Desktop tips and tricks
In this articleThe short time it takes you to organize your desktop can save you time and help make your computing experience simpler and more pleasant.
Move program shortcuts to the Quick Launch toolbar
Many people keep program shortcuts on their desktop, but open windows can block your view of the desktop. The Quick Launch toolbar solves this problem because it is on the taskbar, which is visible even when you have windows open. For example, if you’ve added a web browser shortcut to the Quick Launch toolbar and you are working in a document, you don't have to minimize the document window to open the web browser. Instead, you can click the web browser icon on the Quick Launch toolbar.
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| Quick Launch toolbar |
For more information, see Add or remove the Quick Launch toolbar
or Taskbar: recommended links.
Organize files and programs on the Start menu
On the Start menu, you can find shortcuts for programs you've used recently. And, if you want to keep a program shortcut in one place so you can always find it, you can pin it to the Start menu.
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| Start menu |
 | To pin a program icon to the Start menu |
| If you use a program regularly, you can pin its program icon to the Start menu. Pinned program icons appear on the left side of the Start menu, above the horizontal line. | | • | Right-click the program icon you want to pin to the Start menu, and then click Pin to Start Menu. |
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You can find files, documents, folders, and other items you've been working with recently in Recent Items on the Start menu.
| To find recent items on the Start menu |
| | 1.
| Click the Start button  . | | 2.
| Point to Recent Items. Files you've worked with recently should appear in the list. |
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For more information, see Add or remove Recent Items on the Start menu and Customize the Start menu.
Don't store files on the desktop
To improve your computer's performance and find files more easily, it's best to store files in the Documents folder rather than on the desktop.
To access files from your desktop, create a desktop shortcut instead. For more information, see Create or delete a shortcut.
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| A clean Windows desktop can help improve your computer's performance |
Taskbar
The area of the desktop that contains the Start button and buttons for all open programs. By default, the taskbar is located at the bottom of the desktop, but you can move it.
Quick Launch toolbar
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Shortcut
A link to any item accessible on your computer or on a network, such as a program, file, folder, disk drive, printer, or another computer. You can put shortcuts in various areas, such as on the desktop, on the Start menu, or in specific folders.
Icon
A small picture that represents a file, folder, program, or other object or function.
Program
A set of instructions that a computer uses to perform a specific task, such as word processing, accounting, or data management. Also called an application.
Minimize
To reduce a window to a button on the taskbar. To minimize a window, click the Minimize button (leftmost button on the right side of the title bar) or press ALT+SPACEBAR and then press N.
Web browser
A software program used to display webpages and to navigate the Internet. Internet Explorer is a web browser.
Desktop
The work area on a computer screen that simulates the top of an actual desk. You can arrange icons on the desktop, such as the Recycle Bin and shortcuts to programs, files, folders, and various types of documents, just as you would arrange real objects on top of a desk.
Help and How-to
