Last week I gave you an example of some things you can use to customize or personalize your Windows 11 computer. I had several people ask how could they “fix” the taskbar. First, people hated Windows 10 when it premiered, second, they got used to it and loved it after a while. I believe the same will occur on Windows 11, get used to it and love it later.
I would like to mention that I am going to go straight down the list of everything you can change to your preferences in the taskbar. You get to all the following by right-clicking on a blank area of the taskbar, and then select, “Taskbar settings.” Starting at the top of the window under “Taskbar items”, your first choice is “Search” where you may choose to either “Hide,” or display the search feature on your taskbar. To save room on my taskbar I choose to hide it. Without it shown you simply press the Windows key on your keyboard or click the start menu link. Then start typing what you are searching for. It works the same way as when the search box is displayed on the taskbar.
Next, under System tray icons is “Pen menu.” I have never used this as I have never had a pen to use on my pc, but it could be handy if you do. The “Touch keyboard” is second in this list. I do you this with a touchscreen PC I own that flips over, and you use it like a tablet. When I do this the touch keyboard appears at the bottom of the screen allowing me to type. “Virtual Keyboard” is made to operate like a trackpad on a notebook, try it you may like it, but again to me, it is not personally that great. Opinions may vary with personal choices.
Now onto “Other system tray icons” which I find extremely useful, especially with a notebook computer. However, I use it on all computers. It gives the description as, “Icons which are turned off can be accessed in this menu.” Set this one to “On” if it is not already set. It will add an arrow in the right of the taskbar. When clicked, it will show your currently running applications. Back to the other icons area, scroll down the list of your apps installed on the computer. Check the ones you want to be seen when they are on, on the right side of your taskbar, for easy access or informational purposes. For instance, I do not check the “On” button for Chrome, since I know it is on most of the time. However, I do check my VPN, SurfShark, so that I will know I can cut it off if not needed. This area is very helpful in keeping your right side of the taskbar decluttered.
The next area has many choices, but they are easy to use. First under, “Taskbar behaviors” is the one many people like to change. The “Taskbar alignment” can be set to “Center”, the default, or “Left.” Your choice. Next are four easy picks. “Automatically hide the taskbar” which if checked makes your taskbar vanish until you hover over it. Next, “Show badges on…” allows you to see indicators of “how many” you have in some open icon. I show them on my computer, but the only one that I like is the number of new emails that are in my Thunderbird Inbox.
The next choice to show flashing on taskbar apps, which I have on and rarely see. It will flash the apps icons at you to let you know you have something new going on in that specific application. The next two in the behaviors area is only a choice if you have more than one monitor and is pretty clear. “Share any window from my taskbar,” which only applies when you are in a meeting call through Microsoft Teams, that means you can hover over the apps running on your taskbar, you will see a new button that allows you to share that window within your meeting.
The last two here, “Select the far corner of the taskbar to show the desktop” and “Show seconds in the system tray clock” are easy to understand, just read them for what they do. I would not select the second one if you have battery power worries or issues. More to follow next week.
