The Power User's Guide to the Windows 7 Taskbar

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Learn to Use the Taskbar Like a Pro

 

Before you even get started trying to tweak your taskbar, you should make sure that you understand how to use all of the features,

and there might be more than you think—check out our complete guide to Windows 7 shortcuts to learn useful basic maneuvers,

like how you can hold down the Ctrl key while left-clicking to cycle through a group of taskbar buttons, or hold down Shift while right-clicking

to show the regular window menu. Here's the full list of Taskbar-specific shortcuts:

 

Win+number (1-9): Starts the application pinned to the taskbar in that position, or switches to that program.

Shift+Win+number (1-9): Starts a new instance of the application pinned to the taskbar in that position.

Ctrl+Win+number (1-9): Cycles through open windows for the application pinned to the taskbar in that position.

Alt+Win+number (1-9): Opens the Jump List for the application pinned to the taskbar.

Win+T: Focus and scroll through items on the taskbar.

Win+B: Focuses the System Tray icons.

Drag+Drop taskbar buttons or System Tray icons: to reorganize them.

Shift+Click on a taskbar button: Open a program or quickly open another instance of a program.

Ctrl+Shift+Click on a taskbar button: Open a program as an administrator.

Shift+Right-click on a taskbar button: Show the window menu for the program (like XP does).

Shift+Right-click on a grouped taskbar button: Show the window menu for the group.

Ctrl+Click on a grouped taskbar button: Cycle through the windows of the group.

Drag a File to a taskbar button: to pin the file to the current application's Jump List.

Shift+Drag a File to a taskbar button: to open a file with the current application.

Middle-Click on a taskbar button: to open a new instance of the application.

Middle-Click on a Aero Thumbnail: to close that application instance.

Left-Click + Drag upwards: to open the Jump List for an application.

 

Once you've mastered the shortcut keys and mouse tricks, or at least those you'll actually use, it's time to learn how to fully use Windows 7's Jump Lists,

from tweaking the number of items shown to pinning document templates and quickly accessing private browsing modes.

You'll find more on this subject in this lifehacker article.