The taskbar is a graphical user interface element in Windows 11. It lets users quickly access frequently used apps, switch between running programs, and access system settings. The taskbar is at the bottom of the desktop by default and contains several icons, such as the Start menu button, system tray icons, and app icons.
Customizing the taskbar icons is important because it can
help improve productivity and accessibility. By rearranging icons, users can
prioritize and quickly access the apps they use most frequently. Changing the
size of taskbar icons can also be helpful for users who have difficulty seeing
smaller icons or have high-resolution displays. Customizing the
taskbar can make using Windows 11 more efficient and user-friendly.
How to Change the Size of Taskbar Icons in Windows 11
The taskbar in Windows 11 provides quick access to
frequently used apps and functions. While the default size of taskbar icons in
Windows 11 is suitable for most users, some may want to change the size to make
the icons bigger or smaller. This section provides a step-by-step guide on how
to change the size of taskbar icons in Windows 11.
The following methods can be used to change the size of
taskbar icons in Windows 11:
Method 1: Using the Taskbar Settings
- Right-click on an empty space on the taskbar.
- Select "Taskbar settings" from the context menu.
- Scroll down to the "Taskbar behaviors" section in the Taskbar settings window.
- Click on the "Taskbar icon size" drop-down menu.
- Select the desired size for the taskbar icons.
- The changes will be applied immediately.
Method 2: Using the Registry Editor
- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type "regedit" and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
- Navigate to the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics
- Locate the "Shell Icon Size" entry in the right-hand pane.
- Double-click on "Shell Icon Size" to edit its value.
- Change the value to the desired size for the taskbar icons (the default is 32).
- Click OK to save the changes.
- Restart Windows Explorer or log out and back in for the changes to take effect.
Method 3: Using the Control Panel
- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type "control" and press Enter to open the Control Panel.
- Click on "Appearance and Personalization."
- Click on "Display."
- Under "Change size of items," click on "Advanced scaling settings."
- Under "Custom scaling," click on "Custom sizing options."
- Use the slider to adjust the taskbar icon size to the desired level.
- Click "Apply" to save the changes.
Method 4: Using a Third-Party App
- Download and install a third-party app such as 7+ TaskbarTweaker or Winaero Tweaker.
- Open the app and locate the setting for changing the taskbar icon size.
- Adjust the setting to the desired size for the taskbar icons.
- Save the changes and exit the app.
- The changes will be applied immediately.
Method 5: Using Windows PowerShell
- Right-click on the Start menu button.
- Select "Windows PowerShell (Admin)" from the context menu.
- In the PowerShell window, type the following command:
"Set-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics' -Name 'Shell Icon Size' -Value [Size]"
(Note: Replace "[Size]" with the desired size for
the taskbar icons, such as "48" or "64".)
- Press Enter to execute the command.
- Restart Windows Explorer or log out and back in for the changes to take effect.
Method 6: Using Group Policy Editor
- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type "gpedit.msc" and press Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.
- Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar.
- Double-click on "Taskbar: Use small taskbar buttons" to edit the policy.
- Select "Enabled" to use small taskbar buttons or "Disabled" to use large taskbar buttons.
- Click OK to save the changes.
- Restart Windows Explorer or log out and back in for the changes to take effect.
Method 7: Modifying the Windows Registry via the .reg file
- Open Notepad.
- Copy and paste the following text into the document:
- Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics]
"Shell Icon Size"="xx"
(Note: Replace "xx" with the desired size for the
taskbar icons, such as "32" or "48".)
- Click "File" and then "Save As".
- In the "Save as type" drop-down menu, select "All Files (.)".
- Name the file "TaskbarIconSize.reg" and save it to a location of your choice.
- Double-click the saved .reg file to add it to the Windows Registry.
- Click "Yes" to confirm that you want to change the registry.
- Restart Windows Explorer or log out and back in for the changes to take effect.
Method 8: Using Batch Files
- Open Notepad.
- Type the following command into the document:
reg add "HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics" /v "Shell Icon Size" /t REG_SZ /d [Size] /f
(Note: Replace "[Size]" with the desired size for
the taskbar icons, such as "48" or "64".)
- Click on "File" from the menu bar and select "Save As."
- In the "Save As" dialog box, navigate where you want to save the file.
- Type a name for the file in the "File name" field, and then add the ".bat" extension to the end of the name. For example, you could name the file "TaskbarIconSize.bat".
- In the "Save as type" drop-down menu, select "All Files."
- Click "Save" to save the file.
- Double-click the .bat file you just created to apply the changes to the taskbar icon size.
Pros and Cons of each method:
Method 1: Using the Taskbar Settings
Pros: Easy to use, no need to modify system settings.
Cons: Limited options, only offers three sizes.
Method 2: Using the Registry Editor
Pros: Offers more options than Taskbar Settings.
Cons: Requires editing the Windows Registry, which can be
risky if not done correctly.
Method 3: Using the Control Panel
Pros: Offers more options than Taskbar Settings, including
scaling options for other elements.
Cons: Not as straightforward as other methods.
Method 4: Using a Third-Party App
Pros: Offers additional customization options beyond just
changing the taskbar icon size.
Cons: Requires downloading and installing third-party
software, which can sometimes be unreliable.
Method 5: Using Windows PowerShell
Pros: The command line is a quick and easy way to change the taskbar icon size.
Cons: Requires using a command line, which may only be familiar
to some users.
Method 6: Using Group Policy Editor
Pros: Offers a way to enforce a consistent taskbar icon size
across multiple users.
Cons: Requires using Group Policy Editor, which may not be
available on all versions of Windows.
Method 7: Modifying the Windows Registry via the .reg file
Pros: Offers an easy way to make changes to the Windows
Registry without manually editing it.
Cons: Requires manually creating and editing a .reg file.
Method 8: Using Batch Files
Pros: A simple script offers an easy way to apply registry changes.
Cons: Requires manually creating and editing a batch file.
Tips for Optimizing Your Taskbar
Adding or removing icons on the taskbar:
The taskbar can be customized by adding or removing icons
based on the user's preference. This can be done by dragging and
dropping the desired icon onto the taskbar or right-clicking on an icon and
selecting "Pin to taskbar." Conversely, to remove an icon from the
taskbar, right-click on the icon and select "Unpin from taskbar."
Changing the location of the taskbar:
By default, the taskbar is located at the bottom of the
screen, but it can be moved to the top, left, or right side. To
do this, right-click on an empty area of the taskbar and select "Taskbar
settings." In the Taskbar settings window, select "Taskbar location
on screen" and choose the desired location from the drop-down menu.
Customizing the taskbar color and transparency:
Users can change the color and transparency of the taskbar
to match their personal preferences or to make it easier to see. To do this,
right-click an empty desktop area and select "Personalize."
In the Personalization settings window, select "Colors" and toggle on
"Transparency effects." Users can also choose a specific color or "Automatically pick an accent color from my background" to
have Windows choose a color based on the desktop background.
Managing multiple displays:
Users with multiple displays can customize the taskbar to show on all or only on the main display. To do this, right-click on an empty area of the taskbar and select "Taskbar settings." In the Taskbar settings window, scroll down to the "Multiple displays" section and toggle "Show taskbar on all displays" to display the taskbar on all connected displays. Alternatively, toggle off "Show taskbar on all displays" and select "PC screen only" to display the taskbar only on the main display.
Conclusion:
In this article, we have discussed various ways to customize the taskbar in Windows 11. We started with the basics of resizing and moving the taskbar. Then we moved on to more advanced customization options such as adding and removing icons, changing the taskbar color and opacity, and enabling or disabling the taskbar search feature.
We also explored some third-party tools that can further help you customize the taskbar, such as 7+ Taskbar Tweaker and TaskbarX.
Overall, customizing the taskbar in Windows 11 can help you optimize your workflow and make your PC experience more personalized and efficient.
In conclusion, Windows 11 offers plenty of options for taskbar customization, and with some experimentation and exploration, you can find the perfect configuration that works for you.