# Install and Use Taskbar Launcher

## Small Package

The small package requires:

- Windows x64
- Microsoft .NET 10 Desktop Runtime x64

Download .NET 10 Desktop Runtime:

https://dotnet.microsoft.com/en-us/download/dotnet/10.0

Install the **.NET Desktop Runtime** for **Windows x64**.

## Install

1. Extract the Taskbar Launcher zip to a folder.
2. Run `TaskbarLauncher.exe`.
3. The app appears in the system tray.
4. Press `Ctrl+Alt+Space` to open the launcher.
5. Right-click a launcher entry and choose **Edit in Settings** to jump to that item.
6. Right-click a launcher entry and choose **Pin to Top** or **Unpin from Top**.
7. Right-click a launcher entry and choose **Disable Item** to hide it until it is enabled again from Settings.
8. Right-click an app or file entry and choose **Open Containing Folder**.

Recently launched entries appear in the launcher popup under **Recent**.

Search results include the parent menu path when an item is inside a menu.

## Configure

Open the tray menu and choose **Settings**.

From Settings you can:

- Add top-level menus
- Add submenus
- Add folders, apps, files, and websites
- Drag/drop items to reorder
- Drag/drop files, folders, shortcuts, or web links into the launcher item list
- Right-click an item and choose **Duplicate Item** to copy it
- Right-click an item and choose **Pin to Top** to show it first in its menu
- Right-click an item and choose **Disable Item** or **Enable Item** to hide or restore it
- Right-click an app or file item and choose **Open Containing Folder**
- Use **Config... > Validate Targets** to check for missing app, file, and folder targets
- Use **Config... > Export Selected Item** or **Import Item** to share one item or menu section
- Right-click an item and choose **Sort This Menu** or **Sort This Level**
- Set per-item icon sizes
- Back up and restore `config.json`
- Enable Start with Windows

## Portable Settings

The app stores settings in:

```text
config.json
```

Keep `config.json` beside `TaskbarLauncher.exe`.

If `config.json` is missing, the app creates a clean starter config on first run.

## Example Config

The source repository includes `config.example.json` as a public-safe example. It is not required for normal installation.

Paths in config may use Windows environment variables such as `%USERPROFILE%`.