All of us are well aware of the good, old Internet Explorer. That was, for most of us, the first browser we used when we were introduced to the world of the internet, and it continued to be one of the most popular ones till the launch of Microsoft Edge.
Microsoft Edge was first introduced in Windows 10 and offered a unique feature that allowed users to access a web page directly from the taskbar or Start menu. Even though this function was initially unique to Edge, today there are multiple ways to pin links to the Start menu from any browser.
In this article, we will present the step-by-step process of linking web page addresses to the taskbar/Start menu of different internet browsers including Microsoft Edge. This will allow users instant access to the sites they need to visit frequently and will save their time along with offering increased flexibility.
Microsoft Edge
- Open the website that you wish to link to the Start menu
- Next, locate the three-dotted icon on the top right-hand corner of your screen.
- Amongst the options that appear, select Settings and then choose Pin to Start.
The process of pinning the website`s link to the Start menu is as simple as that. However, to double-check if the task has been effectively performed, you can go to the Start menu and look for a live tile representing your web page.
If the tile is visible it means you have successfully pinned the link. If you are not satisfied with the dimensions of the tile and think it is too big or too small, you can alter its size with a right-click.
You can also turn off the live tile if it is no longer required.
Internet Explorer
Interestingly, some people are still more comfortable using Internet Explorer irrespective of the other browser options available. In fact, now Explorer is fully equipped to compete with all other browsers.
You would be surprised to know that it is possible to pin links to the taskbar, even in Microsoft Internet Explorer 11.
Just to clarify, there is a slight difference between the taskbar and the Start menu. While we are all aware of the Start menu, the taskbar refers to the linear strip that exists between the start icon on the left and the clock present on the extreme right in that same line. Hence, it is the area or bar that represents all the programs running on your PC and allows you to switch between them.
In some browsers like Edge, it is quite easy to pin links to the Start menu, whereas in other browsers like Explorer, you can link them to the Taskbar in a more convenient manner.
To link your required website to the taskbar in Internet Explorer, you must:
- First, open that website in the browser
- Locate the icon present on the left of the URL (within the address bar)
- Drag it to the taskbar
And, you are done.
Even though pinning a website`s link to the Start menu is not impossible in Internet Explorer, to make your lives easier, it is better to opt for the taskbar option which would offer a similar user experience.
Google Chrome
By now you must know that the first step to pin links to the Start menu from any browser involves accessing that website.
- Therefore, it will be the same with Google Chrome
- Click the popular three-dotted Settings icon
- In Chrome, you should navigate to More Tools and then select the option, Add to Taskbar
- A dialogue box will open up. This will allow you to name the shortcut, and also to select whether you would like the website to open in a new tab or a new window.
- Now that the main steps are completed, you can locate your shortcut under the head of All Apps in the Start menu. To pin it to either the Start menu or the taskbar, right-click on the shortcut and select your desired pin location.
Just like the above-mentioned platforms, it is possible to pin links to the Start menu from any browser.
The purpose of sharing this information is that many people are not aware of this simple shortcut. Amongst those who need to access a website urgently, include employees who need to mark attendance on their workplace’s online software daily. Instant access to the link may prevent one late marking. Similarly, there are students who need to access certain web pages repeatedly, especially in these times when the interaction is mostly limited to digital media.
Therefore, along with sharing these hacks in connection with pinning links to the Start menu from any browser, we also have guided you on how to carry out the process in the three most popular browsers.
Having gone through the above-mentioned steps, you would probably have realized that they are more or less similar for all browsers. Therefore, having knowledge about how to pin links to the start menu or taskbar in one of the browsers can help you carry out the task in another.