I find it very convenient to have a one-click shortcut on my Taskbar to each of the system folders “Documents” and “Downloads” (in Win 11). This is instead of two clicks via File Explorer (once, wait for the page to load, then twice/click the folder.) Here’s how to create one-click shortcuts without editing the registry or using a third-party app.
To be clear here, we are only talking about a Taskbar shortcut to the special Windows Documents folder formerly known as “My Documents” and to Downloads, formerly known as “Downloads”.
Before beginning, note that there is an idiosyncrasy to the results – the shortcut you will create is a “one-way street”, explained at the end of this post.
First create a “Documents” shortcut: File Explorer > Documents, right click > Show more options (Note “Pin to Taskbar” is not an option here) > Send to > Desktop (create shortcut). Note again that “Pin to Taskbar” is not an option. Furthermore, you cannot drag that icon to the Taskbar.
Here’s the workaround: right click that shortcut you created > Properties. In the Shortcut Tab, Target field, add “explorer.exe” (no quote symbols) and one space between that and the front of the string in the Target field. Don’t hit “OK” just yet because by default, Win 11 will unhelpfully change the icon from the Documents icon to the Explorer icon.
To keep the “Documents” icon, we have to change the icon (sounds like your favorite politician?) Click “Change Icon…” (on the Properties > Shortcut Tab). In the “Look for icons in this field” window, change “explorer.exe” to “system32imageres.dll” or “system32shell32.dll”. Click “OK” (not “Browse”).
Scroll left and right in the icon folder that appears to find the icon you prefer. (On my system, the Win 11 default Documents and Download icons are in the imageres.dll folder.) Highlight the icon you want, “OK”, “OK”. You should now be back to your Desktop. Consider renaming the icon since whatever name you choose will attach to the icon once it’s on your Taskbar. Personally, I am able to remember it is a shortcut so I take “shortcut” out of the name. I don’t think it will be a problem if I forget it is a shortcut.
Note that MS still does not permit you to drag this shortcut to the Taskbar. However, haha, right click > “Show more options” you will see “Pin to Taskbar” has now appeared as an option. Mirabile dictu. Of course, do it. This Taskbar shortcut will do what you want it to do – take you straight to Documents with just one click. For a “Downloads” shortcut on the Taskbar, repeat the steps above.
The “one-way street” characteristics of these shortcuts is that they will always take you only to the entire Documents or Downloads folders. i.e. not back to a subfolder or document you have previously left open. But no problem, hover over the File Explorer icon on your Taskbar and click the one you want.
