How to Choose App Icons for Windows 11 Taskbar
Choosing the right app icons for your Windows 11 taskbar streamlines your workflow by providing quick access to your most-used programs.
Your Windows 11 taskbar acts as a central hub for launching applications. You can customize it by pinning or unpinning icons, ensuring only the apps you need most are readily available.
A well-organized taskbar in Windows 11 reduces clutter and significantly speeds up launching your essential software. For instance, pinning Microsoft Edge to your taskbar ensures you can open it with a single click, anytime.
You control exactly which app icons appear, making your digital workspace uniquely yours and boosting your productivity.
Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I, then navigate to Personalization > Taskbar. Use the toggle switches within the Taskbar items, System tray icons, and Other system tray icons sections to show or hide specific app icons.
How to Open Your Settings
Opening the Settings menu in Windows 11 is simple and lets you manage your taskbar icons. You can press the Windows key and the letter I on your keyboard together, or click the Start button and then choose Settings.
Once the window opens, click Personalization on the left side. Then, click Taskbar on the right.
Inside the Taskbar menu, you will see three main areas:
- Taskbar items
- System tray icons
- Other system tray icons
Click on each section to see your choices.
Show or Hide Buttons
Windows 11 starts with some buttons turned on by default. You can add or remove these to fit your needs.
To hide a button, find the switch next to the name and flip it to Off.
You can adjust these buttons to keep your bar simple.
Managing the System Tray
The system tray, found in the bottom right corner of your screen, is where icons for running apps often gather. To keep this area tidy, you can easily hide icons you don’t use often by simply flipping the switch to ‘Off’ in the system tray settings.
To stop an icon from showing here, flip the switch to Off in the system tray settings section.
Hiding icons you don’t use will keep your corner area tidy.
Using the Overflow Area
The taskbar’s overflow area acts like a hidden drawer, holding app icons that don’t fit on your main bar. When you click the small up-arrow icon on your taskbar, you can see and access all the extra apps you’ve tucked away.
When you click the small up-arrow icon, you’ll see all the extra apps you’ve tucked away. It’s like a hidden drawer for icons that don’t quite fit on the main bar.
Click that arrow to access your hidden icons whenever you need them.
Summary
Customizing your Windows 11 taskbar helps you work faster by keeping things tidy and making important apps easy to find. You can open Settings using Windows key + I, go to Personalization, then Taskbar, and use the toggle switches to show or hide buttons and icons.
Hiding unneeded icons makes your taskbar less cluttered, letting important apps pop out.
- Open System Settings with Windows key + I.
- Go to Personalization and then Taskbar to see your options.
- Use the toggle switches to show or hide your buttons and icons.
- A tidy taskbar prevents you from missing notifications and improves your daily workflow.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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