How to Pin a Batch File to the Windows 11 Taskbar

Copper Contributor

I discovered a method for attaching a batch file to the taskbar in Windows 11 and decided to give it a try. Following the instructions provided, the batch file created was relying on the Command Prompt and it worked perfectly. However, when attempting to right-click the shortcut on the Desktop and select "Pin To Taskbar," I encountered an issue. Despite trying this on three different Windows 11 computers, the option to pin to the taskbar was not available for me.

 

Eventually, I resorted to dragging and dropping the batch file onto the taskbar to pin it successfully. It left me curious as to why the recommended method from the link did not work as expected. If anyone else has faced a similar challenge while attempting this task, I would appreciate hearing about your experiences and any insights you may have to offer.

4 Replies
Pinning a batch file directly to the Windows 11 taskbar may not work straightforwardly by right-clicking the shortcut and selecting "Pin to taskbar." Unlike regular applications, batch files often require a workaround to pin them effectively.
Right-click on an empty area of the desktop and select "New" > "Shortcut". Then, enter the path to the batch file in the "Create Shortcut" dialog box.

@Scottil How does this get the batch file onto the taskbar?

The "Pin to taskbar" option typically appears for executable files (.exe) and certain system shortcuts. Since batch files (.bat) are script files rather than executables, Windows does not inherently offer the option to pin them this way.