Windows 11 Taskbar Customization
The Windows 11 taskbar dropped a lot of the flexibility Windows 10 had. Most of it is still reachable - some through Settings, some only through the registry. This is the full map, with what each change costs.
Available in Settings
- Alignment - left or center. Left alignment restores Windows 10 muscle memory and keeps Start in a fixed screen position.
- Taskbar items - Search (icon, box or hidden), Task View, Widgets, Chat. Each one you hide also removes its hover and preload work.
- System tray overflow - which background icons are always visible.
- Auto-hide and multi-monitor behaviour, including which monitor shows the clock.
Registry-only tweaks
These live under HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
and need an Explorer restart to take effect:
| Value | Effect |
|---|---|
TaskbarSi | 0 = small, 1 = default, 2 = large icons |
TaskbarAl | 0 = left aligned, 1 = centered |
TaskbarGlomLevel | Grouping behaviour for multiple windows of one app |
ShowTaskViewButton | 0 hides Task View |
TaskbarDa | 0 hides Widgets |
Winhance writes exactly these values and lists each key next to its toggle, so you can verify or undo a change by hand - see Taskbar customizations.
Utilities in the TaskbarX / Explorer-patcher family inject into Explorer to bring back the Windows 10 taskbar, including never-combined labels and a resizable height. They work, and they are also the most common cause of Explorer crashes after a Windows feature update. If you use one, expect to update it in lockstep with Windows. Everything on this page is native and survives updates.
What is not coming back natively
Vertical or top placement, drag-and-drop of arbitrary items onto the taskbar, and true never-combine labels are not exposed by the Windows 11 shell. Only shell-injection tools restore them.
Related shell customizations
The taskbar is one of four surfaces worth tuning together: the Start menu (recommended section, folders), File Explorer (compact view, full context menu, launch target) and the Windows theme (dark mode, transparency, accent colour). Doing all four in one pass is what makes a fresh install feel like your machine - see the Winhance guide.
Windows 10
On Windows 10 most of this is still in the taskbar properties dialog: never-combine labels, small icons, toolbars and vertical docking all ship natively, and the registry values above are either absent or ignored.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make the Windows 11 taskbar smaller?
Yes, with the TaskbarSi registry value (0 = small). There is no Settings option for it, and the change needs an Explorer restart.
Can I move the Windows 11 taskbar to the top?
Not with native settings. Only shell-injection tools restore top or vertical placement, and they need updating after Windows feature updates.