Resizing the taskbar in Windows 11 might seem dead simple on paper, but trust me, it can be a bit of a goose chase sometimes. If clicking around in Settings doesn’t quite do the trick, or if the options feel a bit light on, here are some handy tips that might help. Because of course, Windows has a habit of making things more complicated than they need to be.
How to Resize Your Taskbar in Windows 11
This part will walk you through a few options to get that taskbar just right for your setup. Whether you want it bigger to see more icons or smaller to fit more apps, here’s what to try.
Method 1: Using Settings (the typical way)
If your size options are a bit limited — like only choosing between small, medium, or large — start by heading to Settings > Personalisation > Taskbar. On newer builds, you might not see size options straight away unless you turn on a few features or tweak some hidden settings first.
In Settings, scroll down to Taskbar behaviours. You can’t usually set the size directly here, but you can toggle icon size and spacing, which affects how big the taskbar feels. To do this:
- Go to Settings > Personalisation > Taskbar.
- Find Taskbar behaviours, then look for options like Use small taskbar buttons.
- Tick or untick that option. That’s about the only built-in way to make it noticeably smaller, at least on most setups.
Doing this makes the icons smaller and the taskbar less bulky. It’s not a proper slider to resize, but it’s a sneaky little hack most people forget about. When you toggle it, you’ll see the icons get smaller, and the whole taskbar might look a bit neater.
Sometimes, the change might need a quick sign-out or restart to kick in. And keep in mind, Windows sometimes resets these settings after an update, so you might need to do it again down the track.
Method 2: Registry Edits (for the brave souls)
If that didn’t quite do it, or if you’re keen to have more control, you can tinker with the registry. It’s a bit out there, but some folks swear it’s the way to fine-tune things.
Warning: messing around in the registry can cause headaches if you’re not careful. Do a backup first, just in case.
Open Registry Editor by hitting Win + R, typing regedit, and hitting Enter.
Navigate to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\AdvancedLook for a DWORD named TaskbarSi. If it’s not there, you’ll need to create it:
- Right-click on the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
- Call it TaskbarSi.
Double-click the new entry, and set the value to:
- Small: 0
- Default (medium): 1
- Large: 2
Once done, you’ll usually need to restart Windows Explorer or log out and back in. To restart Explorer without rebooting:
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe && start explorer.exeThe taskbar should resize immediately, but sometimes it’s a bit flaky. On some setups, it works a treat; on others, not so much. Still, it’s worth a shot if you’re comfortable poking around in regedit.
When to Use These Tricks
If your taskbar feels cramped or overly bulky, these tweaks — especially changing icon size or fiddling with the registry — can do the trick. Just keep in mind, Windows updates might reset your custom settings, so you might need to redo it from time to time. And remember, restarting Explorer or your PC often helps the changes stick.
Tips for Resizing the Taskbar in Windows 11
- Give the Use small taskbar buttons toggle in Settings a burl if you just want a quick size nudge.
- Watch out for third-party tools claiming to resize the taskbar more flexibly — they can be buggy or dangerous.
- Keep an eye on OS updates; Microsoft sometimes sneaks in fixes for taskbar weirdness.
- And most importantly, reboot or restart Explorer after big tweaks — it often sorts things out.
Fair Dinkum FAQs
Can I set a custom size for the taskbar?
Not really — the standard options are just small, medium, or large. For anything more specific, registry tweaks are your best bet.
Will resizing stuff mess with pinned apps or notifications?
Not directly, but if you go super small or massive, some icons might look funny or get trimmed. Your pinned icons stay the same, just their size or appearance might shift.
Any risks messing with the registry for this?
There’s always a bit of risk, but changing the TaskbarSi value is pretty straightforward if you follow the steps. Still, always back up first — better safe than sorry.
Can I undo it and go back to the default look?
Absolutely. Just reset the registry value to 1, or switch the setting off and on again.
Summary
- Start by toggling small icons in Settings if you just want a quick size tweak.
- For more control, mess around with the registry key
TaskbarSi. - Reboot or restart Explorer after making changes so you see the impact.
- Always back up your registry before tinkering — no exceptions.
- If things go haywire, don’t panic — resetting is easy enough.
Hopefully, this Cheatsheet saves you a fair bit of bother. Not perfect, but way better than poking around blind as a bat.