Win 11 Taskbar can’t be moved! Really?

Topic

New Reply

I have not migrated to Windows 11 yet. One big reason is that the Taskbar appears to be permanently stuck at the bottom of the screen in Win 11. Why on earth would they break the ability to move it left, right, top, or bottom?

Today’s monitors are much wider than they are high. Vertical monitor real estate is at a premium when you’re working with photography, complicated documents or spreadsheets, etc.

I always move my taskbar to the left side of my monitor.

I have yet to see a solution – a workaround, a Microsoft patch, or even an acknowledgment from Microsoft that it is big problem for many users.

Until this problem is solved, I’m waiting.

4 users thanked author for this post.

greenbergman, windbg, Microfix, Charlie

Reply | Quote

Replies

https://pureinfotech.com/move-taskbar-top-side-windows-11/

It’s doable but not obvious and includes registry keys.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

Reply | Quote

Susan Bradley wrote:

It’s doable but not obvious and includes registry keys.

It no longer requires registry keys.

“Here is how to move your Taskbar to the left: 1. right click an empty space either side of your current taskbar

2. ‘Taskbar Setting” will pop up and click it

3. in the next window: Personalization >Taskbar, scroll down the page to “Taskbar Behavior” and click the down-pointing arrow head

4. next window is Taskbar Alignment & simply click letter “L” for Left and your taskbar will automatically move to the left of your desktop!”

credit: George Katonivualiku

 

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

Reply | Quote

That’s just “left” – you have to use registry keys for right and top.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

Reply | Quote

That’s just the left side on the bottom, as opposed to the middle of the bottom.
The question, I believe, was to move it to a vertical position on the left side of the screen like you used to be able to do with drag/drop.

Reply | Quote

Microsoft needs a real “Complaint Dept.”  More now than ever.

Being 20 something in the 70's was so much better than being 70 something in the insane 20's

2 users thanked author for this post.

Cybertooth, dearnold

Reply | Quote

I’d rather see them re-introduce a QA dept first although a complaints dept would create thousands of jobs…hmm

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

2 users thanked author for this post.

Cybertooth, dearnold

Reply | Quote

Outstanding eh!
Something as basic as moving the taskbar to a different position on the desktop requires registry edits = FAIL, simpler in linux and previous versions of Windows, drag and drop or use the settings interface.

My advice, wait until the next version of Win11 is released and see if
that has been addressed and stick with Win10 for now..there’s no hurry for frustration and annoyances is there?

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

1 user thanked author for this post.

Charlie

Reply | Quote

Microfix wrote:

Something as basic as moving the taskbar to a different position on the desktop requires registry edits = FAIL

They fixed it last year.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

Reply | Quote

FAIL! should not have happened

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

Reply | Quote

Microfix wrote:

FAIL! should not have happened

I’m only aware of the fix because after my hardware upgrade, I upgraded the Windows 10 side of my dual boot daily driver to Windows 11, and made an attempt to use the Windows Start Menu.  The first thing I did was move it to the left.

That lasted until yesterday, when I installed StartAllBack.  I haven’t used a Windows Start Menu since I upgraded to Windows 8 and started using StartIsBack.  I don’t much care about Microsoft’s UI, there are much better alternatives, and I don’t have to use Microsoft’s.  I’d rather make Windows work the way I want it to work.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

Reply | Quote

bbearren wrote:

They fixed it last year.

What build do you have?

Does “the fix” actually move the taskbar to the left side of the monitor so it stands vertical??

Or is it this: So many readers in another forum thought that I just wanted to move the icons in the taskbar to the left end of the horizontal taskbar?

I use multiple monitors, but I still need every inch I can get in the vertical dimension of the screen.

Reply | Quote

You can move it to the bottom left, but not vertically on the left side of the screen.

1 user thanked author for this post.

dearnold

Reply | Quote

dearnold wrote:

I use multiple monitors, but I still need every inch I can get in the vertical dimension of the screen.

If you are using multiple monitors, no doubt you can afford $4.99 for StartAllBack, which I’ve been using since Windows 11 dropped.  In my experience, other than the funky UI, Windows 11 is a minor upgrade of Windows 10.  It’s quite stable and everything I use runs on it just fine.

As I said in #2464638, I haven’t used a Windows Start Menu since I upgraded to Windows 8, except for the couple of weeks I tried to use it recently.  StartAllBack will let you put the Taskbar on the bottom left, the left side, the top, or the right side.

So far, no Windows Update has messed with it, and I don’t dodge any updates other than drivers.  I’ll gladly spend 5 bucks on a really good Start Menu rather than waste my time complaining about Microsoft’s lousy one.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

Reply | Quote

A real fix is as bbearran says.  Buy a third party menu program.  They keep up with updates and any issues.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

Reply | Quote

Susan Bradley wrote:

https://pureinfotech.com/move-taskbar-top-side-windows-11/ It’s doable but not obvious and includes registry keys.

I don’t mind using registry keys if that fix will be sticky and not get killed with every update.

That said, a “real” fix would be better. 

Reply | Quote

The removal of the ability to position the task bar at the top or sides of the screen with Win11 is either arrogance, not wanting to offer screens like Apple or Linux variations, or sheer bloody stupidity!!!

Based upon history with Microsoft, it could be either, but on this occasion I’ll go with arrogant stupidity.  The pithy excuses about how difficult it would be, are outrageous.  I’d fire anyone that said it as too hard to do something that was being done in earlier releases of the software.

I’ve used many other OS over the past 60 years and used just about every Microsoft version, regretfully, just to maintain compatibility with all the sheeple that use Windoze that I worked for and with.  I’ve also used several versions of Linux and have been thinking that now I’m retired I should just make the switch.  You’re never too old to learn something new.

Today I discovered how to ‘upgrade’ my ‘unsuitable’ hardware from Win10 to Win11.  It installed beautifully and is faster than it was using Win10, with all the old crap still lurking on the system.  But I want my task bar at the top of the screen, where I’ve always been able to position it in the past.  Microsoft says no, so I say FU.

So it looks like Linux Mint is going to be my solution.  It’s a little more ‘user-friendly’ than Ubuntu, which I already dual boot on this system, but it’s time to bite the bullet and commit to one or the other.  Mint it is.

Goodbye and good riddance to the Microsoft monopoly cash cow forever.

Reply | Quote

Old post but see if these still work

https://www.howtogeek.com/759882/how-to-move-windows-11s-taskbar-to-the-top-of-the-screen/

And for the record when I come across someone with a task bar at the top it drives me insane – so to each his or her own. 

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

1 user thanked author for this post.

Cybertooth

Reply | Quote

What, did they decide to do away with Drag and Drop or Drag and Position?  You know, the way it used to be.

Being 20 something in the 70's was so much better than being 70 something in the insane 20's

Reply | Quote

My task bar is vertical and on the right with Win10. Please let me know when there is a solution to get that taskbar layout with Win11. I already run desktop UI enhancement programs on Win10 and I don’t mind paying for another one. The key is making the taskbar vertical.

“Vertical monitor real estate is at a premium…when you’re working with…complicated documents…”.

My backup plan for Win11 is to purchase monitors that permit the screen to be flipped on its side. If you know of any new monitors for sale that permit this vertical screen orientation, please let me know.

Thanks.

P.S.

While I run with multiple monitors, I just end up with more horizontal screen space. I was never happy with the computer monitor transition from 4:3 to 16:9+ aspect ratios.

Windows 10 22H2 desktops & laptops on Dell, HP, ASUS; No servers, no domain.

Reply | Quote

I have just received my new Dell laptop that has Windows 11 Home on it. In my desktop Widows 10 machine. I like my task bar to the right. What is the procedure to move it to the right side of my screen in Windows 11?

Reply | Quote

Download StartAllBack (Free 100 day trial, purchase for $4.99 US). It will allow you to put the Taskbar on the right.

1 user thanked author for this post.

Rush2112

Reply | Quote

Thanks PKCano. That did the trick. It worked once I figured out how to use it. Which didn’t take long by the way. Does the task bar go back after 100 days if you don’t purchase a license?

Reply | Quote

Rush2112:

You have a topic here with your new computer:
https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/i-just-bought-a-dell-inspiron-15-5510-with-windows-11-home-what-all-do-i-need/

On permanent hiatus {with backup and coffee}
offline▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.572 x64 i3-3220 RAM8GB HDD Firefox83.0b3 WindowsDefender
offline▸ Acer TravelMate P215-52 RAM8GB Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1265 x64 i5-10210U SSD Firefox106.0 MicrosoftDefender
online▸ Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1992 x64 i5-9400 RAM16GB HDD Firefox116.0b3 MicrosoftDefender

Reply | Quote

How trial version works?

There are no limitations in trial version. After installing it runs for 30 days. If you don’t activate it with license number you bought within 30 days, it will still work, but in limited mode: Start Menu will be blank and sad; every boot you’ll be nagged about evaluation period over. Trial period runs for each user which have installed StartIsBack on one PC separately.

StartIsBack FAQ

Reply | Quote

The last one I downloaded had a 100-day free trial.

1 user thanked author for this post.

b

Reply | Quote

Use Valinet Explorer Patcher. It’s on Github and is free.  After going round the houses, registry mods etc, which didn’t work and caused me a lot of frustration, this was finally the solution.

https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/releases/latest/download/ep_setup.exe

Incidentally, this is Microsoft’s take on this loss of key functionality:
“And when you look at the data, while we know there is a set of people that love it that way and, like, really appreciate it, we also recognize that this set of users is really small compared to the set of other folks that are asking for other features.”

– Tali Roth, the head of product of Windows Core Experiences at Microsoft

Thing is tho’, I’ll bet that ‘small’ number is likely to pretty big – even if we’re just 1% of the user base, that number is going to be huge. This attitude they’re taking toward these people is psychotic.  I’d also love to know what these ‘other features’ are that other people people are asking for.

Anyway, old thread I know, but hope this helped.

Reply | Quote

They are so dumb to remove the settings to let others choose where they want the Taskbar Location

Reply | Quote