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How to Add an All Programs Button to the Windows 8 Taskbar

Oct 12, 2012 01:12 PM EDT by Konrad Krawczyk, Assistant Reviews Editor  

Programs ButtonMillions of users bemoan the fact that Windows 8 has done away with the classic Start menu button. Fortunately, there’s a way to resurrect a skeletal version of it in Windows 8’s Desktop UI by attaching the Programs folder to the taskbar. Here’s how:


  1. Navigate to the desktop if you’re not there already.
  2. Right-click on the Taskbar at the bottom of the screen to pull up a menu.
  3. Highlight the Toolbars sub-menu to reveal more options.


  4. Click on New toolbar.
  5. Type or Paste “%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs”(without the quotes) into the Folder field at the bottom of the New Toolbar window that appears and click Select Folder.

 The Programs button now appears on the right hand side of the Taskbar, labeled with “>>”.


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Comments (12 Responses) 

12 Responses to “How to Add an All Programs Button to the Windows 8 Taskbar”

  1. SD Says:
    February 13th, 2013 at 9:48 am

    Thanks so much. Was looking for it for some time now..

  2. Dina Says:
    February 19th, 2013 at 7:19 am

    BRILLIANT , THANK UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

  3. Atlant Says:
    February 21st, 2013 at 5:54 pm

    Thank you!

  4. john Says:
    February 21st, 2013 at 11:26 pm

    Thanks so much this was much needed and so easy. I don’t know if microsoft just sat back and decided lets get rid of all the stuff that people use to get around or what. with 8 but i am still learning. But so far it sucks bad

  5. Doug Says:
    February 22nd, 2013 at 9:47 pm

    Bless you.

  6. gal Says:
    February 24th, 2013 at 1:10 am

    thanx man

  7. CK Says:
    March 11th, 2013 at 12:33 pm

    awesome dude. thank you. now i dont need to download any freeware to this f******g office book

  8. Scott Says:
    March 21st, 2013 at 4:34 pm

    keep in mind that the only programs that will show in this list are ones installed for “everyone.” If you select “just me” while installing a program it won’t show in the list.

  9. Zuzu Boy Says:
    April 7th, 2013 at 3:29 pm

    Thank you so much! I was almost installing the “Classic Shell” but really would prefer not to. Thanks again!

  10. Patrick Says:
    April 10th, 2013 at 5:08 pm

    I like this even more, since I can just leave it as a shortcut on the desktop without eating up toolbar space.
    Just make a shortcut with the path – “C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs”

    then you have a more normal file dialogue instead to the somewhat tedious scroll window.

  11. Nisha Says:
    April 30th, 2013 at 11:37 am

    Thanks!This actually worked!

  12. Ray Says:
    May 9th, 2013 at 7:32 pm

    Thanks for sharing !!

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