How to Show Labels on Taskbar Pins in Windows 11
Show labels on taskbar pins in Windows 11 brings back the text names next to your pinned app icons on the taskbar. This feature, which was removed in earlier versions of Windows 11, now helps you quickly identify programs, especially when you have many open or pinned items.
You can now choose to display taskbar pin labels again, making your taskbar more informative. This guide shows you how to turn the taskbar pin label setting on.
You can show text labels on your Windows 11 taskbar pins by going to Settings Personalization Taskbar Taskbar behaviors. Check the box for “Show labels on Taskbar pins” to enable this feature. This option is available in Windows 11 version 23H2 and later.
Option 1Using the Settings App (The Easy Way!)
The simplest way to get your taskbar labels back is through the Windows Settings app, a method that requires no specialized computer knowledge.
Open Settings
First, open Windows Settings . Pressing the Windows key + I on your keyboard opens it directly. Alternatively, click the Start button and choose the gear icon (Settings).
The Windows key + I shortcut opens the Settings app quickly, offering a fast way to make many adjustments. For example, you can use this shortcut to turn taskbar label settings on or off.
Navigate to Personalization
The Personalization section in the Windows 11 Settings window lets you customize your computer's appearance. To find the Personalization section, look for it in the list on the left side of the Settings window and click it.
Find Taskbar Settings
On the right side of the Personalization screen, you'll see different options. Scroll down until you find "Taskbar" and click it.
Expand Taskbar Behaviors
In Windows 11 Taskbar settings, find the "Taskbar behaviors" section. Clicking "Taskbar behaviors" reveals more options for customizing how your taskbar icons appear.
Enable Taskbar Labels
To show labels on Taskbar pins in Windows 11, locate the "Show labels on Taskbar pins" option. Next to this option is a checkbox. Click the checkbox to place a checkmark in it, which turns on the labels.
To turn off taskbar pin labels later, return to the "Show labels on taskbar pins" setting and uncheck the box. This setting controls whether text labels appear below pinned icons on your Windows 11 taskbar, making it easier to identify applications.
See the Change
As soon as you check the box, the labels should appear next to your pinned and open apps on the taskbar. A computer restart is not necessary!
Option 2Using the Registry Editor (For the Adventurous!)
If you're comfortable making deeper changes in Windows, you can use the Registry Editor to show labels on your taskbar pins in Windows 11. This method lets you directly change system settings to get the same result as the Settings app, but it requires careful steps.
Understanding the Registry
The Windows Registry is a large database storing fundamental settings for Windows, encompassing information and configurations for hardware, software, and user preferences. Think of it as the control center for your Windows setup. We'll modify a specific setting within this database to manage taskbar labels.
Steps to Manually Edit the Registry
Open Registry Editor
Press the Windows key + R to open the Run box. Type regedit into the box and press Enter, or click OK. A User Account Control (UAC) prompt will likely appear asking for permission; click "Yes" to continue.
Navigate to the Correct Registry Key
Within the Registry Editor window, navigate to a specific location. You can do this by clicking through the folders on the left side or by copying and pasting the path into the address bar at the top of the Registry Editor. The required path is:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
You must open the Registry Editor to the exact path `HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced`. This specific path allows you to change how icons appear on your taskbar. Pay close attention to the spelling and capitalization within this path for the change to work correctly.
Locate or Create the 'TaskbarShowLabels' Value
Once inside the Advanced folder, look within the right-hand pane for a value named TaskbarShowLabels.
- If it exists: Double-click on
TaskbarShowLabelsto change it. - If it doesn't exist: You need to create it. Right-click on an empty space in the right-hand section, choose "New," and then select "DWORD (32-bit) Value." Name this new value exactly
TaskbarShowLabels. After creating it, double-click on the newTaskbarShowLabelsvalue.
Set the Value Data
A small window titled "Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value" will appear. This is where you specify whether to show or hide the labels:
- To show labels on your taskbar pins, set the "Value data" to
1. - To hide labels (the default), set the "Value data" to
0.
Confirm that the "Base" is set to "Hexadecimal." Click "OK" to finalize your selection.
Apply the Changes
For the changes to take effect, the Windows Explorer process needs to be restarted. The most efficient method is:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Find "Windows Explorer" in the "Processes" tab.
- Right-click on "Windows Explorer" and select "Restart."
Your taskbar will briefly disappear and then reappear. Your taskbar labels should now be visible!
Closing the Registry Editor
You can now close the Registry Editor window. Your taskbar labels should be visible.
Summary
You can easily enable or disable showing labels on taskbar pins in Windows 11 to make your computer easier to use. Choose the method that feels best for you, either the simple Settings app or the more detailed Registry Editor. This helps you see your open and pinned apps clearly on the taskbar.
Enjoy having a clearer view of your open and pinned applications right on your taskbar!
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