How to Show Taskbar Apps on All Displays in Windows 11

If you use more than one monitor with Windows 11, you might want your taskbar to appear on every screen. This guide shows you how to change these settings to make multitasking easier.

Why change these settings?

When you have multiple screens, it can be annoying to move your mouse back to the main monitor just to switch apps. By showing the taskbar on all screens, you can open and switch between programs much faster. It helps keep your workspace organized and saves you time.

What happens when done?

Once you finish these steps, you will have a taskbar on every monitor you use. You can also control whether you see icons for all your programs on every screen or only the ones currently open on that specific display.

The Windows 11 taskbar shows the Start menu, Search, Task View, Widgets, Teams Chat, File Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and Microsoft Store buttons by default.

Prerequisites: This feature is native to Windows 11. Ensure your monitors are set to ‘Extend’ mode in Display settings for the taskbar to span across them.

How to Configure Taskbar Settings

1. Open Settings by pressing the Windows key + I.
2. In the menu on the left, click Personalization.
3. On the right side of the screen, click Taskbar.

4. Scroll down and click on Taskbar behaviors to expand the section.
5. Check the box that says Show my taskbar on all displays.

6. Look for the setting: When using multiple displays, show my taskbar apps on.
7. Choose your preferred option from the dropdown menu:
   • All taskbars: Shows your pinned and open apps on every screen.
   • Main taskbar and taskbar where the window is open: Shows pinned apps only on the main screen, but open apps appear where you are using them.
   • Taskbar where the window is open: Shows pinned apps only on the main screen and open apps only on the screen they are currently on.

Advanced Configuration via Registry Editor

Warning: This requires admin privileges. Modifying the registry incorrectly can cause system issues. Always back up your registry before proceeding.

You can force these settings by editing the registry. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter. Navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

Look for the DWORD value MMTaskbarEnabled. Set the value to 1 to enable the taskbar on all displays.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If the taskbar option is greyed out, ensure your display mode is set to ‘Extend’ rather than ‘Duplicate’. If the taskbar fails to appear, restart the Windows Explorer process via Task Manager. Right-click the taskbar, select Task Manager, find Windows Explorer, and click Restart.

Summary

• Why: To improve your workflow and stop jumping between screens to find your open apps.
• What: You gain a taskbar on every monitor with custom rules for how your apps appear.
• Customization: You can choose to show all apps everywhere or keep your taskbars cleaner by only showing active programs.
• Efficiency: These settings turn a multi-monitor setup into a seamless desktop experience.