Shortcut to toggle small/large taskbar icons?

Hi, Simply run the exe file (in the attached zip file) which I've created using Autohotkey.

Each time you run it, the size toggles.

A Settings window briefly pops up, and then closes.

Batch files can do the job.
Unlike the .reg file method, you can use a shortcut to run the desired batch file and no further user interaction is required.

TaskBarIcons-SetSmall.bat

Code:

REG ADD "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v "TaskbarSmallIcons" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

::Restart explorer - conventional method - closes current File explorer windows
:: Taken from Restart explorer.exe Process - TenForumsTutorials https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5970-restart-explorer-exe-process-windows-10-a.html
::Stop explorer.exe
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
Timeout /t 3 >nul
:: Start explorer.exe
start explorer.exe

TaskBarIcons-SetLarge.bat

Code:

REG ADD "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v "TaskbarSmallIcons" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

::Restart explorer - conventional method - closes current File explorer windows
:: Taken from Restart explorer.exe Process - TenForumsTutorials https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5970-restart-explorer-exe-process-windows-10-a.html
::Stop explorer.exe
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
Timeout /t 3 >nul
:: Start explorer.exe
start explorer.exe

Added a few minutes later after I'd seen dalchina's useful idea of toggling the state so there is only a single script to run.
TaskBarIcons-ToggleLarge-Small.bat

Code:

For /F "tokens=3 delims= " %%A in ('Reg Query "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v TaskbarSmallIcons') Do Set CurrentState=%%A
echo %CurrentState%
Set CurrentState=%CurrentState:~-1%
echo %CurrentState%

If  %CurrentState% EQU 1 (GoTo SetLarge) Else (GoTo SetSmall)

:SetLarge
REG ADD "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v "TaskbarSmallIcons" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
GoTo RestartExplorer

:SetSmall
REG ADD "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v "TaskbarSmallIcons" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

:RestartExplorer
::Restart explorer - conventional method - closes current File explorer windows
:: Taken from Restart explorer.exe Process - TenForumsTutorials https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5970-restart-explorer-exe-process-windows-10-a.html
::Stop explorer.exe
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
Timeout /t 3 >nul
:: Start explorer.exe
start explorer.exe

The TimeOut commands are there to counter the possibility of the batch file failing when [unpredictably] it attempts to restart explorer before it has been fully stopped.
See Bat file to restart explorer.exe sometimes fail - post #1 - TenForums


There is a method of restarting explorer without losing File explorer windows. It involves running a PowerShell command [which can be done within a batch file].
See KeithM updated restart explorer ditties [#42] - TenForums


All the best,
Denis

Ander said:

And changing and reloading the registry on-the-fly, that's pretty amazing. I never realized Explorer.exe actually did that... It means you could make and reload any reg changes during a session. That alone seems worthy of its own thread!

It has its own thread, its own tutorial. I put the link in the scripts - Restart explorer.exe Process - TenForumsTutorials

The KeithM variation is just about as straightforward. I find it very handy to be able to keep open the File explorer folders that I'm working in at the time even if a problem or a Registry change requires a restart.
RestartExplorerWithFolders.ps1

Code:

$Shell = New-Object -ComObject shell.application
$SavedPaths = ( $Shell.Windows() | select -expand LocationURL )
Get-Process explorer | Stop-Process
$SavedPaths | ForEach { explorer $_ }

When checking my post, I found that Keith had subsequently updated the suggested code - KeithM updated restart explorer ditties [#42] - TenForums I have only tried the revised version once as a test about thirty seconds ago.
@KeithM


I call it from a shortcut

Code:

powershell.exe C:\Tools\FileExplorerTools\RestartExplorerWithFolders.ps1

My speech about using a dedicated C:\Tools folder for all my scripts & portable applications is in Set up my Tools folder ditty - TenForums


Thanks for the rep,
All the best,
Denis