Bars Beneath Taskbar Icons

bob17821 · Apr 18, 2022

I've just noticed recently that some icons in the taskbar have colored bars beneath them. What are the bars and colors telling me? Image of taskbar attached.

Thanks, Bob

dbartenstein · Apr 18, 2022

I've not seen anything official about it, but in my experience, Grey is a session that is open and not the active focus, Blue is the active open window, and Red/Orange means something needs attention (I see that one when the UAC prompt is hiding behind another window). I've also seen Green when an active install or download is running.

bob17821 · Apr 18, 2022

Thanks very much dbartenstein. Any idea why the width varies? Or will the blue/active always be longer?

Bob

dbartenstein · Apr 18, 2022

bob17821 said:
Thanks very much dbartenstein. Any idea why the width varies? Or will the blue/active always be longer?

Bob

No idea. I'm just going on my own observations. I did a little Googling, but didn't find any quick answers.

Berton · Apr 18, 2022

Windows 11 Version 21H2 (OS Build 22000.613)

Just noticed a change on the visual display of the Taskbar and icons on it, the blue line/underscore under the icons are dynamic. Rather than being nearly the same width of the icon, they dynamically shorten on the window/s actually not in focus. The programs showing the 'feature' on this...

www.elevenforum.com

NivoG_Magni · Jul 20, 2022

dbartenstein said:
No idea. I'm just going on my own observations. I did a little Googling, but didn't find any quick answers.

It's longer and blue if it is Maximized and displayed on screen now, or shorter and grey if its running in the background(eg: playing music but not being displayed on the screen).