Trying to push that taskbar over to the right in Windows 11? Yeah, it’s kind of weird, because Microsoft kinda left that out of the options. You can’t just drag it like in older versions. So, if you’re feeling adventurous, a quick registry edit might do the trick. It’s not totally foolproof, and on some setups, it’s a pain—sometimes you need a reboot or a restart of Explorer. But hey, it’s worth a shot if you want that real estate on the right side.
Move Taskbar to Right Side of Screen in Windows 11
Moving your taskbar there gives your workspace a fresh vibe and can even help get to your apps faster if you’re into vertical bars. Here’s what to do, though it’s a bit hacksaw-style, so don’t come crying if it messes up—but most folks report it’s kind of fine after a reboot.
Step 1: Open the Registry Editor
Hit Windows + R, type regedit and press Enter. If the User Account Control (UAC) pops up, click “Yes.” This is the step where Windows lets you poke around the system settings, but you gotta be careful—one wrong move, and it might get janky.
Step 2: Navigate to the key for taskbar settings
Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects3. Yeah, the crazy long path that makes you wonder what the registry is even doing there. This is where Windows stores your taskbar info, including its position and size.
Step 3: Modify the binary value
Right-click on the “Settings” value, pick “Modify,” and you’ll see a bunch of hex data. The fifth value in the second row controls the taskbar position. Change that byte to 02. Basically telling Windows, “Hey, put this thing on the right now.”
Pro tip: On some machines, this hex editing doesn’t do squat immediately. You might need to restart Explorer or even reboot for this to take effect.
Step 4: Exit, then restart Explorer
Close the registry. Then, hit Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. Find “Windows Explorer,” right-click, and hit “Restart.” This refreshes your desktop without rebooting the whole machine. Sometimes, it only works after this step—your mileage will vary. If nothing changes, a full reboot might be necessary.
Step 5: Double-check your taskbar
Look up and see if your taskbar is now hanging out on the right side. If not, double-check everything—you might’ve missed a hex digit or need to restart again.
And honestly, on some setups, the change takes a few tries, or needs a reboot. Windows loves to make these tweaks complicated for no good reason.
Tips for Moving Taskbar to Right Side of Screen in Windows 11
- Back up the registry before messing with it—because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary.
- If it breaks, just set the same registry key back to the original value (usually, hex
00or01depending on your version). - Sometimes, playing around with different hex values—like other numbers or restoring defaults—can help if it doesn’t do anything initially.
- Keeping Windows updated is a good idea; maybe someday, this gets easier.
- And don’t forget to explore other customization options—maybe vertical apps or the Favorites bar—if you’re trying to get a different workspace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I move the taskbar anywhere I want in Windows 11?
Officially? Nope. Microsoft still only lets you put it at the bottom or switch sides, but no free placement like before. Registry tinkering is the closest hack.
Is editing the registry safe? I’m nervous.
It’s safe if you’re careful and back things up first. Just don’t go randomly changing everything; stick to the steps. A misplaced registry tweak can cause weird issues, so proceed with caution.
Why isn’t my taskbar moving even after the hex change?
Heh, sometimes Windows plays hardball. Double-check you edited the right value, and try restarting Explorer or rebooting. Some machines need a little extra nudge.
Third-party tools — are they worth it?
There are some taskbar customization apps out there, but be choosy. Stick to reputable ones if you go that route, just to avoid malware or bloatware. They can sometimes give more flexible options without registry hacking.
Summary
- Open
regedit - Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects3
- Edit the “Settings” value, change the position byte to
02 - Close the registry, restart Explorer, or reboot if needed
- Check if the taskbar moved to the right
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Windows might be quirky, but sometimes you just gotta get a little hacky to customize it better.