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TrayToolbar

Free plan Windows

What TrayToolbar is

TrayToolbar is a free Windows app that recreates the taskbar toolbar functionality removed from Windows 11. It builds a shortcut menu from folders you select and their subfolders, with options to filter files and launch links, files, or apps found there. The menu refreshes when a configured folder changes. You can set global shortcut keys, choose individual folder icons, and adjust icon and font sizes. It supports Windows 11 dark mode and lists ten interface languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, and Korean. TrayToolbar is portable: extract its ZIP archive to a writable folder and run TrayToolbar.exe. It requires .NET Desktop Runtime 8, with ARM64 and x64 options. Updates check GitHub release metadata and SHA-256 asset digests, then validate the staged executable’s Authenticode signature. Tagged CI releases can publish SignPath-signed archives, while local unsigned builds are not accepted for automatic updates. The project supports only its latest release for security fixes and offers no formal vulnerability-report response SLA.

Who it suits

TrayToolbar suits Windows 11 users who want folder-based shortcut menus and customizable keys or icons. It may also suit people who prefer a portable app and need one of its listed interface languages.

What it does well

Free, with no trial required
Refreshes its menu when source folders change
Supports global shortcut keys and custom folder icons
Portable; no setup package is needed
Offers ARM64 and x64 options

What to know first

Requires .NET Desktop Runtime 8
Only the latest release is supported for security fixes
No formal SLA for vulnerability reports
Local unsigned builds cannot be automatic-update artifacts

Limits

The project supports only Windows and requires .NET Desktop Runtime 8. Security support is limited to the latest published release, and vulnerability reports have no formal response SLA.

Getting started

Open the TrayToolbar GitHub website
Choose the ARM64 or x64 archive
Extract the ZIP into a writable folder
Install .NET Desktop Runtime 8
Run TrayToolbar.exe
Select source folders and configure filters

Verdict

TrayToolbar offers a folder-based shortcut menu with adjustable filters, shortcuts, and appearance. Check the .NET requirement and security-support limits before choosing it.

Questions

What does TrayToolbar cost?

TrayToolbar is free and has a free plan. There is no free trial.

Which platforms does it support?

TrayToolbar supports Windows, including ARM64 and x64 options.

How is TrayToolbar installed?

Extract its ZIP archive to a writable folder and run TrayToolbar.exe; no setup package is required.

Where is configuration stored?

Configuration is stored at %LOCALAPPDATA%\\TrayToolbar\\TrayToolbarConfig.json.

How are updates checked?

The update flow checks GitHub release metadata and SHA-256 asset digests, then validates the staged executable with Windows Authenticode. The documented accepted publisher name is SignPath Foundation.

What languages are available?

The listed languages are English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, and Korean.

Facts from TrayToolbar's own pages

Appearance and languages: It supports Windows 11 dark mode and lists English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, and Korean. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Automatic refresh: The menu updates automatically when its source folder changes. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Automatic updates: The update flow checks GitHub release metadata and SHA-256 asset digests, then validates the staged executable's Authenticode signature. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Configuration: TrayToolbar stores its configuration at %LOCALAPPDATA%\TrayToolbar\TrayToolbarConfig.json. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Distribution: The app is portable: users extract a ZIP to a writable folder and run TrayToolbar.exe without a setup package. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Folder filters: Users can choose folders and customize the file filter. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Folder updates: The menu updates automatically when its configured folder changes. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Installation: TrayToolbar is portable: users extract the archive and run TrayToolbar.exe without a setup package. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Integrations: TrayToolbar uses GitHub Releases for update metadata and downloads; its README does not list third-party product integrations. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Known update limit: The update security documentation says a separate published checksum manifest in release assets is not currently enforced. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Languages: The app supports English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, and Korean. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Launch items: The menu can launch links, files, and apps found in the configured folders. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Maintainer and location: The GitHub profile identifies the maintainer as Bron Davies, associated with Brontech, LLC, and lists Utah. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Purpose: TrayToolbar replaces the custom taskbar toolbar functionality removed from Windows 11. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Runtime and architectures: It requires .NET Desktop Runtime 8 and provides ARM64 and x64 options. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Runtime requirement: The application requires .NET Desktop Runtime 8. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Security support: The project is maintained on a best-effort basis; only the latest published release is considered supported for security fixes, and there is no formal response SLA for vulnerability reports. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Shortcut menu: It creates a menu of shortcuts from user-selected local folders and their subfolders. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Shortcuts and appearance: Users can configure global shortcut keys, folder icons, and icon and font sizes. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Shortcuts and icons: It supports configurable global shortcut keys and custom icons for individual folders. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Signing: The project says tagged GitHub CI releases can publish SignPath-signed portable archives, while local unsigned builds are not valid automatic-update artifacts. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Support limits: The project does not offer a formal response SLA for vulnerability reports. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Update integrity: Its update flow validates GitHub release metadata and SHA-256 asset digests, then checks the staged executable with Windows Authenticode before running it. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Update signing: The documented accepted publisher name for staged update executables is SignPath Foundation. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026

Where TrayToolbar stands on Freedom251

Taskbar Customization Software#23 of 34