How to move the Windows 11 taskbar to the left or right side of the screen?

Henry Jackson 305

I have a two-monitor computer setup and recently switched to Windows 11. In Windows 10, I could fix my taskbar to the left side of the screen on my left monitor, and the right side of the screen on my right monitor. However, I cannot find any way to move the taskbar from the center bottom position it holds in Windows 11. Can anyone please provide a solution to this problem? Thank you.

Matlock, Brian E. (UMKC-Student) 185 Reputation points

2024-01-18T00:45:37.38+00:00

This is a pretty terrible change. I have an ultrawide monitor, not all games support. If I go fullscreen on an unsupported game it is squished and looks terrible. I switched to windowed fullscreen and it looks correct and centered, but with the taskbar on the bottom I can't scroll down automatically in this setting. The fix I found was "move the taskbar to the side" but then have found I can't on Windows 11. Really frustrating to just not be able to play competitively on the games I play because Microsoft consistently has poor product design. "Oh we have a gimmick of putting the taskbar in the MIDDLE instead of left wow so hip and cool!" Too bad it isn't actually cool and they ruined useful functionalities like this.
Dominic Thomas 10 Reputation points

2024-02-20T03:31:35.39+00:00

It doesn't sound like poor product design as much as it does installation and or setup/config. If I were you, I would check compatibility between my GPU and monitor before jumping to blame MS. Win 11 supports every aspect ratio out there but its the graphics cards ability to exchange signals with the monitor, or lack of ability to communicate in this case, so that's something you should consider also. And the fact that there's not an uproar from the masses indicates its most likely a user error than a Layer 1/Layer 2 problem. Good luck on this!
Cheyenne Lee 170 Reputation points

2024-03-01T02:16:24.1066667+00:00

How is this not poor product design? Almost EVERY single application that I know of has the menu at the left side or the top. Even Microsoft's other products. It is completely nonsensical to place the menu at the bottom. Below there are comments where they talk about others that have developed solutions. Are you telling me that Microsoft's development team is so inept they can't deal with this? Other issues more pressing. Oh please, what a cop out!! The object should be to enhance the product and user experience. This is what happens when you get too big. You just don't care about those customers. Some of which have been around since the beginning! Was the menu at the bottom then. Of course not!! I guess it is the new way of the thinking; one size fits all. Go somewhere else if you don't like it. We are big enough we don't need you. If they placed the menu by default at the top instead of the bottom for years and years, do you think there would not be an uproar of the masses? You bet there would be!! Most people just don't customize things. Sometimes you just mess up, Vista didn't last long. Luckily, there are developers like the ones mentioned in the comments that step up to fill the gap. I used one of those solutions some years back when they did this same kind of thing. I have never made a post, positive or negative, before, but this kind of irked me. Blaming a user reaching out for help. Not cool. I have issues with sound drivers in the new version. I have been in IT for over 40 years. There is no way to have any idea this users experience level or the extent of things he has tried. Just because you are happy with the current workflow doesn't mean you should be condescending to others. I am sure that eventually Microsoft will allow us to have the menu where we want it again. Looks like this time it just might be a while.
ymortier 110 Reputation points

2024-04-02T06:43:59.8133333+00:00

I used to position the taskbar to the right of my main screen. (up till now W11 ...)

It originated from the period where programs did not group different open screens together (IE , MSN , ...).

Would love to that taskbar back at the right side ;-)
Michael Bolsover 235 Reputation points

2024-04-09T17:15:10.2066667+00:00

I'm not upgrading to 11 UNTIL this issue is sorted. It's crazy not to be able to move the Taskbar as per Windows 10. Simply incomprehensible. Upgrades are supposed to improve on the original, not hobble the user experience. I need the Taskbar Upright and Left of the 1st monitor in my 3 monitor setup. End of. That is how I've been able to maximise the vertical real estate of my 2 x 16 by 9 aspect edit setup. Come on Microsoft, don't go "soft" on us in your dotage.
ymortier 110 Reputation points

2024-04-09T19:20:55.29+00:00

Someone already tried changing the settings via the ‘Registry editor’ ?

I have a laptop with restricted access. I’m able to acces these settings, but it seems not to save the change.

The tutorial is in this YouTube video :

https://youtu.be/7M3vRy5SWD4?si=fA-DefOKqSaKwmZy
Ria Cherry 25 Reputation points

2024-04-24T11:14:25.83+00:00

I use a composite ultra wide set up (multiple monitors). Not having this feature just makes one of the screens use up unnecessary space where I could instead be using the real estate for workspace. And keeping the taskbar at the side far away from the work area has become crucial. I'm used to not having margins on the top and bottom of a setup where the height is much more important in a setup like mine.
I've had to revert to Win10 twice because this feature wasn't available and it was causing me navigatory disorientation.
So I've decided on staying on win10 till this issue is fixed. This fix has been overdue for a really long time now.
James Barber 30 Reputation points

2024-05-05T15:31:44.0666667+00:00

I have purchased copies of Windows 10 for installation on future machines. The inability to move the taskbar seems to be a hill that Microsoft and User are willing to die on. I have owned one (1) Apple product for one (1) hour in my lifetime. Apple decided for me (wrongly) that I needed my music converted to the format they thought best. I returned my new 160GB iPod.

As a software developer, I always designed systems in the best interest of my users, not what was easy for me to program.

The main reason Microsoft believes it can do this is that it has the user group over a barrel (and it does). The problem is that people ACCEPT their choices because they want shiny and new. Express your feeling about what vendors are doing and refuse to by their products.

Electric cars are failing because a person cannot reliably go on a 400 mile road trip without significant pain. An electric F150 cannot do what a gas F150 can do and Linux systems cannot reliably do what Window/Mac systems can do.

Finally, Microsoft, some people want to move their taskbar, some people accept their fates. I will never accept my fate.
Kis, Balazs 20 Reputation points

2024-05-18T10:03:28.1433333+00:00

I've been using Windows with Taskbar on the right side of the screen. Various versions passed by, various computers, corporate and private, but it was always possible to do so with an easy drag & drop movement.Now I was forced to update to W11 by my company, but if I knew that this function won't be available, I'd have objected to it vehemently.

I hope this failure will be corrected the soonest.
JS 10 Reputation points

2024-06-12T18:21:01.4833333+00:00

Unacceptable for Microsoft to take away a feature that also helps with accessibility as well as just being convenient
LB Camposano 5 Reputation points

2024-07-07T04:22:27.97+00:00

My new laptop came with Win 11 and this is the first thing that I wanted to change but couldn't find it in settings. I don't get why did they remove this feature?! So frustrating!
Kay Hedrick 5 Reputation points

2024-08-21T11:40:55.38+00:00

This is a terrible change! I use 3 monitors. The two on the sides had the taskbar on the sides and I primarily used the one on the left. That monitor is portrait and now the taskbar is way at the bottom and in the way of my document drafting. Hate this update!
Arlen Chen 0 Reputation points

2024-10-23T02:43:38.1866667+00:00

Thank God I haven't updated to Windows 11, and I will never do so until Microsoft fixes this issue.
TKR 0 Reputation points

2024-10-30T09:54:56.6966667+00:00

I have also been using the taskbar set on the left-hand side without combining taskbar buttons for many years - it allows for much more efficient multitasking / window switching and better use of ultrawide / multi monitor setup real estate where the vertical space is deficient (coding, document / edition and scrolling, webpage scrolling, etc.), compared to the default settings.
Without the option to move the taskbar to the right my productivity takes a hit - I haven't gotten used to it even after ~3 years with Win 11. Installing third party software would compromise the security of my machine, so it's out of question.

I am also working on linux from time to time where multitasking is so much easier just because of the taskbar positioning.

When I read these comments I realize there's many others who feel the same way.

Such a waste of human productivity caused by such a minor configuration element. I really hope Microsoft will bring this functionality back someday.

Accepted answer

Erland Sommarskog 112.7K Reputation points MVP

2023-12-09T10:52:14.4366667+00:00

You can do this in Windows 11 if you install ExplorerPatcher. Of course, you may be nervous of installing something that actually goes in an modifies explorer.exe. Since I just can't stand the centred taskbar in Windows 11, I have no choice. I recall that I have run into a case where Explorer did not start after a Windows update, and it was a bit of a panic until I was able to uninstall and re-install Explorerpatcher.

Once you have installed ExplorerPatcher, you will get a Start-menu item for ExplorerPatcher. Select it, and you will find the option for the taskbar location.
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11 people found this answer helpful.
Jon Watte 35 Reputation points

2023-12-09T19:06:41.0333333+00:00

I don't like patches like this if I can avoid them, but I needed to upgrade to 11 so I used it, and it works well so far.

Yasin Kurtuluş 30 Reputation points

2023-12-25T14:12:59.64+00:00

I have downloaded it, my antivirus has detected a trojan and then I have uninstalled it.

Kim 126 Reputation points

2024-01-22T01:21:36.0033333+00:00

We need the standard functionality back - not to have to download some unauthorized software that won't get past corporate IT security standards. At least you can ungroup icons, but you can't make them smaller and not show the "titles". This just frustrates the user experience and tanks productivity. Give it back and stop messing with it!

Scott Helmers 135 Reputation points MVP

2024-01-22T13:32:56.1633333+00:00

I agree, Kim. As others have commented in related threads, with the current generation of wide-screen monitors, there is no excuse for Microsoft to disallow moving the taskbar to the left or right edge.

Joe Davis 20 Reputation points

2024-02-14T00:07:11.8266667+00:00

I downloaded Explorer Patcher and it immediately made changes that I did not ask for. Plus I didn't see where to move the taskbar, so I uninstalled it. Thankfully, everything went back where it was before.

Erland Sommarskog 112.7K Reputation points MVP

2024-02-14T21:45:21.39+00:00

The controls to move the taskbar is right on the front page:

Note that you need to restart File Explorer for the change to take effect. There is an option for that at the bottom of the window.

Note that the labels to the left are unrelated to the labels to the right. The labels to the left are different menu.

Yeah, Explorer may have some changes on by default, and you may not like them.

Kim 126 Reputation points

2024-02-14T22:26:37.7433333+00:00

@Erland Sommarskog I still have my taskbar on the bottom.

Laurie Power 0 Reputation points

2024-02-27T22:45:43.7966667+00:00

I Have found Explorer Patcher. But can't see how to execute / install the patch - I'm a tyro at this geek-stuff

Erland Sommarskog 112.7K Reputation points MVP

2024-02-27T22:56:30.69+00:00

Just run the install, ep_setup or what it's called. ...although recently I had Windows Defender sent the setup into quarantine....

Kim 126 Reputation points

2024-03-01T14:10:48.3033333+00:00

Corporate does not allow these misc programs. MS should not change the basics. The decrease in productivity is immeasurable.

Staffan Bengtsson 10 Reputation points

2024-03-04T09:25:03.2633333+00:00

ExplorerPatcher did exactly what I needed. GitHub is a reliable source and it was easy to tweak the TaskBar to my preferences (rightclick the task bar and select "properties"). This finally allow me to consider Windows 11 on the rest of my computers in my network while it vastly improved my experience with my bedroom computer. Thanks a ton! I had to rightclick the taskbar to deselect "Lock the taskbar". I could now move it to the right. Finally I got my Desktop back!!!

I then rightclicked the taskbar to select "Properties".

Then;
Taskbar: "Combine taskbar icons on primary taskbar: Always combine"
File Explorer: "Disable the Windows 11 context menu *"

Then I rightclicked the taskbar to select "Taskbar Settings", click Taskbar behaviors and turn off "Show my taskbar on all displays".

Now the most annoying aspects of Windows 11 are gone.

Mark Weiss 0 Reputation points

2024-03-12T21:24:32.1666667+00:00

Does this hack survive Windows update?

Jon Watte 50 Reputation points

2024-03-13T17:11:13.6066667+00:00

So far, it has survived for me. It made the Windows 11 update much less bad.
(There's still some surprisingly shocking mistakes where it seems the UI team has just ignored the best practices and lessons from the last 30 years, though.)

Scott Helmers 135 Reputation points MVP

2024-03-13T19:07:26.06+00:00

I just installed "2024-03 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5035853)" and Explorer Patcher is still there and the taskbar is still on the left side where I want it. The only weird result is the background of the taskbar is now transparent, which takes some getting used to! I don't see an option in either Windows or Explorer Patcher to adjust the taskbar color or transparency, but if I find one I'll post here.

Vulcan _ 20 Reputation points

2024-04-09T15:35:28.01+00:00

DON'T DO THIS! I tried ExplorerPatcher and it removed my Shut Down and Restart options from Win+X contextual menu! (usually Win+X>U would shut down PC). I had to reinstall Windows!!!!!

Vulcan _ 20 Reputation points

2024-04-09T15:40:29.2366667+00:00

DON'T DO THIS! I tried ExplorerPatcher and it removed my Shut Down and Restart options from Win+X contextual menu! (usually Win+X>U would shut down PC). I had to reinstall Windows!!!!!

Leonard Grossman 0 Reputation points

2024-05-17T22:18:06.28+00:00

Worked instantly. Thanks. I had found a twee long ago but lost it today trying to get the searchbox back in Windows Explorer. I couldn't solve that problem, but at least my task bar is back where it belongs.

Peter D. Nielsen 25 Reputation points

2024-10-31T14:26:38.5433333+00:00

As of second quarter of 2024 Explorer Patcher is broken as of the latest update.
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15 additional answers

Sarrene Miller 5 Reputation points

2024-08-06T21:31:09.8933333+00:00

I second everyone here asking and commenting on the removal of the movable task bar.

As a business owner and a developer that has used multiple monitors for a few decades, I always had my task bar to the left of my screen. As wide screens became more popular, this became almost a necessity for multi-taskers like myself.

Allowing the taskbar to be moved helps with ease of life/work depending on ones situation. From accessibility to ease of access to performance increases. Ease of life from the clients view and needs should be paramount when deciding to redesign a ux/ui for clients.

If anyone at Microsoft reads these comments, I hope that this can help encourage them to bring this functionality back. Please reconsider!!

Thank you
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cyberlizard 1 Reputation point

2024-07-21T18:10:11.9633333+00:00

Not being able to move the taskbar to the left side of the screen infuriated me enough to jump over to MacOS. I can have it any side I choose.

unless Microsoft implement what users actually want (and this remains one of the most requested features) I don’t think I’ll be coming back any time soon.
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Mark Weiss 21 Reputation points

2024-10-31T15:42:32.7866667+00:00

I refuse to use Windows 11 until they fix that inability to have the taskbar on the left vertical like I have it on all prior versions of Windows that I use. I'm sticking with 10 from now on.
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How to move the Windows 11 taskbar to the left or right side of the screen?

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