Microsoft is Making Taskbar and Start more personal in Windows 11
Windows 11’s Start menu and taskbar are getting a personal touch with new improvements from Microsoft. These updates give you more control to customize your setup.
You can personalize your Windows 11 taskbar and Start menu by navigating to Settings > Personalization. In Taskbar settings, you can adjust the taskbar’s position, icon alignment, and choose a smaller taskbar size. The Start menu allows for more control over its layout and pinned apps.
Making the Taskbar More Personal
Your taskbar is that bar at the bottom of your screen, showing your open apps and shortcuts. Microsoft wants you to have more say in how it looks and functions.
Taskbar Positions
You can now move the Windows 11 taskbar to the top, bottom, left, or right side of your screen. This lets you choose the Windows 11 taskbar position that feels most natural for how you use your computer.
Starting now, you can:
- Put the taskbar on the top, bottom, left, or right side of your screen. (See Figure 1).
- Choose how icons line up on the taskbar. When the taskbar is on the left or right, icons can be on the top or in the center. When the taskbar is on the top or bottom, icons can be on the left or in the center.
- Have Start, Search, and other menus open near the taskbar. For example, if the taskbar is at the top, the Start menu will open from the top. (See Figure 2).
- See every window clearly. If you have the taskbar on the side and choose “Never combine” for taskbar buttons, each app window will show up as its own button. This makes it easier to find and switch between apps. (See Figure 3).
Moving the Windows 11 taskbar to the side offers more screen space for code. Placing it at the top can improve comfort. A side taskbar with separate buttons for each app window helps users track multiple tasks and stay organized.
To reposition your taskbar, navigate to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors. You’ll find new options there for taskbar placement and icon alignment.
Microsoft is continuing to refine these features for better appearance and performance. Some aspects aren’t quite ready yet, but they’re coming soon:
- The taskbar automatically hiding and how it works with touch screens are not ready for these new positions.
- Touch gestures for these new positions are still being worked on.
- Search boxes are not ready for these new positions. For now, you will see a search icon instead.
Microsoft is also exploring other possibilities, like enabling different taskbar positions across multiple monitors and allowing you to drag and drop items onto the taskbar. Their priority is ensuring the core features work reliably and provide a smooth user experience.
Smaller Taskbar
You can now make your Windows 11 taskbar smaller if it feels too big, giving you more screen space. This option reduces the size of the icons and the taskbar itself, which is great for smaller monitors or if you just want more room for your apps.
The Windows 11 update allows users to choose a smaller taskbar. This change makes icons smaller and reduces taskbar height, which frees up more screen space for applications. You won’t need to restart your PC for this taskbar size adjustment.
This feature is now available for those testing Windows. To shrink your taskbar, go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors > Show smaller taskbar buttons. Selecting “Always” will make both the icons and the taskbar height smaller.
Putting You in Control of Start
We all use the Start menu a bit differently. Maybe you prefer it clean with just your favorite apps, or perhaps you want quick access to recent files or everything all at once. Microsoft is updating it so you have more control.
More Control Over Your Layout
You can now customize your Windows 11 Start menu to show only what you need, giving you a cleaner, more personal Start screen. You can choose to hide things like recommended apps or unpin ones you don’t use often.
Microsoft is streamlining this process. Soon, you’ll be able to:
- Independently show or hide sections like Pinned apps, Recommended items, and All apps. There will be one simple setting for each section.
- Have a separate setting for file recommendations. Right now, turning off “Recommended” in Start also turns off recent files in other places like File Explorer. With this change, you can stop seeing file recommendations in Start without affecting recent files elsewhere.
- Choose the size of your Start menu. You can pick Small or Large. This will help your Start menu look the same size on different screens.
- Hide your name and profile picture in Start. This is good for privacy when you are sharing your screen or streaming.
Windows 11 Start menu settings work together. To show only pinned apps, disable "Recommended" and "All apps" features. To see all apps, keep all features turned on. This approach gives users a flexible way to set up the Start menu for their specific needs.
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Summary
Microsoft is adding new personalization options for your Windows 11 taskbar and Start menu, letting you move the taskbar anywhere, choose its size, and better control what appears in the Start menu.
What is the default position of the taskbar in 🪟 Windows 11?
Note: Where does the taskbar normally appear in Windows 11? In Windows 11, the taskbar usually sits in the center of your screen. If you prefer it aligned to the left, check out the ‘Change the taskbar alignment’ guide.
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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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