Windows 101 - The Taskbar
Windows 101: The Taskbar
In this lesson, we’ll focus on the Taskbar and how it helps you manage your open applications and programs. The Taskbar is an essential tool that keeps you organized and allows quick access to frequently used programs.
What is the Taskbar?
The Taskbar is the long bar located at the bottom of your screen. It’s where you can see which programs are currently open, as well as access programs you’ve pinned for easy use. The Taskbar makes switching between tasks and managing multiple programs simple.
Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll find on the Taskbar:
- Start Menu Button: On the far left, this opens the Start Menu where you can find all your installed programs.
- Quick Launch Area: The middle of the Taskbar shows icons for programs that are either open or pinned for quick access.
- System Tray: On the far right, the System Tray displays small icons that provide information about background processes, such as internet connection and volume level.
[picture] of the Taskbar with labeled sections
Opening Programs from the Taskbar
If you have pinned any programs to the Taskbar, they will always be there for easy access. To open a pinned program:
- Look for the icon of the program you want to open.
- Single-click on the icon to open the program.
[gif] showing a single click on a Taskbar icon to open a program
Switching Between Open Programs
When you have multiple programs open, they will all show up in the Taskbar as icons. You can switch between them quickly by clicking on the icon of the program you want to bring to the front.
For example, if you have a web browser, a document, and a messaging app open, clicking on any of their icons will bring them back into view, even if they’re minimized.
[gif] showing switching between open programs in the Taskbar
Pinning and Unpinning Programs
Pinning programs to the Taskbar allows you to keep them there for easy access, even when they’re not open. Here’s how to pin a program:
- Right-click on a program’s icon either in the Start Menu or the Desktop.
- Select Pin to Taskbar from the menu.
To remove a pinned program, right-click the pinned icon on the Taskbar and select Unpin from Taskbar.
[gif] showing how to pin and unpin programs from the Taskbar
Taskbar Preview
When you hover over an open program’s icon in the Taskbar, a small preview of the window will appear. This lets you quickly see what’s in the program without fully opening it. If you have multiple windows of the same program open (like two web browser tabs), hovering will show previews of all of them.
[picture] showing Taskbar previews of open windows
Now that you know how to use the Taskbar to manage and organize your open programs, you’ll be able to work more efficiently. In the next lesson, we’ll cover how to manage windows to keep your workspace clean and organized.