Windows 11 Taskbar and System Tray Customization Guide

Clean up extra buttons and icons

Clean Up Extra Buttons and Icons Remove items you never click and tidy up the busy area near your clock. Hide specialty buttons like touch menus and sharing tools so your desktop stays neat.

1 How to Show or Hide Pen Menu icon on Taskbar in Windows 11 The Pen menu icon in Windows 11 lets you open a quick-launch menu for up to four stylus apps right from your… 1 min read · ↻ Updated Sep 2026

2 How to Add or Remove Bluetooth Notification Icon on Taskbar in Windows 11 Managing the Bluetooth notification icon on your Windows 11 taskbar is a common task. What is Bluetooth? Wireless accessories like mice, keyboards,… 2 min read · ↻ Updated Jul 2026

3 Show or Hide Virtual Touchpad Icon on Taskbar in Windows 11 The virtual touchpad puts a software trackpad right on your screen so you can move the mouse pointer with your finger on… 2 min read · ↻ Updated Sep 2026

4 How to Turn On or Off “Share Any Window” from the Taskbar in Windows 11 Windows 11 introduces a feature allowing users to share app windows directly from the taskbar during meetings, streamlining the process without switching apps. Users can easily enable or disable this feature through settings or the registry editor, manage sharing while presenting, and customize app permissions, enhancing productivity during online meetings. 3 min read · ↻ Updated Sep 2026

5 How to Add or Remove Notification Bell Icon on Your Windows 11 Taskbar This guide explains how to add or remove the notification bell icon on the Windows 11 taskbar. Users can choose from three methods: using the Settings app for quick toggling, employing registry files for advanced users, or manually adjusting settings in the Registry Editor. Changes take effect immediately. 4 min read · ↻ Updated Sep 2026

Manage the clock and system tray

This section covers your notification area 🔔 and the corner of the screen where your clock lives. Adjust time formats and control which background apps stay visible or hide inside the overflow menu.

1 How to Change the Taskbar Clock to 12 or 24 Hour Format in Windows 11 Taskbar clock format changes in Windows 11 switch the time display in the bottom-right corner of your screen between a 12-hour AM/PM… 2 min read · ↻ Updated Sep 2026

2 How to Hide or Show System Tray Icons in the Taskbar Overflow Menu on Windows 11 This guide explains how to manage taskbar icons in Windows 11, including moving icons between the taskbar and the overflow menu. Users can customize icon visibility via drag-and-drop or through Settings. Advanced options in the registry are available, but the old "Always show all icons" feature may not function properly. 3 min read · ↻ Updated Sep 2026

Set up multi-monitor displays

If you connect extra screens to your computer, these guides show you how taskbars behave across multiple displays. Choose whether your open apps appear on every screen or just your main monitor.

1 How to Change Which Taskbar Shows Apps on Multiple Screens in Windows 11 Taskbar settings in Windows 11 let you control which screens display your open app icons when you use multiple monitors. You can… 4 min read · ↻ Updated Sep 2026

Fix taskbar and icon problems

When your taskbar freezes or icons disappear, restarting your entire computer is unnecessary. Use these steps to safely restart the background process that runs your desktop and taskbar.

1 How to Restart Windows Explorer in Windows 11 If your desktop or taskbar is slow or frozen, restarting Windows Explorer can resolve these issues without needing a full reboot. This guide outlines steps to restart Explorer using Task Manager or commands, and how to manually start it if it’s completely stopped. These methods help maintain a smooth Windows experience. 3 min read · ↻ Updated Sep 2026

2 How to the Change Size of Taskbar Icons in Windows 11 This guide explains how to adjust the icon size on the Windows 11 taskbar. Users can choose from three settings: always small, never small, or small only when the taskbar is full. Changes can be made easily through Settings, or more advanced methods like the Registry or Group Policy Editor for greater customization. 4 min read · ↻ Updated Sep 2026

Common questions

How do I move the 🪟 Windows 11 taskbar to the top or side of the screen?

The built-in option to move the taskbar was removed in Windows 11, so it stays at the bottom of the screen by default. Moving the taskbar requires modifying core system files, which can break things or cause crashes when Windows installs future updates.

Why are some of my system tray icons hidden?

Windows 11 automatically tucks less frequently used icons into an overflow menu represented by a small upward arrow next to the clock. Drag and drop icons out of this hidden menu if you want them visible on the taskbar all the time.

How do I make the 🪟 Windows 11 taskbar smaller?

Windows 11 does not include a toggle switch in the Settings app to change the overall taskbar height. Adjust icon scaling through display settings, though changing the taskbar size specifically requires editing the Windows Registry (the database storing low-level system settings).

Can I show the taskbar on all monitors when using dual screens?

Yes, choose whether the taskbar appears on your main display only or across every connected monitor. Open the Settings app, go to Personalization, click Taskbar, and look under Taskbar behaviors to adjust multi-screen settings.