How to Make Folders Appear as Cascading Menu in the Quick Launch Toolbar

When you create sub-folders in the Quick Launch folder to better organize the shortcuts, the folders will appear in the Quick Launch toolbar correctly, but clicking them would launch Windows Explorer.

Some people would like to view the contents of the folder (cascaded as a list) rather than opening the folder when clicked. Here is how to make folders in the Quick Launch toolbar cascade as menu when clicked.

Make Quick Launch Folders Appear as Cascading Menu

Method 1: Use the Ctrl key

Hold the Ctrl key down and then click on the folder in your Quick Launch toolbar. This lists the folder contents as a menu.

Method 2: Using a Registry edit

1. Launch Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) and go to the following branch:

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

2. Create a new REG_DWORD value named CascadeFolderBands
3. Double-click CascadeFolderBands and set its value data to 1 (dword:00000001)
4. Exit the Registry Editor.
5. Log off and log back in for the change to take effect.

Now, click on the free space next to the folder icon (see where the mouse pointer is, in the image). This opens the menu listing the folder contents.

Ctrl + Click (on the folder) would work as well!

The above registry edit works in all Windows 2000 through Windows 7.