Home | Explore Windows |
Get to know Windows | Photos & videos | TV & movies | Music | Games | Email & chat | Productivity | PC health | Home networking | Work from anywhere |
Products |
Windows 7 | Windows Vista | Windows XP |
Windows 8 Consumer Preview |
Internet Explorer | Hotmail | SkyDrive | Messenger |
Windows Media Center | Windows Media Player | Windows Home Server |
Genuine Windows | Microsoft Security Essentials |
Shop |
Shop home | Windows 7 | Windows 7 PCs | Before you buy | Special offers |
Downloads |
Downloads home | Windows 7 | Windows Vista | Windows XP |
Windows 8 Consumer Preview |
Internet Explorer | SkyDrive | Messenger | Windows Live Essentials | Microsoft Security Essentials |
Personalization Gallery home | Windows 7 themes | Desktop backgrounds | Gadgets |
Languages |
Service Pack Center |
Help & How-to |
Windows 7 | Windows Vista | Windows XP |
Internet Explorer | Hotmail | SkyDrive | Messenger | Windows Live Essentials | Windows Live ID |
Windows Media Center | Windows Media Player | Windows Home Server | Microsoft Security Essentials | Windows Community | Windows Accessibility |
Windows 7 home | What is Windows 7? | Compare | Features | Videos |
Show all

Browse A to Z

64-bit support

Accessibility

Action Center

Aero

Audio and video

Backup and Restore

BitLocker

Calculator

Desktop

Device management

DirectX 11

Email

Gadgets

Games Explorer

Getting Started

HomeGroup

Internet Explorer

Internet TV

Jump Lists

Language packs

Libraries

Location-aware printing

Multiplayer games

Networking

Paint

Parental Controls

Peek

Performance improvements

Play To

Power management

ReadyBoost

Remote Desktop Connection

Remote Media Streaming

Shake

Snap

Snipping Tool

Startup Repair

Sticky Notes

System Restore

Tablet PC

User Account Control

Windows Anytime Upgrade

Windows Connect Now

Windows Defender

Windows Easy Transfer

Windows Experience Index

Windows Fax and Scan

Windows Firewall

Windows Live Essentials

Windows Live Movie Maker

Windows Live Photo Gallery

Windows Media Center

Windows Media Player 12

Windows Mobility Center

Windows Search

Windows Taskbar

Windows Touch

Windows Troubleshooting

Windows Update

Windows XP Mode

WordPad

XPS

Browse categories

Applies to all editions of Windows 7.

Compare editions



Get Windows 7



Stay connected with Windows

Windows Taskbar

Do what you need to do right on the taskbar—watch this video to see how. (0:30)

Sure, the new Windows 7 taskbar is still the same familiar place for switching between windows. But now it's easier to see, more flexible, and more powerful.

Jump Lists

With Jump Lists, you can get right to the documents, pictures, songs, and websites you use most often simply by right-clicking a program button on the taskbar. You'll also find Jump Lists on the Start menu—just click the arrow next to the program name.

Picture of Windows Jump Lists Jump Lists take you straight to your favorites.

Pinning

In Windows 7 you can pin favorite programs anywhere on the taskbar for easy access. Not crazy about the button lineup? Rearrange them any way you like by clicking and dragging. You can even pin individual documents and websites to Jump Lists on your taskbar.

Picture of Windows pinning Pin a program to your taskbar for easy access.

Live taskbar previews

In Windows 7, you can point to a taskbar button to see a live preview of its open windows—including webpages and live video. Move your mouse over a thumbnail to preview the window full screen, and click it to go open the window. You can even close windows and pause video and songs from the thumbnail previews—a big time saver.

Live taskbar previews are available only in the Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions of Windows 7.

Picture of Windows taskbar previews The new taskbar previews show you what's happening on your desktop.

Make sure to check out Peek and Action Center, two related taskbar features.

Learn how

Was this helpful?
Thank you.
Do you want to add anything else?
Thank you. Your feedback helps us to continually improve our content.
1200 400 How can we make this more helpful for you? Submit Skip this Do you want to add anything else? Submit No thanks