search. Click Start or press the Windows key. Search for the app. Right-click and choose Pin to taskbar. Alternatively, if the app is already open, right- click its icon on the taskbar and select Pin to taskbar. Method 2: Pin Websites with Microsoft Edge or Chrome To make frequent websites easier to access: In Microsoft Edge, open the site, click the three-dot menu, then choose More tools More tools > Pin to taskbar. In Google Chrome, create a shortcut via More tools > Create Shortcut, check Open as window, then locate the shortcut in the Start menu and pin it. Method 3: Pin Files, Folders, or Drives Windows 11 doesn't allow direct pinning for files or folders, but you can create a custom shortcut. Right-click the desktop > New > Shortcut. In the location field, enter explorer.exe "C:\Path\To\Your\Folder" and click Next. Name it, (optional) change its icon via Properties Change Icon, then right-click Show more options, Pin to taskbar. This workaround is particularly useful for quick access to mapped drives or commonly used directories. Method 4: Advanced Scripting with PowerShell and XML For IT admins, deploying a standardized taskbar layout is often more valuable than letting users pin items themselves. While PowerShell alone doesn't pin apps directly, you can use it alongside an XML layout file that defines pinned items. With this approach, you capture app shortcuts or AppUserModelIDs, build a layout XML, then apply it through PowerShell, Group Policy, or Intune. Instead of covering all of the XML schema and policy paths here, check out the full blog post for detailed examples and ready-to-use code snippets. For individual users, pinning apps or websites is as simple as right-clicking. But for IT professionals, the real power lies in XML layouts, Group Policy, or MDM enforcement—tools that standardize the taskbar across an organization. For more information, check out our official blog post on how to pin a file, folder, app, or website to the Windows taskbar, linked in the description below.