The taskbar is perhaps the most important part of Windows 11. As a starting point for many searches, launching apps, and adjusting settings, it’s something you interact with dozens of times every day.
But compared to the Windows 10 version, it feels like the taskbar took a step back at startup. Many popular features were missing, while there was no clear benefit to the new design.
Microsoft has since added a few more, but there’s more work to be done. You can speed up the process with the help of this article, which contains six of the most popular ways to customize the Windows 11 taskbar.
The Windows 11 taskbar can feel a bit cluttered, especially if you’ve pinned your own apps there. Fortunately, Microsoft lets you choose whether to show some key tools or icons:
- Go to Settings > Personalization > Toolbar
- Under “Taskbar Items,” use the drop-down next to “Search” to choose how you want the feature to appear (or not at all)
- Next to ‘Task View’, ‘Widgets’ and ‘Chat’, use the toggles to choose whether you want the icons to appear on the taskbar
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- Under ‘System tray icons’, decide whether you want to display the pen menu (when a stylus is in use) or virtual touchpad icons using the toggles
- Use the drop-down next to “Touch keyboard” and choose when you want it to appear
![Windows 11 customizes taskbar method screenshots](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/windows-11-customise-taskbar-2.jpg?quality=50&strip=all&w=1200)
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- Click “Other system tray icons” to expand that section
- Toggle the switch to “On” for all items you want to show permanently in the taskbar, and “Off” for those you don’t want to show
![Windows 11 customizes taskbar method screenshots](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/windows-11-customise-taskbar-3.jpg?quality=50&strip=all&w=1200)
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
The centralized Start menu was one of Windows 11’s most controversial changes, but also one of the easiest to correct. Since launch, Microsoft has made it easy to return the Start menu to its traditional position on the left:
- Go to Settings > Personalization > Toolbar
- Click “Taskbar Behavior” to expand that section
- Click the drop-down next to “Taskbar Alignment” and select “Left.” The change is applied immediately
![Windows 11 customizes taskbar method screenshot](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/windows-11-customise-taskbar-4.jpg?quality=50&strip=all&w=1200)
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
In the same section, there is also the option to auto-hide the taskbar and decide whether to show badges or flashes on taskbar apps. On touchscreen devices, you can also decide if you want to optimize it for use as a tablet.
You can also toggle the options for sharing each window from the taskbar, quick access to the desktop in the far right corner, and seconds next to the time.
Move it to the top, left or right of the screen
In Windows 10, you can move the taskbar to either side or to the top of the screen if you want. But Microsoft removed this with the introduction of Windows 11…or did they?
While technically no longer available, there is a workaround that will allow you to access those deprecated options. Keep in mind that this involves making changes to the Registry, so it’s worth backing everything up first and following these instructions carefully:
- In the search bar next to the Start menu, type “registry editor” and open the app in question
- In the pop-up that appears, click “Yes” to confirm
- In the top navigation bar replace the existing text with ‘Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects3’ and press enter
- Double-click “Settings” to open it
![Windows 11 customizes taskbar method screenshot](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/windows-11-customise-taskbar-5.jpg?quality=50&strip=all&w=1200)
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
- Find the value that is six columns wide and two rows down. It should currently read ’03’, which indicates a bottom-aligned taskbar. Replace it with ’00’ for left, ’01’ for right, or ’00’ on top
![Windows 11 customizes taskbar method screenshot](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/windows-11-customise-taskbar-6.jpg?quality=50&strip=all)
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- Click ‘OK’ to confirm
- Restart your device to apply changes
Change the size
Here’s another one that depends on the registry. The Windows 11 taskbar remains the same size regardless of the overall size of your screen, which can make it annoyingly small or large.
Microsoft doesn’t officially let you resize, but there is a way:
- In the search bar next to the Start menu, type “registry editor” and open the app in question
- In the pop-up that appears, click “Yes” to confirm
- In the top navigation bar, replace the existing text with ‘Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced’ and press enter
- Right-click any white space and choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value
![Windows 11 customizes taskbar method screenshot](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/windows-11-customise-taskbar-7.jpg?quality=50&strip=all&w=1200)
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
- Name it ‘TaskbarSi’ and press enter, then double click on it
![Windows 11 customizes taskbar method screenshot](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/windows-11-customise-taskbar-8.jpg?quality=50&strip=all)
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
- The ‘Value data’ should currently be ‘1’, which indicates the default media toolbar. Enter ‘0’ for a minor version or ‘2’ for a major version, then click ‘OK’
![Windows 11 customizes taskbar method screenshot](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/windows-11-customise-taskbar-9.jpg?quality=50&strip=all)
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
- Restart your device to apply changes
Change the color or make it transparent
On Windows 11, you can make the taskbar (and all other accents) any color you want:
- Go to Settings > Personalization > Colors
- Next to ‘Accent Color’, make sure ‘Manual’ is selected in the drop-down list
![Windows 11 customizes taskbar method screenshot](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/windows-11-customise-taskbar-10.jpg?quality=50&strip=all&w=1200)
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
- Click on one of the preset ‘Windows colors’, which will be applied immediately. You can also click “View Colors” and choose something very specific, then click “Done.”
![Windows 11 customizes taskbar method screenshot](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/windows-11-customise-taskbar-11.jpg?quality=50&strip=all)
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
- Move the toggle next to “Show accent color on Start and taskbar” to the “On” position
![Windows 11 customizes taskbar method screenshot](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/windows-11-customise-taskbar-12-1.jpg?quality=50&strip=all&w=1200)
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Just above the “Accent Color” options, you’ll see a toggle for “Transparency Effects.” Instead of taking on a solid color, the taskbar becomes slightly transparent to blend in seamlessly with other elements. This is enabled by default, but it’s your choice if you want to keep it that way.
![Windows 11 customizes taskbar method screenshot](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/windows-11-customise-taskbar-13.jpg?quality=50&strip=all&w=1200)
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Determine what happens when external displays are connected
External displays are the easiest way to expand your total screen space, but that doesn’t mean you want the taskbar to look the same everywhere. Fortunately, there are a few options available to you:
- Go to Settings > Personalization > Toolbar
- Click “Taskbar Behavior” to expand that section
- Check the box next to “Show my taskbar on all displays” if you want this
- Next to “Show my taskbar apps when using multiple monitors,” click the drop-down. Choose one of the three options, all of which are self-explanatory
![Windows 11 customizes taskbar method screenshot](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/windows-11-customise-taskbar-14.jpg?quality=50&strip=all&w=1200)
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Add labels and never mix app icons (coming soon)
Two additional features that Microsoft removed with the introduction of Windows 11 will return soon. As a Twitter user Albacore reported firstre-adds the ability to label items in the taskbar and stop combining open windows of the same app into one view.
The features are now available to members of the Windows Insider Program ahead of an expected full release sometime in the near future – possibly in the 23H2 update.