How to the Change Size of Taskbar Icons in Windows 11

How to Change Taskbar Icon Size Using Settings

Changing your taskbar icon size in Windows 11 is straightforward using the Settings app. Look for the ‘Show smaller taskbar buttons’ option in the taskbar settings to make your icons consistently smaller. This is the most direct way to adjust the taskbar icon size without needing advanced tools.

1. ⚙️ Open Settings by pressing Win + I on your keyboard.
2. Click on Personalization on the left side, then select Taskbar on the right.
3. Scroll down and click Taskbar behaviors to expand it.
4. Find the drop-down menu labeled Show smaller taskbar buttons. Choose one of these:

   • Always – icons stay small all the time.
   • Never – icons stay the original size.
   • When taskbar is full – icons shrink only when taskbar runs out of space.
5. Close Settings. Your changes will apply right away.

Open Taskbar Settings directly

Change Taskbar Icon Size Using the Registry (Advanced)

For users comfortable with advanced system settings, changing the taskbar icon size in Windows 11 involves editing the Registry. This method lets you set icons to always appear smaller by creating a specific value within the Registry. It’s a more technical approach to ensure your taskbar icons are consistently small.

This method lets you set the icon size by creating a specific value within the Registry:

Always show smaller icons:

Never show smaller icons:

reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v IconSizePreference /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

Show smaller icons only when taskbar is full (default):

reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v IconSizePreference /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f

How to edit the Registry manually:

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter to open Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
3. Find IconSizePreference on the right. If it doesn’t exist, right-click and create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value with that name.
4. Double-click IconSizePreference and set the value to:

   • 0 for always small
   • 1 for never small
   • 2 for small only when full
5. Click OK and close Registry Editor.
6. Sign out and back in, or 🔄 restart your PC to see the changes.

To edit the registry manually for taskbar icon size, first open the Registry Editor. Press ⊞ Win+R, type regedit, and then press Enter. Navigate to the specific path and find or create the ‘IconSizePreference’ setting to change your taskbar icon size.

Change Taskbar Icon Size for All or Specific Users (Using Local Group Policy Editor)

Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education users can employ the Local Group Policy Editor to alter the taskbar icon size for all users or specific ones. This tool allows management of settings across different accounts on your computer to enforce a consistent taskbar icon size.

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor:

   • Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
2. To apply for all users: Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > ⊞ Start Menu and Taskbar
3. To apply for specific users: Go to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > ⊞ Start Menu and Taskbar
4. In the right pane, double-click Configure Taskbar Small Button Behavior.
5. Choose one of the following:

   • Not Configured: lets users choose their own size (default).
   • Enabled: then pick “Always”, “Never”, or “When taskbar is full” from the dropdown.
6. Click OK.
7. 🔄 Restart your PC or sign out and sign back in to apply changes.

Summary

Windows 11 offers multiple ways to adjust your taskbar icon size to suit your needs. The Settings menu allows for quick changes, while the Registry Editor or Local Group Policy Editor provide more control. These methods let you choose to keep your icons at their normal size, always small, or small only when the taskbar is full.

• You have choices: Use Settings for simple changes, or Registry/Group Policy for advanced control.
• Flexible options: Keep icons normal size, always small, or only small when 🖥️ the taskbar is crowded.
• User-friendly: Easy to do with just a few clicks in Settings.
• Save screen space: Smaller icons help fit more apps on 🖥️ your taskbar.
• Customize your PC: Make your Windows 11 look and work the way you like.

Enjoy your personalized taskbar!