Both Windows 10 and Windows 11 are almost similar in size. However, the new version of the taskbar on Windows 11 lacks a few important features. A major feature that is absent in Windows 11 taskbar is the ability to change its size. Several users often use the taskbar while working on the Windows operating system. With this missing feature, Windows 11 laptop users are in a constant struggle to find how they can change the taskbar size as per their requirement.
If you are in such a situation and need a way in which you can change the taskbar size on your Windows 11 laptop, you have come to the right place. Here, we will discuss all the different ways you can explore to modify the taskbar size on Windows 11.
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Overview of Windows 11 Taskbar Size
Let us first look into how the taskbar is in Windows 11. We will also talk about how users are responding to the same in the below sections.
1. Comparison with Previous Versions
In comparison to the previous versions of the taskbar, an obvious change in the taskbar on Windows 11 are the centralized icons. In the previous versions, the icons on the taskbar were placed from left to right. However, all the shortcuts on Windows 11 taskbar are placed starting from the center. Although this surely does give a unique appearance to the taskbar when compared to the previous versions, it is not enhancing the taskbar in any other way.
The Windows 11 taskbar includes a new widget icon feature as well but the gadget sidebar is missing. The grouped app windows can now be set in the snap layouts where users can click on any of the thumbnail previews to launch it open.
2. User Feedback on Windows 11 Taskbar
The major setback which every user is annoyed about in Windows 11 taskbar is the absence of resize functionality. Also, users can no longer add shortcuts to the taskbar by the drag and drop method.
Users are also not very happy about there being only the ‘Taskbar Settings’ shortcut when they right click on the taskbar. They are lamenting about the missing features like, opening and locking the taskbar, configuring buttons, and adding toolbars, that were present in the earlier Windows 10 version. This is why Windows 11 has been a disappointment for some early users in terms of the taskbar functionality.
How Change Windows 11 Taskbar Size?
There are multiple workarounds to change the taskbar size on your Windows 11 laptop. Here are a few easy and quick ways to do that.
1. Change Taskbar Size on Windows 11 from Windhawk
With the Windhawk application, you can download the necessary extension that can help you in changing the taskbar size on your Windows 11 computer. Follow the steps below to change the taskbar size on Windows 11 using Windhawk.
- From ‘Start’, search for ‘Command Prompt’ and open it.
- Right click on the first result and click on ‘Run as administrator’.
- Install Windhawk by keying in the following command.
winget install –id RamenSoftware.Windhawk
- Launch Windhawk once it gets installed and click on ‘Explore’.
- Key in ‘Taskbar height and size’ in the search bar and click on ‘Details’ under this section.
- Click on ‘Install’ and then on ‘Accept Risk and Install’.
- To make the taskbar smaller, from ‘Settings’, set the ‘Icon size’ to ‘16’, and ‘Taskbar height’ to ‘34’. You can adjust these values as per your taskbar size preference.
- Once done, click on ‘Save settings’ to apply the changes.
2. Change Taskbar Size on Windows 11 from Registry
This method used to work very well earlier, but with the recent changes in the Windows operating system, it no longer works. However, you can still refer to the steps used to change the taskbar size using the registry. You need to be very careful while modifying Windows Registry as it can lead to serious problems if not handled properly.
- From ‘Start’, look for ‘regedit’, and launch it to open ‘Registry Editor’.
- Key in.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
- Right click on ‘Advanced’, select ‘New’, and click on ‘DWORD (32-bit) Value).
- Name the key as ‘TaskbarSi’ and hit ‘Enter’.
- Double click on ‘DWORD’ and change the ‘Value Data’ to ‘2’. This is to increase the taskbar size. You can change this value to a lower or higher number according to your taskbar size preference.
- Click on ‘OK’ once done and restart your computer to apply the changes you made to the taskbar size.
3. Change Taskbar Size on Windows 11 from ExplorerPatcher
You can install the ExplorerPatcher application and change the taskbar size on Windows 11 in the following way.
- From ‘Start’, search for ‘Command Prompt’ and open it.
- Right click on the first result and click on ‘Run as administrator’.
- Install ExplorerPatcher by keying in the following command.
winget install –id valinet.ExplorerPatcher
- From ‘Start’, look for ‘ExplorerPatcher’, and open ‘Properties’.
- Select ‘Taskbar’ and change ‘Taskbar icon size’ to ‘Small’. You can pick the option based on your taskbar size preference.
- You can even change the position of the taskbar by selecting either ‘Bottom’ or ‘Top’ from ‘Primary taskbar location on screen’.
- Once done, click on ‘Restart File Explorer’ to save the changes.
4. Change Through Adjust the Scaling Settings
You can even adjust the scaling settings to change the taskbar size on Windows 11 in the following way.
- On your desktop, right click, and select ‘Display settings’.
- Under ‘Scale & layout’, you can change the ‘Scale’ from ‘100%’ to ‘125%’ or higher to increase the taskbar size or to a lower value to decrease its size.
- You can even enter the value under the ‘Custom scaling’ option after clicking on the arrow in front of ‘Scale’.
- Click on the ‘Tick’ icon to confirm the changes and restart your computer to apply the changes.
Which Method is Easy, Scaling vs. Registry
Out of the two methods described above, the easiest way would be to use the Scaling method to change the taskbar size on Windows 11 laptop or computer. Although the use of a registry to change the taskbar size is doable, you still need to take care of a few precautions in order to avoid serious issues on your system. This risk is lower or not even there when you use the scaling method for changing the taskbar size.
Cautions and Best Practices
While using any of the above methods to change the taskbar size on your Windows 11 system, you need to be mindful of a few cautions and best practices to follow that are given below.
1. Registry Editing Caution
When you are editing the registry in order to change the taskbar size, you need to keep in mind that you can give rise to a serious problem on your system when you do it incorrectly. Some problems would be so grave that it might force you to completely reinstall the Windows operating system and this can lead to irretrievable data loss.
2. Best Practices for Taskbar Modifications
Apart from the registry method, the other three methods are not very risky and are better alternatives. However, since these are third-party apps, they can modify the functionality of your system. So use only one of these methods and not all simultaneously. If one method does not work, make sure you uninstall the application and then move on to trying the next application.
If you are still keen on using the registry method for changing the taskbar size, you need to follow the steps given above properly so as to not cause any serious damage to your Windows system. Also, consider creating a backup of your files before using this method to avoid any data loss.
3. Competitor Warnings: Lessons Learned
There are several users who have tried to change the taskbar size using the registry method and faced unpleasant consequences. With modified registry, several users reported system instability and even data loss. This is why you need to be mindful while modifying the registry or refrain from doing so completely.
Even while using a third-party app for modifying the taskbar size, you need to ensure that they are from a trusted source and they also need to be used with caution to avoid security risks to your system.
Change Windows 11 Taskbar Size – FAQs
Ans: The Windows 11 taskbar is much larger in appearance when compared to the Windows 10 taskbar. This size difference is even more prominent on smaller computers.
Ans: Yes, you can make a few parts of the Windows 11 taskbar look like Windows 10. You can use any of the third-party applications like Windhawk and ExplorerPatcher to do this.
Ans: Yes, you can move the taskbar on Windows 11 by following the steps given below.
* Open ‘Taskbar Settings’ by right clicking on the taskbar.
* Under ‘Taskbar Behaviors’, select ‘Taskbar Alignment’, and click on ‘Left’ from the drop down menu, this can be changed as per your preference.
Ans: The Windows 11 taskbar comes with integrated widgets, enhanced touch controls, improved security features, and redesigned ‘Start’ menu. However, users still prefer the Windows 10 taskbar due the absence of functionalities like, taskbar size adjustment, in Windows 11 taskbar.
Ans: You can make a few changes as suggested below to make your Windows 11 system look like Windows 7.
* Change the appearance and position of the taskbar using ‘Taskbar Settings’.
* Restore the ‘Start’ menu to the classic version from an app like Open Shell.
* Modify system icons and desktop background using the original wallpaper of Windows 7.
Conclusion
Not happy with the larger taskbar on your Windows 11 system? Do not worry, you can now use the methods described above to change the size of taskbar on your Windows 11 system as per your preference. Although the methods described above are generally safe, it is still advised to practice caution and follow the steps mindfully to avoid any serious issues to your system.
