Customizing the Taskbar in Windows 11
The Windows 11 taskbar is a central feature of the operating system, providing quick access to pinned apps, the Start Menu, search, notifications, and various system controls. However, many users wish to adjust the taskbar to better suit their preferences and needs. While Windows 11 introduced a simplified taskbar compared to Windows 10, there are still plenty of ways to customize it. Below, we will explore how to modify its appearance, functionality, and behavior.
1. Positioning the Taskbar
One of the first changes many users notice with Windows 11 is the default position of taskbar icons—centered rather than aligned to the left as in previous versions of Windows. However, you can reposition the icons if desired.
- Center or Left Alignment:
- Right-click on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings.
- Scroll down and click on Taskbar behaviors.
- Under the Taskbar alignment dropdown, choose either Left (traditional Windows look) or Center (Windows 11 default).
- Your taskbar icons will instantly move to the desired position.
2. Adding or Removing Icons from the Taskbar
Windows 11 allows users to customize which icons appear on the taskbar, making it easy to access frequently used apps or system features.
- Pinning Apps to the Taskbar:
- To pin an app, open the Start Menu, right-click the app icon, and choose Pin to taskbar.
- Alternatively, if the app is open, right-click the app’s icon on the taskbar and select Pin to taskbar.
- Removing Apps from the Taskbar:
- Right-click any app on the taskbar and select Unpin from taskbar. This action will remove the app icon from the taskbar.
3 . System Icons and Widgets
In addition to app icons, the taskbar includes several system icons by default, such as search, task view, widgets, and more. You can customize these to either keep the taskbar minimalist or include as many useful shortcuts as possible.
Enabling/Disabling System Icons:
- Go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar.
- Under the Taskbar items section, toggle the switches for Search, Task View, Widgets, and Chat on or off, depending on your preferences.
- Taskbar Corner Overflow:
- The Taskbar corner overflow section controls which system icons are hidden in the corner overflow area (accessible by clicking the caret next to the system tray icons).
- You can toggle icons like Volume, Network, Battery, and others.
4. Customizing the Taskbar Appearance
While Windows 11 doesn’t offer as many customization options as Windows 10, there are still ways to personalize the look of your taskbar.
- Changing Taskbar Color:
- Go to Settings > Personalization > Colors.
- Scroll down to the Choose your color section, and select between Light, Dark, or Custom mode.
- If you select Custom, you can separately configure Windows mode (taskbar) and app mode (applications) to be either dark or light.
- To apply a color to the taskbar, enable the option Show accent color on Start and taskbar in the Accent color section. You can either choose an automatic color based on your wallpaper or pick a specific one.
- Transparency Effect:
Windows 11 includes a transparency effect that gives the taskbar a frosted glass appearance. To toggle this effect:
- Go to Settings > Personalization > Colors.
- Scroll down and enable/disable Transparency effects.
5. Taskbar Size Adjustment
Although Windows 11 doesn’t include a built-in option for adjusting taskbar size, it is possible to make the taskbar larger or smaller using the Registry Editor.
- Changing Taskbar Size via Registry Editor:
- Open the Registry Editor (press `Win + R`, type `regedit`, and hit Enter).
- Navigate to `HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced`.
- Right-click in the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it TaskbarSi.
- Double-click TaskbarSi and set its value to:
- `0` for a small taskbar.
- `1` for the default size.
- `2` for a larger taskbar.
- Click **OK** and restart Windows Explorer or reboot your system for the changes to take effect.
6. Taskbar Animation Settings
You can customize some animation behaviors of taskbar icons, such as how they move or bounce during interactions.
- Disabling Taskbar Animations:
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Visual effects.
- Toggle off Animation effects. This setting will affect taskbar animations, making interactions feel more instantaneous.
7. Hiding the Taskbar
Sometimes, users prefer a clean desktop where the taskbar only appears when needed. You can set the taskbar to auto-hide, giving you more screen real estate when you’re not actively using it.
- Auto-Hide the Taskbar:
- Right-click on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings.
- Under Taskbar behaviors, enable Automatically hide the taskbar.
- When you move your cursor to the bottom of the screen, the taskbar will reappear.
8. Taskbar Toolbars (Third-Party Solutions)
Unlike Windows 10, Windows 11 doesn’t natively support adding custom toolbars to the taskbar. However, third-party applications can add this functionality back if it’s something you miss.
- ExplorerPatcher: This free utility restores the Windows 10 taskbar features to Windows 11, including custom toolbars. You can download and configure this tool to regain features that are missing in the default Windows 11 taskbar.
- Start11: A paid application by Stardock that adds robust customization features to the taskbar, including custom toolbar options, taskbar size adjustments, and taskbar positioning (left, right, top, bottom).
9.Multiple Displays and Taskbar Settings
If you use more than one monitor, Windows 11 allows you to adjust how the taskbar behaves across multiple displays.
- Taskbar on Multiple Monitors:
- Go to Settings > System > Display > Multiple displays.
- Scroll down and enable Show taskbar on all displays.
- You can further customize whether the taskbar icons appear on all monitors or only on the primary display, and how app buttons should appear across your monitors.
10. Taskbar Troubleshooting and Reset
If you encounter issues with your taskbar (e.g., unresponsive icons, missing system icons), a quick reset can often solve the problem.
- Restart Windows Explorer:
- Press `Ctrl + Shift + Esc` to open the Task Manager.
- Scroll down to Windows Explorer in the Processes tab, right-click it, and select Restart. This action will reset the taskbar without needing a full reboot.
- Resetting Taskbar Settings:
- If you need to reset all taskbar customizations to their default, you can do so by navigating to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar and using the Reset options for specific items.
Conclusion
Customizing the taskbar in Windows 11 offers a balance between functionality and personalization. Though the new design is more streamlined than previous versions, there are still many ways to adjust the taskbar’s look, feel, and behavior to better suit your workflow. Whether you’re aiming for a minimal desktop or one packed with easy access to all your favorite apps, Windows 11’s taskbar can be tweaked to match your needs.