The Windows taskbar is very customizable and can be used in different ways, not only to keep the icons of the most used programs. In this article we see 10 ways to customize the Windows taskbar, the one located at the bottom of the screen, where there are the quick start icons, the start menu and the clock.
READ ALSO: Best tricks for the Windows taskbar
1) Choose the Start menu
As seen in other articles it is possible:
- Have all programs on the Windows 7 Start menu
- Change Start Menu on Windows 7
- Replace the Start Menu button on Windows 8 through external programs.
In Windows 8.1, Microsoft has reset the start button of programs even if it is very different from the traditional Start.
If you are using Windows 8.1 you can disable this boot menu using the StartIsGone tool that hides it.
2) Move the taskbar to any edge of the screen
The Windows taskbar is always at the bottom of the screen, but it can't be said that it can't be moved.
To move the taskbar where you want, right click on the bar, click on " lock taskbar " to remove the flag and then press on it with the mouse, hold down and drag it to the top right or left.
Lock it again when you are satisfied.
Placing it on the left edge of the screen can be useful on modern laptops and wide monitors, which often use 16/9 widescreen resolutions with much more horizontal than vertical space.
This way you gain vertical space for web pages and programs.
READ ALSO: Why should you move the taskbar vertically
3) Hide it automatically
The taskbar does not need to be visible on the screen all the time, it can also be made to be hidden and to appear automatically when you move the mouse down.
This can be useful if you want to use all the screen space, which is especially useful on older monitors or computers with very little very low screen resolution.
To activate or deactivate the Hide automatically, right click on the bar and go to the Properties where the option will be found.
READ ALSO: How to Hide the taskbar in Windows 10, 7 and 8.1
4) Use a traditional taskbar
Windows 7 has introduced a new taskbar style that combines launching favorite programs with open windows in a single icon.
You can use the XP style of the taskbar and have the icons of all open programs or all open browser windows in the Properties of the bar.
Right-click on the taskbar, select Properties and choose the Do not combine option under " Taskbar buttons ".
5) Use small icons
You can also choose to see small icons among the options for customizing the properties of the taskbar.
Large icons are ideal if you are using a high resolution screen, but if you are using a small screen or a netbook, it is better to choose the small icons display.
6) Re-enable fast startup
The "quick start" area was the one that on Windows XP and Vista allowed you to use shortcuts to launch your favorite programs.
In Windows 7, this area is not there because the most frequently used programs can be placed directly on the taskbar.
If desired, you can still reactivate the old style quick launch bar as in Windows Vista and XP.
You can then open files, folders and programs from the taskbar on Windows 7 or customize Jumplist and fast start of programs in Windows 7, Xp and Vista
7) Create other toolbars with shortcuts
You can create other toolbars connected to the main one that refer to the opening of a special folder.
Right click on it, move the mouse on Toolbars and then select create new toolbar ....
In the folder path at the top, paste % ProgramData% \ Microsoft \ Windows \ Start Menu \ Programs to get the list of all installed programs that are easy to access from the added bar.
Among the already configured toolbars is the address bar for writing website addresses to be launched quickly and the desktop one.
8) Hide the clock
The clock looks like a permanent part of the desktop but can be hidden easily by freeing up space on the taskbar for other things.
Right-click on the clock, select Customize notification icons, click the link Activate deactivate system icons and deactivate the clock.
9) Customize the notification area
The system tray icons, those near the clock, can be hidden or displayed only if they have something to tell us.
The notification area hides most programs running in the background, which you often don't need to see.
In Windows 8 and Windows 7 you can drag icons on the hidden area which is the one that appears by hovering the mouse on the arrow upwards.
10) Create custom Jumplists
Jumplists are a feature introduced in Windows 7 that allows you to perform fast actions for some programs such as the Internet Explorer, Chrome or other web browser.
In another article, also to take up what was said in point 6 on the fast start, it is explained how to customize the Jumplist in Windows 7 with Jumplist Extender.
11) Add a search box on the taskbar as explained in another article.
12) Make the taskbar transparent
To conclude, if you don't like the Windows taskbar, you can always keep it hidden as per point 3 and use an external program to create new custom detachable toolbars in Windows 7 .
READ ALSO: Improve and customize Windows File Explorer
