In Windows 11, you can customize the taskbar to suit your preferences, but the customization options are somewhat limited compared to previous versions of Windows. Here’s how to customize your Windows 11 taskbar:
- Access taskbar settings: Right-click on an empty area of the taskbar and select “Taskbar settings” from the context menu. Alternatively, you can open the Settings app, go to “Personalization,” and click on “Taskbar.”
- Taskbar alignment: By default, the taskbar icons are centered on the screen in Windows 11. If you prefer the classic left-aligned layout, toggle off the “Taskbar alignment” option under the “Taskbar behaviors” section.
- Show or hide system icons: In the “Taskbar items” section, you can enable or disable various system icons, such as the search icon, Task View button, and Widgets. Simply toggle on or off the corresponding options.
- Notification area: To customize the notification area, which includes the system tray and the clock, click on “Notification area” under “Taskbar settings” and adjust the visibility of the icons as desired. You can also enable or disable the “Show badges (unread notifications) on taskbar apps” option.
- App icons: To pin or unpin app icons on the taskbar, you can right-click on the app icon and select “Pin to taskbar” or “Unpin from taskbar” from the context menu. You can also click and drag the app icons to rearrange their order on the taskbar.
- Taskbar color: To change the taskbar color, go to Settings > Personalization > Colors. Choose your desired color under “Choose your accent color” and ensure that the “Show accent color on Start, taskbar, and action center” option is enabled.
Please note that some customization options available in previous versions of Windows, such as changing the taskbar size and enabling small taskbar icons, are not available in Windows 11. Microsoft may introduce additional customization options in future updates based on user feedback.