Show small/large taskbar icons (Win 11)?


Ander

Once a noid, always annoyed
Local time
3:50 AM
Posts
21
Location
Vancouver, BC
OS
Win 10/11
Hey guys,

In Win 10, you could right-click the taskbar, click Taskbar Settings, and turn "Use small taskbar icons" on or off. I found this real useful, as I use several monitors each day with differing resolutions, and one or the other size is definitely better on them.

Win 11 defaults to small icons, and the "small / not small" option seems to have been removed.

taskbar_options.jpg

Why would Microsoft do that? (Other than the general idea of giving us fewer options rather than more 😄 )

I realize there's a registry hack to change the size of the taskbar itself, which changes the icons' sizes too. But it requires logging out/in, or killing and restarting Windows File Explorer (explorer.exe). But that seems like a sledgehammer approach—and is it really necessary, considering it could be toggled so easily in Win 10? In other words, wouldn't the same functionality still exist somewhere—operable from a command line, maybe? Or did Microsoft actually cut it out of the code?

What would be great is if we could also choose the distance between the icons. Like many peeps, I imagine, rather than accepting Microsoft's decision to move the icons to the centre of the screen, Mac-style, I've opted to keep them at the left. But because Win 11 places them so much closer together, there isn't as much benefit in making them bigger and more horizontally accessible. I won't get my hopes up for that kind of flexibility in Windows, though... It seems like more of a Linux thing. 😏

Thanks, A.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10/11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Homebrew (buh ha ha!!)
    CPU
    Intel Core
    Motherboard
    MSI
    Memory
    Yes (I think...)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon off-brand knockoff clone
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160
    Other Info
    Cat: Chester
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3296
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 +256gb ssd+512 gb usb m.2 sata
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
Alternatively download Winaero Tweaker. It does that and many other Registry hacks with simple clicks.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 64-bit (build 22631.3235)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Extensa 5630EZ
    CPU
    Mobile DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo T7250, 2000 MHz
    Motherboard
    Acer Extensa 5630
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Mobile Intel(R) GMA 4500M (Mobile 4 series)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC268 @ Intel 82801IB ICH9 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB SATA Device (250 GB, SATA-III)
    Internet Speed
    VDSL 50 Mbps
    Browser
    MICROSOFT EDGE
    Antivirus
    WINDOWS DEFENDER
    Other Info
    Legacy MBR installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, no WDDM 2.0 graphics drivers, cannot get more unsupported ;) This is only my test laptop. I had installed Windows 11 here before upgrading my main PC. For my main PC I use everyday see my 2nd system specs.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro v23H2 (build 22631.3235)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom-built PC
    CPU
    Intel Core-i7 3770 3.40GHz s1155 (3rd generation)
    Motherboard
    Asus P8H61 s1155 ATX
    Memory
    2x Kingston Hyper-X Blu 8GB DDR3-1600
    Graphics card(s)
    Gainward NE5105T018G1-1070F (nVidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti 4GB GDDR5)
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD audio (ALC887)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia KDL-19L4000 19" LCD TV via VGA
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 32-bit 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    Patriot Burst Elite 480GB SSD as system disk, Western Digital Caviar Purple 4TB SATA III (WD40PURZ) as second
    PSU
    Thermaltake Litepower RGB 550W Full Wired
    Case
    SUPERCASE MIDI-TOWER
    Cooling
    Stock Intel CPU Fan, 1x 8cm fan at the back
    Mouse
    Sunnyline OptiEye PS/2
    Keyboard
    Mitsumi 101-key PS/2
    Internet Speed
    100Mbps
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Legacy BIOS (MBR) installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, WDDM 3.0 graphics drivers, WEI score 7.4
Winaero Tweaker should fix your issue!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Insider 22H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14IGL7
    Memory
    4 GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Mostly 1 but sometimes 2 when I connect my TV
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    1 SSD
    Case
    Normal Laptop Case
    Keyboard
    Built-in
    Mouse
    Touchpad/Logitech mouse
    Browser
    Opera GX - main, Chrome - main backup, Edge - secondary backup
    Antivirus
    Windows Security
    Other Info
    I don't really know much about my specs.
Thanks, everybody. I decided to not be an irritable fussy old nerd instead, and not care. Appreciate your ideas, though! 👋😊
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10/11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Homebrew (buh ha ha!!)
    CPU
    Intel Core
    Motherboard
    MSI
    Memory
    Yes (I think...)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon off-brand knockoff clone
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160
    Other Info
    Cat: Chester

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