Windows 11 drag and drop to taskbar fix

Windows 11 Drag & Drop to the Taskbar (Fix)

This program fixes the missing «Drag & Drop to the Taskbar» support in Windows 11. In the best case, such a simple and basic functionality will return to Windows 11 in October 2022. For now, we have to use workarounds in the OS that was supposed to «empower our productivity».

UPDATE: Windows 11 22H2 (build 22621 and 22622, released in September 2022) restores the drag & drop functionality natively, so this program is not longer needed. To learn how to update your Windows 11, please visit this page. You can still use this program if you’re running an older version of Windows 11. In case you have troubles removing it, please read #issue 81.

Windows11DragAndDropToTaskbarFix works with the new Windows 11 taskbar and does not require nasty changes like UndockingDisabled or restoration of the classic taskbar. It doesn’t change any system registry keys (except autostart for itself when manually configured) and does not inject any DLLs to other processes, so it’s a very portable solution. This program will not interrupt further windows updates as it doesn’t change any system files. It’s an independent C++ process that does all the job.

Download Binary (Windows11DragAndDropToTaskbarFix.exe)

Install Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable x64

(in case you’re getting the missing VCRUNTIME140_1.dll error).

Read the Changelog

View the source code (Windows11DragAndDropToTaskbarFix.cpp)

How Does It Work?

The program detects if you’re currently pressing the Left or the Right Mouse Button and determines which icon on the taskbar you hover the mouse pointer on. If the cursor stays in the same area for definied number of milliseconds — it simulates the Win+T hotkey and arrow keys in order to restore the intended window, using a quite complicated method. It also supports dropping files to the «Show desktop» button (bottom-right of the screen). The program supports multiple screens, auto startup, and has many configuration options (please read below). Windows11DragAndDropToTaskbarFix has no auto-update function and never connects to the Internet, so you don’t need to worry about your privacy.

You can click on the Mona Lisa Megan Fox tray icon to show menu that allows you to Check for updates, Read the changelog, Configure, Open program folder, Restart and Quit.

Custom Configuration: Autostart, Timings, Keys Remapping and more

It’s possible to configure the program by creating a configuration file at the same location as Windows11DragAndDropToTaskbarFix.exe. The configuration file should be named: Windows11DragAndDropToTaskbarFixConfig.txt. You can automate this process by clicking on the Mona Lisa Megan Fox Tray icon and then Configure... from the menu. It will create the correct file and open the GitHub page for reference.

Please read a separate article: CONFIGURATION for details.

Limitations

• The program does not support pinning apps to the taskbar using the drag and drop gesture, and this feature is currently not planned. However, you still can pin apps to the taskbar by clicking on their icons with the right mouse button, and then «Show more options» -> «Pin to taskbar» from the list. Example.

• If the program does not work for you, and you’re using the custom skin modifications / themes, please add the following line to your configuration file:

DetectKnownPixelColorsToPreventAccidentalEvents=0

• I’m not aware of any serious limitations in the current version. Please check #issues

How to Start or Quit the Program?

To use the fix, please simply download the binary file above (or compile it yourself) and start it as any other program. It works as an independent C++ process.

To quit this program, please click on the Mona Lisa Megan Fox Tray icon, and select «Quit…» from the menu. You can also kill Windows11DragAndDropToTaskbarFix.exe or Windows 11 Drag & Drop to the Taskbar (Fix) by the Task Manager.

Special Thanks To:

– Dr. Mona Lisa for creating this program. Please also check Unofficial Patch for Empire Earth II.

– Martin Morano for giving permissions to use his awesome «Mona Lisa Megan Fox» artwork, used as the program icon.

– zhongxia_87887 (veryicon.com) for providing the free alternative program icon, modified & enhanced by QuestYouCraft.

Before / After Videos

Videos recorded thanks to @Mohammad Suleman from ilovefreesoftware.com.

Before Windows11DragAndDropToTaskbarFix	After Windows11DragAndDropToTaskbarFix
Before.mp4	After.mp4

«VCRUNTIME140_1.dll» was not found error

If you get an error saying that «VCRUNTIME140_1.dll» is missing, please install Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable x64. Normally, these runtime libraries are installed by default on Windows 11. If you get this error then you most likely manually removed them before, using «Add or remove programs».

Donation?

If you love this software so much that you would like to buy me a cola, pizza, or anything else — you can make a donation using the button available on my other project’s website: Click here. Please don’t forget to mention in the donation message that it’s for this fix, so I can spend it for other things than multiplayer servers for that game

 

Drag and Drop for Windows 11 — это портативная программа, которая привносит в вашу Виндовс 11 возможность перетаскивать файлы с помощью панели задач, что нативно пока невозможно, как это было в предыдущих версиях операционной системы.

В настоящее время компания Microsoft еще не добавила эту функцию в Windows 11, поэтому программа была разработана сторонними разработчиками для того, чтобы донести эту замечательную и очень полезную функцию до пользователей системы Windows 11.

Портативный и эффективный

• Он работает с новой панелью задач Windows 11 и не вносит никаких неприятных изменений в вашу систему. Он не изменяет никаких ключей системного реестра (кроме автозапуска при ручной настройке) и не внедряет никаких DLL в другие процессы, что делает его очень удобным решением для этой цели.
• Софт не будет прерывать другие обновления Windows, поскольку она не изменяет никаких системных файлов, так как является независимым процессом C+, который выполняет всю работу по включению этой замечательной функции в вашей 11 винде.

Despite Windows 11’s new useful features, Microsoft removed some existing ones, such as the Drag and Drop file feature, creating inconvenience for basic navigation activities. That said, if you’re unhappy about the same and wish to bring it back, this explainer has precisely what you need. In this article, we have demonstrated several effective methods to get the Drag and Drop feature on Windows 11 taskbar. Additionally, you can learn to install Windows 11 on Unsupported Systems with just a single tool.

How to Get Drag and Drop Feature on Windows 11 Taskbar

With the help of several tools and tweaks, restoring the drag-and-drop feature on Windows 11 is pretty simple. Follow these methods to achieve the same.

Upgrade to the Windows 11 22H2 Update

After getting a boatload of user requests to restore the drag-and-drop taskbar functionality, Microsoft has finally rolled it out in its 22H2 feature update. Here’s how you can update your system to experience it.

1. Press the Windows + I key to open the Settings app and expand Windows Update in the left sidebar to check for new system updates.

2. Wait a few seconds to receive the latest 22H2 update. Click the Download and Install button to upgrade your system.

3. If you haven’t received the 22H2 update yet, follow the next methods to achieve the same.

Try Alt+Tab Method to Simulate the Drag and Drop Feature

One of the simplest workarounds to achieve this functionality in Windows 11 is to use the Alt + Tab method. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Click and drag the file you wish to use in the desired app using this feature.

2. Now, press the mouse button and drag the file, switch your window by pressing the Alt+Tab key combination, and open your desired app window.

3. Release your mouse button with the dragged inside the opened window to open/use it in your desired application. That’s it. You’ve successfully opened your file inside your desired application using the drag and drop feature similar to taskbar functionality.

Use Free Third-Party Tools/Scripts to Enable Drag and Drop Feature

Another effective fix to enable the drag-and-drop feature in Windows 11 taskbar is to use a free tool/script available on GitHub. Follow these steps to achieve the same.

1. Access the GitHub page for the Windows 11 Taskbar Fix.

2. Next, click the Windows11DragAndDropToTaskbarFix.exe file to download it.

3. Double-click on the downloaded file to install it. Click on the Run Anyway button if prompted by the Microsoft Installer.

4. That’s it. The tool will now start automatically on your Windows 11 system. Try dragging a file to your taskbar and then pick the desired app window in which you wish to open it. Congrats. You can now easily use this feature in your Windows 11 taskbar.

Tweak the Windows Registry Files

Besides downloading third-party tools and scripts, you can also tweak Windows Registry files to revive the drag-and-drop taskbar feature. Here’s what you need to follow.

1. Open the Run window by pressing the Windows + R hotkeys and type ‘regedit‘ to run the Registry Editor window.

2. Next, copy and paste the following path in the navigation bar and hit the enter key.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell \Update\Packages

3. Right-click the Packages folder to create a new DWORD (32-Bit value).

4. Name this key as ‘UndockingDisabled‘ and set its value to 1. Click the OK button to save changes.

5. Restart your system to experience changes.

Note: Enabling the drag-and-drop taskbar functionality using this method makes the Start and Search taskbar icons static, i.e., you can not click to use them. To revert changes, you can delete the created Undocking Disbaled in the Registry Editor app and reboot your system.

Install the Official Microsoft Store App to get Drag and Drop Feature

Another working method to enable the drag and drop feature in your Windows 11 taskbar is to use an official Microsoft app providing the same. Follow these steps for an easy fix.

1. Open the Microsoft Store app on your Windows 11 system.

2. Next, search for the Drag and Drop Toolbar for Windows 11 app and click the Get button to install it to your system.

3. This app will now launch a separate notch-shaped taskbar at the top-middle center of your screen.

4. You can drag your file to this mini taskbar to open your file in the desired application.

5. Your dragged file will instantly open in your chosen application.

Bonus: Switch Screen Layout to Drag and Drop files Quickly

Besides using the taskbar to drag and drop files, you can switch your current screen layout on Windows 11 to open two or more folders for exchanging files. Follow these easy steps to achieve the same.

1. Open your desired folder and hover the mouse cursor over the Maximize/Minimize button to switch screen layouts.

2. Pick your preferred split screen layout and open the folders to exchange files between them.

3. Finally, drag your file from one folder to another to transfer it.

FAQs

Q: How to enable the drag-and-drop feature in Windows 11 taskbar?

A: You need to install the 22H2 update of Windows 11, to get the drag-and-drop feature. In case you have not received the update, follow the other easy methods in this explainer to enable the drag-and-drop feature on Windows 11 taskbar.

Q: How to use the GitHub tool to use drag and drop on Windows 11?

A: GitHub’s taskbar fixer tool tweaks the system to make drag and drop available to Windows 11 users. For more details, refer to the method listed above.

Wrapping Up: Move Files Easily with Drag and Drop

We hope you’ve successfully learned to bring back the drag-and-drop feature on your Windows 11 taskbar using the above-tested methods. If this quick read has helped you to boost your productivity, share this guide with your friends and check the below link for more interesting reads. Stay subscribed to GadgetsToUse for more such reads.

You might be interested in the following:

• The Complete Guide to Install macOS on Windows 11/10
• 6 Ways to Pin Any App or Feature to Taskbar in Windows 11
• 15 Best Windows 11 File Explorer Tips, Tricks, and Hidden Hacks
• 11 Ways to Fix Internal SSD not showing up in Windows 10/11

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