Customizing the Taskbar and Start Menu in Windows 11 allows you to tailor your desktop environment to better suit your workflow and preferences. This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step approach to personalize these elements using built-in Windows 11 settings.
Customizing the Taskbar in Windows 11
- Access Taskbar Settings
- Right-click on an empty area of the taskbar.
- Select Taskbar settings from the context menu.
- Pin or Unpin Apps
- Pin an App:
- Open the app you want to pin.
- Right-click its icon on the taskbar.
- Select Pin to taskbar.
- Unpin an App:
- Right-click the app’s icon on the taskbar.
- Select Unpin from taskbar.
- Change Taskbar Alignment
- In Taskbar settings, scroll to Taskbar behaviors.
- Find Taskbar alignment and choose between Left or Center.
- Show or Hide Taskbar Items
- Under Taskbar items, toggle the visibility of:
- Search
- Task view
- Widgets
- Chat
- Customize System Tray Icons
- In Taskbar settings, navigate to Other system tray icons.
- Toggle the visibility of icons like Pen menu, Touch keyboard, and Virtual touchpad.
- Adjust Taskbar Behavior
- Still in Taskbar behaviors, you can:
- Enable Automatically hide the taskbar.
- Show badges (unread messages, alerts) on taskbar apps.
- Control when taskbar buttons combine.
- Display the taskbar on multiple displays.
- Change Taskbar Color and Transparency
- Go to Settings > Personalization > Colors.
- Choose your accent color.
- Toggle Show accent color on Start and taskbar to apply your chosen color.
- Enable Transparency effects for a translucent taskbar appearance.
Customizing the Start Menu in Windows 11
- Access Start Menu Settings
- Open Settings by pressing Windows + I.
- Navigate to Personalization > Start.
- Pin or Unpin Apps
- Pin an App:
- Click the Start button.
- Right-click the app you want to pin.
- Select Pin to Start.
- Unpin an App:
- Right-click the app in the Start menu.
- Select Unpin from Start.
- Rearrange Pinned Apps
- Click and drag pinned apps to rearrange their order within the Start menu.
- Customize Recommended Section
- In Start settings, toggle:
- Show recently added apps.
- Show most used apps.
- Show recently opened items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer.
- Add Folders to Start Menu
- In Start settings, click on Folders.
- Toggle the folders you want to appear next to the power button in the Start menu, such as:
- Settings
- File Explorer
- Documents
- Downloads
- Change Start Menu Color and Transparency
- Navigate to Settings > Personalization > Colors.
- Choose your desired accent color.
- Toggle Show accent color on Start and taskbar to apply the color to the Start menu.
- Enable Transparency effects for a translucent Start menu appearance.
Additional Tips
- Use Small Taskbar Buttons:
- In Taskbar settings, toggle Use small taskbar buttons for a more compact taskbar.
- Show or Hide Notification Badges:
- Under Taskbar behaviors, toggle Show badges (unread messages, alerts) on taskbar apps.
- Customize Taskbar on Multiple Displays:
- If using multiple monitors, you can choose to show the taskbar on all displays and customize its behavior per display.
By following these steps, you can effectively personalize the Taskbar and Start Menu in Windows 11 to better fit your preferences and enhance your productivity.
