Someone recently asked me a Windows 10 Taskbar question via email. Yes, you can email me any-old-time for help, comment about the articles or ask something you wondered about. It can deal with PCs, the internet, applications, phones, etc. I will be happy to help, listen or respond as the case may be. So, keep them coming and realize that due to the number I sometimes take several days to respond.
Today we look at some Taskbar Tricks in Windows 10.
As always, I will start with the basics. Some Taskbar Settings can be accessed by right-clicking the taskbar; however, some more advanced features need the settings area. I will start at the top of the list and work my way down. Keep in mind that I will cover standard settings most everyone should have. If your computer can operate as a tablet you may have dissimilar settings available.
To get to the Taskbar Settings the simplest way, right-click the taskbar and choose “Taskbar Settings.”
LOCK THE TASKBAR – This feature will lock the taskbar so that you will not be able to move it to the top or sides of the windows desktop by clicking and dragging it around.
AUTOMATICALLY HIDE THE TASKBAR IN DESKTOP MODE – When in the standard desktop the taskbar will vanish after you click something on it. It will reappear when you hover the taskbar area with your mouse and act normally.
USE SMALL TASKBAR BUTTONS – Try it and see the difference.
USE PEEK TO PREVIEW… – If you move your mouse to the very farthest point on the right and click all of your windows will minimize. With this setting “On” you can hover that point and see the desktop. Move off of it and it all comes back. No click required to view.
REPLACE COMMAND PROMPT WITH WINDOWS POWERSHELL… – If you do not use the Command Prompt or do not know what PowerShell is, leave this one alone. You most likely will never care. Most PC users will never need either element.
SHOW BADGES ON TASKBAR BUTTONS – First, this works only if you have the Small Taskbar buttons set to “Off.” Also, it will usually only work with Microsoft Applications. It gives you a notification on your taskbar icon that you have something new. For instance, with Outlook open but not visible to you, you will get a very small envelope icon possibly with the number of unread messages you have received. Personally, I only get the icon without numbers but your computer may provide more.
The last one for today is “TASKBAR LOCATION ON SCREEN.” If you click the dropdown arrow here you can move your taskbar to four different locations. Top, right side, left side or back to the bottom which is the default. You can use this command whether the taskbar is locked or not. Remember if locked you cannot click the bar and drag it to one of these same locations.
Next week, we will start with COMBINE TASKBAR BUTTONS.
