Solved Is there a registry entry to stabilize the size of windows on the taskbar?

brigzor · Jan 29, 2025

My taskbar is customized to "never group" windows, like this:

but unlike in windows 10, the size of the windows on the taskbar is adapting its size to the title of the folder

if you notice, the folder called "41 SFX" occupies much less space on the bar than the other folders with a longer name

while navigating through explorer to new folders, they will have either longer or shorter names, this causes the windows on the taskbar to keep adjusting to the name of the new folder, creating a really annoying effect of the icons on the taskbar constantly shifting left to right whenever I navigate to a new folder

This behaviour is new to Windows 11, in windows 10 the display on the taskbar always stayed on a fixed size when navigating, and didnt try to adapt itself to fit the name of the currently opened folder.

I am looking for a registry entry that allows me to retcon this behaviour.

I would like to avoid downloading extra software that remakes the bar completely if possible.

If you have any advice, thank you in advance

antspants · Jan 29, 2025

Hi, welcome

See if this still works.

Change Width of Taskbar Buttons in Windows

How to Change Width of Taskbar Buttons in Windows

www.tenforums.com

dacrone · Jan 29, 2025

if you're referring the the taskbar labels being dynamic in size (adjusting width of icon depending on length of name), i don't know if it's possible natively. i know with startallback installed, they stay static in size

brigzor · Jan 29, 2025

dacrone said:
if you're referring the the taskbar labels being dynamic in size (adjusting width of icon depending on length of name), i don't know if it's possible natively. i know with startallback installed, they stay static in size

View attachment 123690

yes i am referring to the width of the buttons on the taskbar.

My intention is for it to look like what you show indeed.

But I wanted to avoid installing extra software like startallback, would prefer just changing a registry entry. Thanks!

dacrone · Jan 29, 2025

brigzor said:
yes i am referring to the width of the buttons on the taskbar.

My intention is for it to look like what you show indeed.

But I wanted to avoid installing extra software like startallback, would prefer just changing a registry entry. Thanks!

you can try the reg that used to work in win 10 but i doubt it will as the taskbar is a different animal now.

Change Taskbar Button Width in Windows 10

It is possible to change the minimum width of taskbar buttons in WIndows 10. You can enlarge your taskbar buttons and make them more suitable for touch screens or high-resolution displays.

winaero.com

brigzor · Jan 30, 2025

dacrone said:
you can try the reg that used to work in win 10 but i doubt it will as the taskbar is a different animal now.

Change Taskbar Button Width in Windows 10

It is possible to change the minimum width of taskbar buttons in WIndows 10. You can enlarge your taskbar buttons and make them more suitable for touch screens or high-resolution displays.

winaero.com

i tried doing this, the minwidth key was missing

i created it and set it to 500 then reset my pc

nothing happened, it is like you say, this key is probably not being used anymore to control the new min width, i also cant see any key that gives a clue that woud work:

hdmi · Jan 30, 2025

brigzor said:
, would prefer just changing a registry entry.

Not currently possible on Windows 11. Try this solution instead: Windhawk

antspants · Jan 30, 2025

Did you try Winaero Tweaker? No need to install, apparently you can run it as a portable, make the change and close it.

brigzor · Jan 30, 2025

all right thanks, I guess if a registry entry cant do it I will install a patcher

I tried winaero tweaker but the setting for taskbar button width was missing on win11

i ended up installing explorer patcher and activating their custom win10 taskbar

oldschool · Jan 30, 2025

brigzor said:
all right thanks, I guess if a registry entry cant

i ended up installing explorer patcher and activating their custom win10 taskbar

StartAllBack is less intrusive than EP, less buggy, IMO. My 2 cents.

brigzor · Jan 31, 2025

oldschool said:
StartAllBack is less intrusive than EP, less buggy, IMO. My 2 cents.

I checked it but it looked like it was not for free

Kees · Jan 31, 2025

But you could easily install it and try if it is what you like.
StartAllBack can be used free for 90 days or so, after that it will not be deactivated, but (as far as I remember) you will get some warning when entering the settings menu.

But normally spoken you would pay the amount of $5 (or equivalent in the UK) for a single licence (or a little more for a double or triple licence) after you tested the app and have the feeling it's fully ok.

Edit: I just looked up what a beer in a restaurant in the UK would cost. About £5 is what I found...

hdmi · Jan 31, 2025

EP not only is free, but also it is Open Source. The latter is what makes it less intrusive by mere definition alone, as practically anyone with an internet connection can see that it does not modify any system files.

As for EP being "more buggy". Windows 11 with EP using the Taskbar > Taskbar style > Windows 10 (ExplorerPatcher) and the File Explorer > Control Interface > Windows 10 Ribbon is less buggy than a clean installation of Windows 11. For the most part, that's just because the Windows 11 taskbar and the File Explorer with tabs (both of which are already enabled in Windows 11 by default) are buggy. So, using EP to replace these two is what effectively gets rid of the bugs. StartAllBack does not replace the Windows 11 taskbar. Rather, it modifies the Windows 11 taskbar in such a way that does not get rid of the bugs. This is not just my opinion BTW. I have actually been testing it on 2 different laptops (see my specs) for months.

brigzor · Jan 31, 2025

Kees said:
But you could easily install it and try if it is what you like.
StartAllBack can be used free for 90 days or so, after that it will not be deactivated, but (as far as I remember) you will get some warning when entering the settings menu.

But normally spoken you would pay the amount of $5 (or equivalent in the UK) for a single licence (or a little more for a double or triple licence) after you tested the app and have the feeling it's fully ok.

Edit: I just looked up what a beer in a restaurant in the UK would cost. About £5 is what I found...

if you keep following this logic and paying 5$ for every little software you will buy 1000 beers and suddenly its no longer cheap

antspants · Jan 31, 2025

brigzor said:
if you keep following this logic and paying 5$ for every little software you will buy 1000 beers and suddenly its no longer cheap

Even if it is for free and one doesn’t at least donate to the developers that created something that you regularly use, it doesn’t say a lot about a person personally.

dacrone · Feb 1, 2025

brigzor said:
all right thanks, I guess if a registry entry cant do it I will install a patcher

I tried winaero tweaker but the setting for taskbar button width was missing on win11

i ended up installing explorer patcher and activating their custom win10 taskbar

windhawk is also free and runs portable.

Taskbar Labels for Windows 11 - Windhawk

Customize text labels and combining for running programs on the taskbar (Windows 11 only)

windhawk.net

if you're satisfied with your solution, please mark thread as solved. thanks.

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