If you’re someone who loves to customize their desktop, then you probably don’t want your taskbar hanging out at the bottom of your screen. Luckily, Windows 11 offers a variety of ways to move your taskbar where you want it to be. In this guide, we’ll discuss three different methods for moving your taskbar to the left side of your screen, and we’ll also answer some frequently asked questions about taskbars.
Video Tutorial:
Method 1: Drag and Move
This is probably the simplest method to move your taskbar to the left side of your screen. Here’s how to do it:
1. Click on an empty area of the taskbar with your left mouse button and hold it down.
2. Drag the taskbar to the left side of the screen.
3. Release the left mouse button to drop the taskbar into its new position.
That’s all there is to it! If you want to move your taskbar back to the bottom of your screen, just repeat the process and drag it back down.
Q: How do I move my taskbar back to the bottom of my screen?
A: To move your taskbar back to its original position at the bottom of your screen, simply click and drag it with your left mouse button back down to the bottom.
Method 2: Taskbar Settings
If you’re more of a keyboard person, you might prefer to use your keyboard to move your taskbar instead of using your mouse. Here’s how to do it:
1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
2. Click on "Personalization."
3. Click on "Taskbar" in the left-hand menu.
4. Under "Taskbar alignment," click on the drop-down menu and select "Left."
5. Your taskbar will immediately move to the left side of your screen.
If you ever want to move your taskbar back to the bottom of your screen, just go back to the Taskbar settings and select "Bottom" from the drop-down menu.
Q: Why can’t I find the "Taskbar" option in the Settings app?
A: If you don’t see the "Taskbar" option in your Settings app, it’s possible that you’re not running Windows 11. This guide is specifically for Windows 11, and the location of the Taskbar settings may vary on other versions of Windows.
Method 3: Registry Editor
Registry Editor is a powerful tool that allows you to make changes to your system’s registry. If you’re comfortable using Registry Editor, you can use it to move your taskbar to the left side of your screen. Here’s how to do it:
1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type "regedit" into the box and hit Enter.
3. In the left-hand menu of Registry Editor, navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects3.
4. Find the "Settings" binary value in the right-hand pane and double-click on it.
5. Change the fifth set of characters from "03" to "01."
6. Click OK and close Registry Editor.
7. Restart your computer.
After your computer restarts, your taskbar should be on the left side of your screen. If you ever want to move it back to the bottom of your screen, just repeat the process and change the same value from "01" back to "03."
Q: Why can’t I make changes to my system’s registry?
A: Editing your system’s registry can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. If you’re not comfortable using Registry Editor or if you’re not sure what you’re doing, it’s best to leave the registry alone and use one of the other methods to move your taskbar.
FAQs
Q: Can I move my taskbar to the right side of my screen?
A: Yes, you can! Simply follow the same steps to move your taskbar to the left, but instead of selecting "Left" from the drop-down menu in the Taskbar settings or changing the "Settings" value to "01" in Registry Editor, select "Right" or change the value to "02."
Q: Can I hide my taskbar when it’s on the left side of my screen?
A: Yes, you can! Right-click on an empty space on the taskbar and select "Taskbar settings." Toggle the "Automatically hide the taskbar in desktop mode" option on. Your taskbar will now be hidden until you move your mouse to the left side of the screen.
Q: Can I move individual taskbar icons to the right or left side?
A: Unfortunately, no. When you move your taskbar to the left or right side of your screen, all of your taskbar icons will move with it.
Q: Will moving my taskbar to the left side of my screen affect any other settings?
A: No, moving your taskbar to the left side of your screen shouldn’t affect any other settings. However, if you use multiple monitors, your taskbar may behave differently depending on your monitor configuration.
