How to Change Taskbar Position to Top or Side in Windows 11
Moving the taskbar in Windows 11 lets you place the taskbar at the top or side of your screen instead of being locked to the bottom by default. The taskbar is the strip on your screen that holds the Start button, open app icons, and the clock. Shifting it to a vertical position or the top edge gives you extra vertical screen space and helps you set up your desktop the way you like.
Right-click the taskbar and select Taskbar settings. Navigate to Taskbar behaviors and use the Taskbar position dropdown menu to select Top, Left, or Right. Your taskbar will move immediately.
Finding the New Taskbar Settings
Taskbar settings in Windows 11 are hidden inside the main Settings app under the Personalization menu. You can open this screen quickly by right-clicking any empty space on your taskbar and choosing Taskbar settings from the pop-up menu that appears on your screen.
- Right-click on an empty spot on your taskbar . This is where you usually go to change settings or open Task Manager .
- A menu will pop up. Click on Taskbar settings. This will open the Personalization section in your Windows Settings app, focusing on the taskbar .
- Once you are in Taskbar settings, look for a section called Taskbar behaviors. This is where all the new options are.
New taskbar placement controls roll out gradually across devices via Microsoft updates. Join the Windows Insider Program (a public testing channel for upcoming features) for early access, or wait for the general rollout. Keeping the operating system current remains critical for security.
Choosing Your Taskbar’s New Home
Windows 11 taskbar position options let you move the taskbar away from the bottom of the screen. Open the Taskbar behaviors menu in your settings, find the position dropdown list, and select your preferred screen edge to move the bar instantly.
- In the Taskbar behaviors section, find the option called Taskbar alignment or Taskbar position. (The exact words might change a little as it rolls out).
- Click the dropdown menu. You will see options like:
- Bottom (Default): This is the normal spot for the Windows taskbar.
- Top: Your taskbar will now be at the top of your screen.
- Left: The taskbar will be a vertical bar on the left side of your screen.
- Right: The taskbar will be a vertical bar on the right side of your screen.
- Pick the position you like. Your taskbar should move right away. You don’t need to restart your computer!
Docking the taskbar on the side of a wide monitor frees up horizontal screen space. Wide displays offer more horizontal real estate than vertical. This configuration displays more content without scrolling, boosting productivity on displays measuring 24 inches or larger.
Aligning Your Icons (When Vertical)
Taskbar icon alignment lets you choose how icons sit when your taskbar is docked vertically on the left or right edge of your screen. Look inside the Taskbar behaviors menu to position your app icons along the top or center of the vertical strip.
- Still in the Taskbar behaviors settings, look for an option about Taskbar icon alignment.
- When your taskbar is on the left or right, you will likely see options to align icons to the Top or Center of the vertical taskbar.
- When your taskbar is at the top or bottom, you will have options for Left or Center alignment.
Tailoring the taskbar configuration supports diverse work styles. Aligning icons to the top of a vertical taskbar mirrors the familiar bottom-left anchoring of the Start button.
Taskbar placement alters how dependent interface features behave. Docking the taskbar at the top forces the Start menu to drop down from that top edge, preserving an intuitive workflow.
Seeing Every Window at a Glance
Combine taskbar buttons and hide labels is a setting that controls whether open windows share a single icon or show up as individual buttons with text. Changing this option to Never forces Windows to display every open window as its own separate button.
- Go back to Settings Personalization Taskbar.
- Look for the setting called Taskbar behaviors.
- Find the option that says "Combine taskbar buttons and hide labels". Make sure this is not checked (or set to "Never" if that's what it says).
Vertical taskbar orientations display individual application windows alongside descriptive text labels. Introduced in Windows 11 build 22000.653, this view accelerates window switching across complex projects.
Relocating the taskbar streamlines workflows for developers, writers, and power users juggling multiple files inside single applications. Moving the taskbar to the top or side exposes a persistent list of open tasks, cutting visual clutter and improving focus.
What's Still Being Worked On?
Moving the taskbar introduces minor quirks with certain legacy features in Windows 11. The auto-hide function and older tablet mode behaviors occasionally misbehave when you move the taskbar away from its default position at the bottom of the screen.
- Auto-hide and Tablet Mode: The feature that hides the taskbar automatically, and how the taskbar works on tablets, might not work perfectly yet when the taskbar is moved from the bottom.
- Touch Gestures: If you use specific touch actions, they might still be in progress for these new taskbar positions.
- Search Box: In some cases, the full search box might just show a search icon when the taskbar is in a different position. This is expected to get better.
- Per-Monitor Settings & Drag and Drop: Things like having different taskbar positions on different screens, or dragging and dropping files onto taskbar icons, are things Microsoft is still thinking about.
Microsoft continues refining taskbar stability alongside expanding layout options. Maintaining a reliable desktop environment remains a core priority for future patches.
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Summary
Configuring the taskbar position via Windows Settings unlocks personalized layouts and maximizes productivity.
How do I get my taskbar back to the top?
To move the taskbar to the top in Windows 11, right-click an empty space on the taskbar, select Taskbar settings, and then under Taskbar behaviors, choose Top from the Taskbar alignment dropdown menu. This repositions the bar instantly.
How do I switch the position of my taskbar?
Switching the taskbar position in Windows 11 requires a few menu clicks. Right-click an empty taskbar area, select Taskbar settings, navigate to Taskbar behaviors, and use the Taskbar alignment dropdown to pick a preferred position: left, right, top, or bottom.
How to move taskbar to top in 🪟 Windows 11?
To move the taskbar to the top in Windows 11, right-click an empty taskbar area and select Taskbar settings. In the Taskbar behaviors section, open the Taskbar alignment dropdown and pick Top. The taskbar relocates to the top edge immediately.
How to make taskbar 🪟 Windows 11 on top?
To place the Windows 11 taskbar on top, right-click an empty spot on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings. Under Taskbar behaviors, locate the Taskbar alignment option and select Top to complete the move.
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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.
You don’t mention that you need to be a Windows Insider to use this.