# Getting Started with WinForms TaskbarButton

This tutorial will help you to quickly get started using the control.

## Adding Telerik Assemblies Using NuGet

To use `RadTaskbarButton` when working with NuGet packages, install the `Telerik.UI.for.WinForms.AllControls` package. The [package target framework version may vary](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/visual-studio-integration/available-nugets).

Read more about NuGet installation in the [Install using NuGet Packages](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/installation-and-upgrades/install-using-nuget) article.

> tip With the 2025 Q1 release, the Telerik UI for WinForms has a new licensing mechanism. You can learn more about it [here](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/licensing/license-key).

## Adding Assembly References Manually

When dragging and dropping a control from the Visual Studio (VS) Toolbox onto the Form Designer, VS automatically adds the necessary assemblies. However, if you're adding the control programmatically, you'll need to manually reference the following assemblies:

* **Telerik.Licensing.Runtime**
* **Telerik.WinControls**
* **Telerik.WinControls.UI**
* **TelerikCommon**

The Telerik UI for WinForms assemblies can be install by using one of the available [installation approaches](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/installation-and-upgrades/installing-on-your-computer).

## Defining the RadTaskbarButton

Before proceeding further with this article, it is recommended to get familiar with the Windows Taskbar's structure and how the different parts are being organized: [Structure](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/taskbar-button/structure).

Let's consider that you already have an existing Windows Forms application. Otherwise, create a new project using one of the [Visual Studio Templates](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/visual-studio-integration/visual-studio-templates). By default, when the application is running, the following button is shown in the Taskbar:

![WinForms TaskbarButton Default Button](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/368ff3383e8f13fd9395c7deab5ce7c9/taskbar-button-getting-started002.png)

This article demonstrates how to customize this visual representation.

1\. Drag the **RadTaskbarButton** component from the Visual Studio Toolbox and drop it onto the form:

![WinForms TaskbarButton Toolbox](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/82ac72320ac15dc49e259709a77341e1/taskbar-button-getting-started001.png)

2\. Select the **RadTaskbarButton** component and in the Visual Studio Properties section select which control on the form (or the form itself) will be the **ClipControl**, specify the **ProgressState** and set the **ThumbnailTooltip**.

![WinForms TaskbarButton Properties](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/338a120e67bd794f566848c7496f0c6b/taskbar-button-getting-started003.png)

3\. Clicking the **ThumbnailButtons** opens the *RadThumbnailButton Collection Editor* from where you can add two RadThumbnailButtons:

![WinForms TaskbarButton ThumbnailButtons](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/1acd9dc8b80f261a9240df0a3face644/taskbar-button-getting-started004.png)

4\. Save the changes and run the application:

![WinForms TaskbarButton Result](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/238d4809fb1aba7cc4e77564cde7a648/taskbar-button-getting-started005.png)

5\. Setting the **OverlayIcon** in the Visual Studio Properties allows you to put an icon to the taskbar button:

![WinForms TaskbarButton OverlayIcon](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/507e224df83111444609b792dbe924cf/taskbar-button-getting-started006.png)

> note RadTaskbarButton does not provide any UI element. It just offers convenient API for specifying the content displayed for your application on the [Windows Taskbar](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/uxguide/winenv-taskbar). The exact visualization depends on the Windows version.

## See Also

* [Getting Started](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/taskbar-button/getting-started)

* [Design Time](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/taskbar-button/design-time)

* [Structure](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/taskbar-button/structure)

## Telerik UI for WinForms Learning Resources

* [Telerik UI for WinForms TaskbarButton Component](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/taskbarbutton.aspx)
* [Getting Started with Telerik UI for WinForms Components](https://docs.telerik.com/devtools/winforms/getting-started/first-steps)
* [Telerik UI for WinForms Setup](https://docs.telerik.com/devtools/winforms/installation-and-upgrades/installing-on-your-computer)
* [Telerik UI for WinForms Converter](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/ai-coding-assistant/converter/converter)
* [Telerik UI for WinForms Visual Studio Templates](https://docs.telerik.com/devtools/winforms/visual-studio-integration/visual-studio-templates)
* [Deploy Telerik UI for WinForms Applications](https://docs.telerik.com/devtools/winforms/deployment-and-distribution/application-deployment)
* [Telerik UI for WinForms Virtual Classroom(Training Courses for Registered Users)](https://learn.telerik.com/learn/course/external/view/elearning/17/telerik-ui-for-winforms)
* [Telerik UI for WinForms License Agreement)](https://www.telerik.com/purchase/license-agreement/winforms-dlw-s)