When you first boot up Windows 11, one of the biggest changes you’ll notice is the taskbar. The icons, including the Start button, are now sitting right in the middle of the screen. While you can’t move the entire taskbar to the top or sides of your screen without special software, you can easily shift the icons back to the familiar left-hand corner. This simple adjustment in the settings menu will restore the classic Windows feel, making your transition to the new operating system a little smoother.
Tutorial – Windows 11 How To Move Taskbar Icons
These steps will walk you through the process of changing your taskbar’s icon alignment. It’s a quick and simple cosmetic tweak that moves your Start menu and pinned app icons from the center of the taskbar over to the left side, just like in previous versions of Windows.
Step 1: Open the Settings app.
First, you need to get into your taskbar settings. The easiest way to do this is to right-click on any empty space on your taskbar and select “Taskbar settings” from the menu that appears.
This action will immediately open the Settings window directly to the correct page. You can also get there by opening the Start menu, clicking on the “Settings” gear icon, and then selecting “Personalization” from the left-hand menu, followed by “Taskbar.”
Step 2: Navigate to Taskbar behaviors.
Once you are in the Taskbar settings menu, scroll down to the very bottom of the page. You will see a section called “Taskbar behaviors.”
Click on this section to expand it. This is where Microsoft has tucked away all the options for how your taskbar functions, including its alignment, auto-hide features, and more.
Step 3: Change the Taskbar alignment.
Inside the Taskbar behaviors section, look for the option labeled “Taskbar alignment.” You will see a dropdown menu next to it that is set to “Center” by default.
Click on that dropdown menu and select “Left.” You don’t even need to hit a save button. The change happens instantly.
As soon as you select the “Left” option, you will see all your taskbar icons, including the Start button, immediately slide over to the far left of your screen. Your desktop now has that classic, familiar Windows layout.
Tips for Your Windows 11 Taskbar
- If you really want to move the taskbar to the top or sides of your screen, you’ll need to use third-party applications. Tools like StartAllBack or ExplorerPatcher are popular choices that can restore this classic functionality, but be sure to download them from their official sources.
- Clean up your taskbar by unpinning apps you don’t use often. Simply right-click an app’s icon on the taskbar and select “Unpin from taskbar.” To add an app, find it in the Start menu, right-click it, and choose “Pin to taskbar.”
- You can hide some of the default system icons to save space. In Taskbar settings, you can toggle off items like Search, Task View, Widgets, and the Chat icon if you don’t need them visible all the time.
- Want more screen space? In the “Taskbar behaviors” section, you can check the box for “Automatically hide the taskbar.” This will make the taskbar slide out of view when you’re not using it, and it will reappear when you move your mouse to the bottom of the screen.
- To change the color of your taskbar, go to Settings, then Personalization, and then Colors. Here you can choose an accent color, and if you turn on “Show accent color on Start and taskbar,” your taskbar will adopt that new hue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I move the Windows 11 taskbar to the top of the screen?
Unfortunately, you cannot move the taskbar to the top or sides of the screen using the built-in Windows 11 settings. Microsoft removed this feature, locking the taskbar to the bottom of the display. To achieve this, you must rely on third-party software designed to modify the Windows user interface.
Why did Microsoft center the taskbar in Windows 11?
Microsoft’s decision to center the taskbar was part of a larger design overhaul meant to modernize the Windows experience. The centered layout is often seen as more aesthetically pleasing on modern widescreen monitors and can be more user-friendly on touch-screen devices. It creates a cleaner, more balanced look compared to the traditional left-aligned layout.
Will changing the taskbar alignment slow down my computer?
No, not at all. Changing the taskbar alignment from center to left is a purely cosmetic adjustment. It is a simple setting that does not use any extra system resources or have any impact on your computer’s performance or speed. Feel free to switch back and forth as much as you like.
How do I get the classic Start menu back in Windows 11?
While moving the Start button to the left makes it feel more like older Windows versions, the Start menu itself remains the new Windows 11 design. The operating system does not include an option to revert to the Windows 10 Start menu with its Live Tiles. For a true classic Start menu, you would again need to use a third-party application.
Can I resize the taskbar in Windows 11?
Officially, you cannot easily resize the taskbar by clicking and dragging its edge like you could in previous Windows versions. While there are some advanced methods involving editing the Windows Registry to change the taskbar’s size, it is not a standard feature and is not recommended for most users as incorrect registry edits can cause system problems.
Quick Steps to Align Your Taskbar
- Right-click the taskbar and choose “Taskbar settings.”
- Expand the “Taskbar behaviors” section at the bottom.
- Change “Taskbar alignment” from “Center” to “Left.”
Final Thoughts on Customizing Your Taskbar
Adjusting to a new operating system always comes with a few growing pains. The centered taskbar in Windows 11 is a perfect example of a change that, while intended to be modern and fresh, left many long-time users feeling a bit lost. It’s a small thing, but our muscle memory is powerful. For years, we’ve instinctively moved our mouse to the bottom-left corner of the screen to start our work. When that’s suddenly different, it can be jarring.
Thankfully, Microsoft provided a simple way to restore some familiarity by allowing us to shift the icons back to the left. This compromise shows an understanding that while progress is important, user comfort is paramount. It lets us hold onto a piece of the classic Windows experience while still enjoying the new features and security improvements of Windows 11. It’s a bridge between the old and the new, making the transition feel less like a complete overhaul and more like a comfortable upgrade.
For those who miss features like moving the taskbar to the top of the screen, the vibrant community of developers has stepped in. The existence of third-party tools that restore old functionality is a testament to the passion people have for personalizing their digital workspace. It’s a reminder that a computer is a personal device, and we should have the power to make it look and feel just the way we want. So, whether you prefer the new centered look or the classic left-aligned style, take a moment to explore the settings. Learning the answer to the question of Windows 11 how to move taskbar icons is just the first step in making your PC truly your own. Don’t be afraid to tinker and adjust things until your desktop feels like home.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.