Change Taskbar Location on Screen in Windows 10  

    Change Taskbar Location on Screen in Windows 10

    Change Taskbar Location on Screen in Windows 10

    How to Change Taskbar Location on Screen in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Customization
    02 Jan 2020
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Change Taskbar Location on Screen in Windows 10


    Windows includes a special application desktop toolbar called the taskbar that shows on the bottom of a display screen by default. The taskbar allows you to find, see, open, and switch between your apps. You can also see the date and time, system icons, and items running in the background on the notification area. You can make the taskbar look how you want, manage your calendar, pin your favorite apps to it, change the size, change location on screen, and specify how taskbar buttons group together when you have more than one window open.

    If you have more than one extended display connected to your PC, then the taskbar will show on all displays by default. The main taskbar will include the notification area on it, and is on your main display by default. The other taskbars show without the notification area on any other connected display that is not set as your main display.

    You can change the taskbar location to be at the left, top, right, or bottom edge on a screen.

    You can also move the main taskbar to be on any connected display screen other than on the default main display.

    This tutorial will show you how to change the taskbar location on screen for your account in Windows 10.


    Contents

    • Option One: To Change Taskbar Location on Screen in Settings
    • Option Two: To Change Taskbar Location on Screen from Taskbar
    • Option Three: To Change Taskbar Location on Screen in Registry Editor



    EXAMPLE: Taskbar location on left, top, right, or bottom on screen
    Change Taskbar Location on Screen in Windows 10-taskbar_location_on_screen.jpg






    OPTION ONE

    To Change Taskbar Location on Screen in Settings


    1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the Personalization icon.

    2 Click/tap on Taskbar on the left side, and select Left, Top, Right, or Bottom in the Taskbar location on screen drop down menu on the right side for where you want the taskbar to be located on all screens. (see screenshot below)

    Custom in the drop down menu indicates that you have used Option Two or Option Three below to change the location of one taskbar to be different than the other taskbars when you have multiple displays.


    3 When finished, you can close Settings if you like.

    Change Taskbar Location on Screen in Windows 10-taskbar_location_settings.png






    OPTION TWO

    To Change Taskbar Location on Screen from Taskbar


    1 Unlock the taskbar.

    2 Drag the taskbar to the left, top, right, or bottom screen edge for where you want it located. (see screenshot below)

    If you have multiple displays, then you can repeat this for the taskbar on any screen.

    Change Taskbar Location on Screen in Windows 10-taskbar.png

    3 If you have multiple displays, then you can also drag the main taskbar (with notification area) to any screen you like other than on the main display by default.

    4 When finished, you can lock the taskbar if you like.






    OPTION THREE

    To Change Taskbar Location on Screen in Registry Editor


    1 Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Registry Editor.

    2 If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes.

    3 Do step 4 (main taskbar) or step 5 (other taskbars) depending on if you have multiple displays or not.


    4 To Change Main Taskbar Location on Screen

    You would use this step if you only have one display, or have multiple displays and want to change the location of only the main taskbar.

    A) Navigate to the location below in Registry Editor. (see screenshot below)

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects3

    Change Taskbar Location on Screen in Windows 10-taskbar_location_on_main_display_regedit-1.png

    B) In the right pane of the StruckRects3 key, double click/tap on the Settings binary value to modify it. (see screenshot above)

    C) Change the value highlighted in yellow below for the value data of the location you want in the table below, click/tap on OK, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)

    Value data Location
    00 Left
    01 Top
    02 Right
    03 Bottom (default)
    Change Taskbar Location on Screen in Windows 10-taskbar_location_on_main_display_regedit-2.png


    5 To Change Other Taskbars Location on Screen

    If you have multiple displays, then you can use this step to change the location of taskbars other than the main taskbar.

    A) Navigate to the location below in Registry Editor. (see screenshot below)

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MMStuckRects3

    Change Taskbar Location on Screen in Windows 10-mmtaskbar_location_on_main_display_regedit-1.png

    B) In the right pane of the StruckRects3 key, double click/tap on the binary value of the taskbar location you want to modify it. (see screenshot above)

    Each UID binary value represents a taskbar on each display you have connected.

    Unfortunately, you won't know which taskbar the UID belongs to until after changing the location below. You will be able to easily change it back to what it was before if it is for the wrong taskbar.

    Modifying the value below for the main taskbar in this step will have no affect. You will need to use step 4 above instead.


    C) Change the value highlighted in yellow below for the value data of the location you want in the table below, click/tap on OK, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)

    Value data Location
    00 Left
    01 Top
    02 Right
    03 Bottom (default)
    Change Taskbar Location on Screen in Windows 10-mmtaskbar_location_on_main_display_regedit-2.png


    6 Restart explorer to apply.

    7 When finished, you can close Registry Editor if you like.


    That's it,
    Shawn






  1. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
       #1

    A good tut Brink :)


    A tip for those users with dual / multiple display systems who would like to run full screen videos, games or whatever on primary screen but don't like it when work on secondary display pops up the Taskbar partially blocking the full screen video or game.

    I am not a gamer, I only like simulation games being a fan of games like old Railroad Tycoon and Rollercoaster Tycoon series, as well as all versions of Sim City and the only game I play nowadays, Cities: Skylines. The problem with games is I want to play them on my laptop full screen using a big secondary display instead of small laptop screen, but in order to do so I have to make the external display primary because these games only open full screen on primary display.

    To avoid Taskbar ever blocking my full screen game, I first set my bigger external display as primary, main display (tutorial), then set Windows not to show Taskbar on all displays (tutorial), then move Taskbar to laptop's display which now is secondary.

    Works perfectly! In screenshot my primary, main display (external display) on right, full screen showing Cities: Skylines without annoying distractions when Taskbar pops up, and laptop's own display (now secondary display) at left showing my vertical Taskbar at left:

    Change Taskbar Location on Screen in Windows 10-image.jpg
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1
    Windows 8.1
       #2

    Further options for the set of registry values:
    The last 4 bytes seem to contain the height of the task bar defined by the number of button lines.
    Changing those value will probably only result in a visible change if "explorer" is killed upfront the change and restarted afterwards.
      My Computer


  3. A45
    Posts : 1
    10 Duh
       #3

    Great Tip! Any idea how to dynamically change it without an explorer restart? Some kind of utility perhaps? I get this problem every time changing monitor configurations, the taskbar keeps moving back to the primary monitor (which is not what I want, because if I have a fullscreen game launch on the primary it covers the taskbar and I have to keep dragging the taskbar back to the secondary monitor)
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 68,667
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Hello @A45, and welcome to Ten Forums.

    I'm not aware of a way to apply the setting without at least restarting the explorer process.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 1
    Windows 11
       #5

    This works on Windows 11 as well

    Change Taskbar Location on Screen in Windows 10-taskbar_top.jpg
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 68,667
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    iHenning said:
    This works on Windows 11 as well


    Change Taskbar Location on Screen in Windows 11 | Windows 11 Forum
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 740
    Windows 10 x64 Pro
       #7

    question is can we use it with windows 11 to put the main taskbar on a non main display? for example I have a screen in front of me set as my main/primary.

    I use my secondary display off to my right to house my tray so i have access to it if im gaming on my main display for example.

    for reasons beyond my understanding this was removed and its the sole reason i immediately opted out of windows 11 and rolled back.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 68,667
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    klepp0906 said:
    question is can we use it with windows 11 to put the main taskbar on a non main display? for example I have a screen in front of me set as my main/primary.

    I use my secondary display off to my right to house my tray so i have access to it if im gaming on my main display for example.

    for reasons beyond my understanding this was removed and its the sole reason i immediately opted out of windows 11 and rolled back.
    Hello,

    This would only work to move the taskbar to the top or bottom in Windows 11.

    Change Taskbar Location on Screen in Windows 11 | Windows 11 Forum

    You could have the taskbar show on all displays though in W11.

    Enable or Disable Show Taskbar on All Displays in Windows 11 | Windows 11 Forum
      My Computers


 

Tutorial Categories

Change Taskbar Location on Screen in Windows 10 Tutorial Index Network & Sharing Instalation and Upgrade Browsers and Email General Tips Gaming Customization Apps and Features Virtualization BSOD System Security User Accounts Hardware and Drivers Updates and Activation Backup and Restore Performance and Maintenance Mixed Reality Phone


  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 18:45.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums