Customize the Taskbar in Windows

Widgets are interactive elements that display dynamic content and provide quick access to various apps and features. They are designed to help you staying informed and organized by presenting personalized information at a glance.

To show or hide Widgets from the taskbar:

• Right-click on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings , or use the following shortcut:

  Taskbar

• Under Taskbar items, toggle the Widgets switch to On or Off​​​​​​​

To learn more about Widgets, see Stay Up to Date With Widgets in Windows​​​​​​​.

The Start menu is a central hub that provides quick access to your apps, settings, and files. The Start menu is divided into several sections, including Pinned, All, and Recommended apps, allowing you to easily find and launch your most-used applications and recent files. It's designed to be intuitive and customizable, helping you to efficiently navigate your system and personalize your Windows experience.

Additionally, the Start menu includes user account options, allowing you to sign in, sign out, lock your device, or switch user accounts.

While you can't remove the Start menu from the taskbar, you can change its position to be aligned on the side instead of being centered. For more information, see Change the taskbar alignment.

To learn more about the Start menu, see Customize the Windows Start menu. 

Windows Search is a powerful feature that allows you to find files, applications, settings, and even web results directly from your desktop. The search box, conveniently located on the taskbar, provides a seamless way to access this functionality. Additionally, Windows Search integrates web search capabilities from Microsoft Bing, enabling you to get search results without opening a browser.

To configure Search on the taskbar:

1. Right-click on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings , or use the following shortcut:

   Taskbar

2. Under Taskbar items, use the dropdown menu to configure the search area. You can choose from the following options:

• Search box: Displays a full text box to enter your search

• ​​​​​​​Search icon and label: Shows a search icon along with the label "Search"

• Search icon only: Displays only the search icon

• Hide: Removes the search feature from the taskbar

To learn more, see Search for anything, anywhere.

The task view button on the taskbar is designed to enhance your multitasking experience in Windows. It allows you to quickly access and manage all your open windows and multiple desktops. When you open task view, a thumbnail view of all your active applications is displayed, making it easy to switch between tasks or close unnecessary windows. Additionally, task view enables you to create and manage multiple desktops, providing a clutter-free workspace tailored to different projects or activities. This feature is particularly useful when you need to organize your workflow efficiently and maintain focus on specific tasks.​​​​​​​

To show or hide the task view button from the taskbar:

1. Right-click on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings , or use the following shortcut:

   Taskbar

2. Under Taskbar items, toggle the Task view switch to On or Off

To learn more, see Get more done with multitasking in Windows and ​​​​​​​Configure Multiple Desktops in Windows.

The area of the taskbar used for apps in Windows is designed to provide quick access and management of your applications. You can pin your favorite apps to the taskbar or unpin unused apps. Additionally, you can rearrange the icons by selecting and dragging them to your preferred order.

Running apps are displayed on the taskbar with a line under the icon to indicate they are open. The currently active app is highlighted with the Windows accent color, making it easy to identify which app is in use. This setup allows for efficient multitasking and quick navigation between your applications.

Pin an app to the taskbar

There are different ways to pin apps to the taskbar. For example:

• In the Search box on the taskbar, type the name of the app you want to pin to the taskbar. Right-click on the app, then select Pin to taskbar

• If the app is already open, right-click on the icon on the taskbar, then select Pin to taskbar

Unpin an app from the taskbar

To unpin an app, right-click on the pinned icon on the taskbar, then select Unpin from taskbar .

Rearrange the apps on the taskbar

Whenever you want to change the order of app buttons on the taskbar, drag the app's icon from its current position to a different one.

The taskbar's system tray displays icons for background apps, making it easy to monitor and interact with them. You can customize which apps and system tools, like the pen menu, touch keyboard, and virtual touchpad, are visible to keep your taskbar organized and focused on what's important. Additionally, the system tray features dynamic privacy indicators that show real-time information about location, microphone, and camera access, giving you transparency and control over your privacy settings.

To customize the system tray area:

1. Right-click on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings , or use the following shortcut:

   Taskbar

2. Under System tray icons, choose the icons you want to appear in the system tray. The options are Pen Menu, Touch keyboard, and Virtual Touchpad

3. Under Other system tray icons, select if you want to enable the hidden icon menu (also referred to as overflow area), and which icons can appear in the system tray

To rearrange the icons in the system tray area, you can drag and drop them. You can move icons that are currently visible in the system tray as well as those in the overflow area . To make an icon visible, drag it from the overflow area to the system tray. Conversely, to hide an icon, drag it from the system tray back to the overflow area.

Quick Settings provides a convenient way to access and modify frequently used settings without navigating through menus. For example, you can quickly adjust the volume, change screen brightness, switch Wi-Fi networks, or turn on accessibility tools.

The Quick Settings area is comprised of: 

• Network icon: This icon represents your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection

• Volume icon: This icon represents the sound settings

• Battery icon: This icon represents the battery status on laptops and tablets

The calendar and notification area provides a convenient way to access the calendar, where you can start a focus session, and the notification center. The notification center displays alerts and notifications about incoming emails, updates, and other system activities.

To open the calendar and notification center flyout, you can:

To show or hide the time and date from the taskbar:

1. Right-click on the clock on the taskbar, and select Adjust date and time, or use the following shortcut:

   Date & time

2. Toggle the Show time and date in the System tray switch to On or Off

• If set to On, you can show seconds alongside hours and minutes in your system tray clock by checking the option Show seconds in system tray clock (uses more power)

To learn more, see How To Use Focus in Windows​​​​​​​ and Configure Notifications in Windows​​​​​​​.

Typically, the taskbar icons are centered, but you can also align them to the side of the taskbar.

1. Right-click on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings , or use the following shortcut:

   Taskbar

2. Expand Taskbar behaviors and select your desired option for Taskbar alignment

A badge on a taskbar button is an alert to let you know that some activity is happening, or needs to happen, with that app.

For example, a bell badge on the Clock app alerts you about an active alarm that will notify you at the time you set.

To modify the taskbar's behavior:

1. Right-click on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings , or use the following shortcut:

   Taskbar

2. Expand Taskbar behaviors, and check or uncheck the option Show badges on taskbar apps​​​​​​​

This option controls whether the icons of apps on the taskbar flash to get your attention when they need it. This typically happens when an app opens minimized or behind another window and requires your interaction. By default, an app icon flashes several times and stays highlighted until you select it or open the app.

To modify the taskbar's behavior:

1. Right-click on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings , or use the following shortcut:

   Taskbar

2. Expand Taskbar behaviors, and check or uncheck the option Show flashing on taskbar apps

This option is designed to enhance productivity and improve the process of sharing information during online meetings, particularly when using Microsoft Teams. When you are in a meeting call through Microsoft Teams, you can hover over the apps running on your taskbar, and you will be prompted with a button that allows you to share your window with the meeting attendees. This eliminates the need to switch back and forth between applications, ensuring a seamless and uninterrupted meeting experience. To stop sharing, you can hover over the window again and select Stop Sharing or choose another window to share.

To modify the taskbar's behavior:

1. Right-click on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings , or use the following shortcut:

   Taskbar

2. Expand Taskbar behaviors, and check or uncheck the option Share any window from my taskbar 

This option allows you to display the taskbar on multiple monitors. When the option is enabled, the taskbar appears on all connected displays, providing easy access to your pinned apps, Start menu, and system tray on each screen. This can be useful if you want a consistent taskbar experience across all displays.

To modify the taskbar's behavior:

1. Right-click on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings , or use the following shortcut:

   Taskbar

2. Expand Taskbar behaviors, and check or uncheck the option Show my taskbar on all displays​​​​​​​ 

You can hide the taskbar both in desktop mode and tablet mode. Press and hold (or right-click) any empty space on the taskbar, select Taskbar settings, select Taskbar behaviors, and select Automatically hide the taskbar.

To see the taskbar after it's hidden, hover your mouse over, or touch, the bottom edge of your screen.

To modify the taskbar's behavior:

1. Right-click on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings , or use the following shortcut:

   Taskbar

2. Expand Taskbar behaviors, and check or uncheck the option Automatically hide the taskbar

When you disconnect or fold back the keyboard on your 2-in-1 device, you'll now see the tablet-optimized taskbar. This taskbar has two states: collapsed and expanded. In the collapsed state, the taskbar is minimized so you can focus on your task, but you can still see critical status icons like the time or battery level. When you need to use the taskbar, swipe up from the bottom to see the expanded state that has a touch-friendly design with larger icons. When you launch an app, the taskbar will automatically collapse again.

To turn the tablet-optimized taskbar on or off:

1. Right-click on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings , or use the following shortcut:

   Taskbar

2. To turn off the tablet-optimized taskbar, uncheck the box next to Optimize taskbar for touch interactions when this device is used as a tablet. To turn it back on again, recheck the box

This small area on the side of the taskbar is useful for quickly accessing the desktop by minimizing all open windows. Simply select this area to get to the desktop. Select it again to restore the open windows to their previous state.

To configure this area:

1. Right-click on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings , or use the following shortcut:

   Taskbar​​​​​​​

2. Expand the section Taskbar behaviors, then enable or disable the option Select the far corner of the taskbar to show the desktop​​​​​​​​