How to Move Windows 11 Taskbar to the Left

The Taskbar in Windows 11 is the bar usually found at the bottom of your screen that shows your Start menu, open apps, and notifications. By default, Windows 11 centers the Taskbar icons, but many people prefer it on the left side, like in older versions of Windows.

Moving the Taskbar to the left can make your computer feel more familiar and can also help you use your screen space better, especially if you have a wide monitor.

How to Move the Taskbar to the Left Using Windows Settings

Follow these simple steps to move your Taskbar icons to the left side:

1. Open Settings: Click the Start menu button (the Windows icon in the bottom center) and then click Settings.
   
   Or, press the Windows key + I on your keyboard to open Settings quickly.
2. In the Settings window, click on Personalization from the left menu.
3. Next, click Taskbar on the right side.
4. Scroll down and find Taskbar behaviors. Click it to expand more options.
5. Look for Taskbar alignment. Click the drop-down menu and select Left.

The Taskbar icons will immediately move to the left side of your screen.

If you want to go back to the default centered Taskbar, just follow the same steps and choose Center in the Taskbar alignment menu.

How to Move the Taskbar to the Left Using the Registry (Advanced)

If you’re comfortable with a more advanced method, you can change the Taskbar position through the Windows Registry. This method is useful if you want to apply this setting to different user accounts on your computer.

Warning: Be careful when using the Registry Editor, as making wrong changes can cause problems with your system.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Press Windows key + R to open the Run box.
2. Type regedit and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
3. In the Registry Editor, navigate to this path:

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAdvanced

Look for a value named TaskbarAl (or TaskbarAI in some versions).

Double-click it, and change its value data to:

• 0 = Taskbar on the left
• 1 = Taskbar centered (default)

After you change this, restart your computer or sign out and back in to see the changes.

Summary

• You can easily move the Windows 11 Taskbar icons to the left side to make it look like older versions of Windows.
• This can help you use your screen better, especially on wide monitors.
• Use the Settings app for a quick and safe way to change the Taskbar location.
• For advanced users, the Registry Editor offers another way to move the Taskbar.
• You can always switch back to the centered Taskbar if you prefer.

For more tips and detailed guides, you can visit Geek Rewind.