How do you unlock the Taskbar in Windows 11?

Question

How do you unlock the Taskbar in Windows 11?

MH 25

I would like to be able to see more of the icons I have open. By unlocking the taskbar, you could drag is up and make it bigger, allowing you to see more open icons. How do you unlock and change the taskbar size in Windows 11? The hovering and selecting is not the best option for everyone.

Caonabo Jaquez N 15 Reputation points

2025-03-12T20:08:04.2+00:00

This has been the worst thing MS has done with this Windows 11. How can It be that this feature, so helpful, does not consume nothing, and so needed and used has to me removed?

I'm not able to give them the feedback because it is a feature blocked by policy at my company. Besides, I need that to work fluently today!

Microsoft, please be smart and give us that option back.
Kirti Shirudkar 0 Reputation points

2025-12-13T19:07:03.23+00:00

I agree, worst thing MS has done with this Windows 11.
Michael McHale 0 Reputation points

2025-12-15T20:33:59.6666667+00:00

I agree I just bought a new 16" laptop the taskbar (formerly known as toolbar) Is so small I can barely see it. Also, I prefer to have it on top. The first thing I tried to do is resize it. In accessibility. This blew up everything. I just want the taskbar bigger. I was thinking of buying a new desktop also. I'm glad I didn't. Now, I'll just keep my old one and upgrade the hardware.
Anthony Coker 5 Reputation points

2026-02-12T13:32:45.6266667+00:00

I will probably get blocked again because of another feature that is needed and the ones we dont need like all the ai junk is forced down our throats! Will someone at microsoft wake up and catch up with customer needs instead of agenda. Please|!
Jazzyrick 0 Reputation points

2026-04-08T07:32:41.07+00:00

Since I've had this problem for a while and never found a solution until now here it is.

In the Microsoft Store there is an app called startallback . This will return the taskbar/start menu behavior to what Windows 10 used for the most part.

I run triple monitors and use Nvidias surround feature...so to Windows my triple screens look like one large screen and for the last year or more my task bar has been stuck on the left monitor when I use Nvidia surround. The startallback app returns the function of being able to "unlock" the task bar and move it where you want to basically. Top of screen, left of screen, different screens in an Nvidia surround setup, etc. Simply Install the startallback app from the Microsoft story and the function will automatically update. There is no need to run anything after installing the app. Right click on the task bar and uncheck the "Lock the taskbar" option. You should now be able to move the task bar anywhere you want.
Caonabo Jaquez N 15 Reputation points

2026-04-08T13:43:08.9666667+00:00

@Jazzyrick

Thanks for the info. I've used StartAllBack 3.9.7 almost a year ago and did not work for me. I see there is a new version, 3.9.22. I will give it a try if ExplorerPatcher fails me. I have been using it with no problem for a while now.

Regards,

2 answers

Your answer

Caonabo Jaquez N 15 Reputation points

2025-03-12T20:08:04.2+00:00

This has been the worst thing MS has done with this Windows 11. How can It be that this feature, so helpful, does not consume nothing, and so needed and used has to me removed?

I'm not able to give them the feedback because it is a feature blocked by policy at my company. Besides, I need that to work fluently today!

Microsoft, please be smart and give us that option back.
Kirti Shirudkar 0 Reputation points

2025-12-13T19:07:03.23+00:00

I agree, worst thing MS has done with this Windows 11.
Michael McHale 0 Reputation points

2025-12-15T20:33:59.6666667+00:00

I agree I just bought a new 16" laptop the taskbar (formerly known as toolbar) Is so small I can barely see it. Also, I prefer to have it on top. The first thing I tried to do is resize it. In accessibility. This blew up everything. I just want the taskbar bigger. I was thinking of buying a new desktop also. I'm glad I didn't. Now, I'll just keep my old one and upgrade the hardware.
Anthony Coker 5 Reputation points

2026-02-12T13:32:45.6266667+00:00

I will probably get blocked again because of another feature that is needed and the ones we dont need like all the ai junk is forced down our throats! Will someone at microsoft wake up and catch up with customer needs instead of agenda. Please|!
Jazzyrick 0 Reputation points

2026-04-08T07:32:41.07+00:00

Since I've had this problem for a while and never found a solution until now here it is.

In the Microsoft Store there is an app called startallback . This will return the taskbar/start menu behavior to what Windows 10 used for the most part.

I run triple monitors and use Nvidias surround feature...so to Windows my triple screens look like one large screen and for the last year or more my task bar has been stuck on the left monitor when I use Nvidia surround. The startallback app returns the function of being able to "unlock" the task bar and move it where you want to basically. Top of screen, left of screen, different screens in an Nvidia surround setup, etc. Simply Install the startallback app from the Microsoft story and the function will automatically update. There is no need to run anything after installing the app. Right click on the task bar and uncheck the "Lock the taskbar" option. You should now be able to move the task bar anywhere you want.
Caonabo Jaquez N 15 Reputation points

2026-04-08T13:43:08.9666667+00:00

@Jazzyrick

Thanks for the info. I've used StartAllBack 3.9.7 almost a year ago and did not work for me. I see there is a new version, 3.9.22. I will give it a try if ExplorerPatcher fails me. I have been using it with no problem for a while now.

Regards,

Answer 1

Yanhong Liu 14,325 Microsoft External Staff

Hello,

As mentioned before, if you think the lack of customization options is an issue for you, you can provide feedback to the Windows team through the Feedback Center tool to improve it. This will help them understand user needs and preferences, which may influence future updates or improvements to the operating system. For this you can try:

1.Press Windows Key + F to open the Feedback Center and click the Feedback tab on the left side of the app.

2.Click the "+Add New Feedback" button, select the "Question" option, and fill in the "Summary your feedback" and "More detailed explanation" fields.

3.Under Categories, select Windows Shell Experience, then select Taskbar, and click Submit to send your feedback.

Best Regards,

Yanhong Liu

MH 25 Reputation points

2024-04-05T15:05:25.38+00:00

Thank you very much for your feedback.
Yanhong Liu 14,325 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2024-05-02T08:30:28.2866667+00:00

Hello,

If you have any question or concern, please feel free to let us know.

Best Regards,

Yanhong Liu
CW 0 Reputation points

2025-08-15T01:38:17.13+00:00

Windows key + F does absolutely nothing on my computer.
Kirti Shirudkar 0 Reputation points

2025-12-13T19:08:05.7333333+00:00

yes, Windows key + F does absolutely nothing on my computer
Bernard Ash 0 Reputation points

2026-03-22T22:41:05.5866667+00:00

I agree this feature was important and should be restored. Poor design and UX decision to drop it.

Answer 2

Michael Taylor 61,221

You can't. MS dramatically reduced the ability to customize the shell in Win11. My assumption is that they did it to enforce a UX that they wanted without having to worry about all the flexibility you used to have.

Beyond determining top or bottom of screen and whether to use small or regular size taskbar you really cannot customize the UX. Some registry entries may work from Win 10 but they are not supported and can break during an update.

An alternative is to use a third party product to restore some of the functionality. Startdock's Start11 does a pretty good job of restoring some of the customizations and look and feel from Win10 but it is still limited to what is available. For example you can restore the Win10 taskbar look and feel but you are still limited to the top/bottom of screen and you cannot resize it. Beyond that you can provide your feedback to the Windows team using their feedback hub tool and perhaps they will consider restoring the functionality.

MH 25 Reputation points

2024-04-05T15:05:40.3966667+00:00

Thank you very much for your feedback.
Caonabo Jaquez N 15 Reputation points

2026-02-12T14:14:25.3266667+00:00

I'm using third party app to be able to use the taskbar efficiently. Now I wonder... how third-party apps can do it and we don't?

Some of them should came here, explain, and make a better world. 😅

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How do you unlock the Taskbar in Windows 11?

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