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You can customize the Windows 10 taskbar without extra software. Right-click an empty part of the taskbar and open Taskbar settings to control its position, size, visibility, window grouping, notification icons, badges, News and interests, and behavior across multiple monitors. You can also pin apps from Search, drag pinned icons into a new order, edit Action Center quick actions, and change the taskbar’s color through Windows personalization.
The practical choices come down to space versus readability, a clean notification area versus at-a-glance alerts, and a permanently visible bar versus more room for applications. The procedures below use Windows 10’s built-in labels and menus.
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What parts of the Windows 10 taskbar can I customize?
Most changes are available from the taskbar’s context menu and the Taskbar settings page. The taskbar can be configured independently from the desktop background and Start menu, although its color follows Windows’ color-mode and accent-color controls.
- App area: pin, unpin, and reorder applications.
- Notification area: choose which app and system icons are visible and which stay in the hidden area.
- Layout: change button size, taskbar height, screen location, locking, and auto-hide.
- Window buttons: decide whether buttons combine and whether labels remain visible.
- Alerts: show or hide badges on taskbar buttons.
- Extra features: toggle News and interests and edit Action Center quick actions.
- Multiple displays: choose how buttons combine on taskbars attached to other monitors.
Some choices are unavailable on a managed computer if an administrator has applied taskbar policies.
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How do I pin, unpin, and reorder apps?
Pinning keeps an application available even when it is closed. You can add an app from Search or from an app that is already running, then drag its icon to the position you want.
- To pin a closed app, type its name in the taskbar Search box.
- Right-click the search result and select Pin to taskbar.
- To pin an app that is already open, right-click its taskbar icon and choose Pin to taskbar.
- To remove a pin, right-click the icon and select Unpin from taskbar. This removes the shortcut; it does not uninstall the application.
- To reorder pins, hold the primary mouse button on an app icon and drag it left or right along the taskbar. Release it when the insertion point appears.
Reordering changes only the taskbar sequence. It does not change the app’s installation location or the order of entries in the Start menu.
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How do I choose which notification-area icons appear?
Windows 10 lets you keep frequently used app icons visible while moving less important ones into the overflow area. System controls such as the clock and volume use a separate switch from third-party or app-specific icons.
- Right-click an empty area of the taskbar and select Taskbar settings.
- Scroll to Notification area and open Select which icons appear on the taskbar.
- Turn individual app icons on or off according to whether you want them in the visible notification area.
- Return to the same section and open Turn system icons on or off to control built-in system tools.
- For a quick manual adjustment, drag an icon between the visible notification area and the hidden area revealed by its overflow arrow.
Showing only icons you check regularly reduces visual noise and leaves more room for application buttons. Hiding an icon does not necessarily stop the underlying app or its notifications; it changes where the icon is displayed.
How do I hide or show News and interests?
News and interests is controlled from the taskbar settings rather than from the notification-area icon list.
- Right-click the taskbar and open Taskbar settings.
- Find Show news and interests on the taskbar.
- Toggle the setting off to remove it, or on to display it again.
This setting changes the taskbar feature itself. It is separate from app pins, system icons, and Action Center quick actions.
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How do I make taskbar buttons smaller?
Open Taskbar settings and enable Use small taskbar buttons. Smaller buttons conserve vertical space and can help when many apps are pinned, but Microsoft notes that badges are not displayed on small taskbar buttons.
If unread counts or other alert badges are important, leave small buttons disabled. You can still reduce clutter by unpinning rarely used apps and limiting visible notification icons.
How do I change the taskbar’s height or move it to another edge?
You must unlock the taskbar before resizing it manually. Its location can be selected directly in Taskbar settings.
Resize the taskbar
- Right-click an empty taskbar area.
- If Lock the taskbar is checked, select it to unlock the bar.
- Move the pointer to the taskbar’s border until it changes to a double-headed arrow.
- Drag the border to increase or decrease the height.
- Right-click the taskbar again and select Lock the taskbar when the height is correct.
Locking prevents an accidental drag from changing the height or position later.
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Move it to the left, top, right, or bottom
- Right-click the taskbar and choose Taskbar settings.
- Open Taskbar location on screen.
- Select Left, Top, Right, or Bottom.
Choose the edge that best matches your monitor layout. A side-mounted taskbar can leave more vertical room for wide applications, while the bottom edge follows the conventional Windows layout.
How do I hide the taskbar automatically?
Auto-hide removes the taskbar from view until you move the pointer to the screen edge where it is docked. It returns that area to applications but adds a reveal gesture whenever you need a pinned app or taskbar control.
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- Right-click an empty taskbar area and open Taskbar settings.
- Expand the taskbar behavior options if necessary.
- Enable Automatically hide the taskbar.
- Move the pointer to the taskbar’s screen edge to reveal it temporarily.
Turn the option off in the same settings page when you need the bar permanently visible. Auto-hide and taskbar locking serve different purposes: hiding controls visibility, while locking prevents movement and resizing.
How do I stop Windows 10 from combining taskbar buttons?
The Combine taskbar buttons setting determines whether several windows from one application share a single button or keep separate labeled buttons.
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| Setting | What Windows displays | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Always, hide labels | One unlabeled button per application, even when multiple windows are open. | A compact taskbar when you identify apps by their icons. |
| When taskbar is full | Separate labeled buttons while space is available; buttons collapse into an app button when the taskbar fills. | A compromise between readable window names and saved space. |
| Never | Every window keeps its own labeled button. A crowded taskbar becomes smaller and can scroll. | Workflows where distinguishing individual documents or windows matters more than compactness. |
To change the behavior, open Taskbar settings, find Combine taskbar buttons, and choose one of the three options. On a multi-monitor setup, Windows 10 also provides a separate grouping choice for taskbars on other displays.
How do I control badges and taskbars on multiple monitors?
Badges are small alert indicators shown on taskbar buttons. In Taskbar settings, use Show badges on taskbar buttons to enable or disable them.
Remember that badges are not displayed when Use small taskbar buttons is enabled. If badges are missing, first turn off small buttons, then verify the badge switch.
For multiple displays, use the multiple-display options in Taskbar settings to decide whether and how buttons combine on taskbars attached to other monitors. This lets you keep a compact arrangement on one screen while allowing a different grouping behavior elsewhere, subject to the choices Windows exposes for your display configuration.
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How do I edit Action Center quick actions?
Quick actions are the buttons in Action Center, not the icons beside the clock. You can add, remove, and reorder them from Notifications & actions.
- Open Settings.
- Select Notifications & actions.
- Choose Edit your quick actions.
- Select Add or unpin actions you do not use.
- Drag the remaining actions into the order you want.
- Select Done to save the arrangement.
Keep the first positions for controls you use repeatedly, such as connectivity or display-related actions, and move occasional settings lower so they do not crowd the initial Action Center view.
How do I change the taskbar color?
The taskbar follows Windows’ color mode and accent-color settings. Open the Windows personalization color controls, choose the preferred color mode and accent color, and apply the option that lets the accent appear on Windows surfaces such as the taskbar when available.
Changing the taskbar color is a system personalization change rather than a taskbar-only theme. If the color does not change, review the selected Windows color mode and accent-color options in Personalization.
Which taskbar setup should I choose?
There is no single best layout. Match the settings to how many windows you manage, how often you need notification icons, and whether screen space or immediate access matters more.
| Priority | Useful settings | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum application space | Small taskbar buttons, auto-hide, and a short list of visible notification icons. | Badges disappear with small buttons, and auto-hide adds a pointer movement before each use. |
| Fast window recognition | Never combine buttons and keep labels visible. | Many open windows consume more room; the taskbar can shrink and scroll. |
| Minimal distraction | Hide News and interests, limit notification-area icons, and disable badges if alerts are unnecessary. | Important status changes are less visible until you open the relevant app. |
| Two-screen workflow | Configure grouping for other taskbars separately and place the bar on the edge that is easiest to reach. | Different displays may require different habits and settings. |
| Accidental-change prevention | Resize and position the bar, then enable Lock the taskbar. | Further changes require unlocking it first. |
Why can’t I change a taskbar setting?
On a managed PC, an administrator can apply policies that override local preferences. Microsoft Learn lists policies such as Hide the notification area and Hide recent jumplists; these can remove or restrict parts of the interface even when the normal settings page exists.
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- If a switch is missing or immediately reverts, check whether the computer is managed by an employer, school, or other organization.
- Do not bypass an administrative policy without authorization; ask the administrator which taskbar settings are permitted.
- If the taskbar moved or resized accidentally, unlock it only long enough to correct the position or height, then lock it again.
- If icons are hard to find, check both the visible notification area and its hidden overflow area before changing app settings.
- If alert badges disappeared after a layout change, verify that small taskbar buttons are disabled and that Show badges on taskbar buttons is enabled.
Does Windows 10 still receive support?
Microsoft’s current Support page states: Support for Windows 10 has ended on October 14, 2025.
After that date, Microsoft no longer provides free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. Taskbar customization remains available on an existing installation, but changing these settings does not extend the operating system’s support lifecycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep app icons visible while hiding the taskbar itself?
Yes. Pin the applications you want first, then enable Automatically hide the taskbar. Moving the pointer to the docked screen edge reveals the pinned icons and other taskbar controls temporarily.
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Open the multiple-display options in Taskbar settings and use the separate grouping choice for other taskbars. Windows 10 exposes an independent setting for how buttons combine on additional displays.
Why did changing button size remove my unread indicators?
Windows 10 does not display badges when Use small taskbar buttons is enabled. Turn that option off, then check Show badges on taskbar buttons if you want alert indicators back.
Can an organization prevent me from changing notification icons?
Yes. Administrative policies can hide the notification area or recent jumplists and may restrict local taskbar choices. On a work or school computer, contact the administrator rather than attempting to override the policy.
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