How to move Taskbar to top or side on Windows 11

Windows 11 brings back Taskbar positioning after years of users’ complaints, but it’s still under development.
Microsoft originally redesigned the Taskbar and removed native support for position changes due to design complexity and low demand, forcing users to rely on third-party tools such as WindHawk, ExplorerPatcher, or Start11.

Windows 11 introduces a redesigned Taskbar with centered Start and app buttons, a modernized notification area, updated animations, and new visual effects. While the refreshed experience improves the overall look and feel of the desktop, it also removes several long-standing customization features, including the ability to move the Taskbar to different sides of the screen.

However, Microsoft is now testing native Taskbar positioning options as part of an Experimental experience in preview builds of Windows 11. The feature is still under development and not yet available in the stable version of the operating system. Early implementations currently support moving the Taskbar to the top, left, or right side of the screen, but some features remain incomplete. For example, auto-hide and the touch-optimized Taskbar do not currently work correctly in these new positions.

The company rebuilt the Windows 11 Taskbar from the ground up, which is why earlier versions of the operating system could not support repositioning using built-in settings. According to Microsoft, relocating the Taskbar affects the layout and behavior of core components, including the Start menu, system tray, and app animations, since the interface was originally designed specifically for bottom placement.

Although the official option is still in preview, you can already move the Taskbar to different areas of the screen using the experimental settings included in recent Insider builds. If you are running the stable version of Windows 11, you can still achieve the same result using third-party tools and workarounds.

In this guide, you will learn the steps to change the Taskbar position to the different sides of the screen on Windows 11.

Move Taskbar to top with Settings (preview)
Move Taskbar to top with WindHawk tool
Move Taskbar to top with ExplorerPatcher tool
Move Taskbar to top with Start11 tool
Move Taskbar position on Windows 11 (Deprecated)

Move Taskbar to top with Settings (preview)

Starting with build 26300.8493 in the Experimental channel, Windows 11 restores the ability to move the Taskbar to the top, left, right, and bottom edges.

To position the Taskbar at the top of the screen on Windows 11, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Personalization.
Click the Taskbar page.
Click the Taskbar behaviors settings.
Select the Taskbar position, including Left, Top, Right, or Bottom.

After you complete the steps, the Taskbar will appear in the position you selected.

It’s important to note that, at the time of writing, the new version of the experience is still under development and incomplete. For example, features such as auto-hide and the touch-optimized Taskbar are not yet supported in these new positions.

The changes are available starting with build 26300.8493 and newer releases, but it’s still unclear when the company plans to roll out this and other Taskbar improvements more broadly. As a result, accessing the new Taskbar positioning settings currently requires enrolling your device in the Experimental Channel for version 25H2.

Move Taskbar to top with WindHawk tool

Windhawk is an open-source project that makes it easier to modify application and operating system behavior. This solution requires installing the application and then installing the extension to perform a change. In this case, you’d have to use the “Taskbar on top for Windows 11” extension.

To install Windhawk on Windows 11, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
Type the following command to install Windhawk and press Enter:
```
winget install --id RamenSoftware.Windhawk
```
Open the Windhawk app from the Start menu.
Click the Explore button in the top-right corner.
Search for “Taskbar on top for Windows 11” and click the Details button.
Click the Install button.
Click the “Accept Risk and Install” button.

Once you complete the steps, the mod will install and activate automatically, placing the Taskbar at the top of the screen. However, the Start menu will continue to open from the bottom up, and Notification Center will stay at the bottom.

It’s not a perfect solution, but it’s one of the best implementations for those who miss the option to place the Taskbar at the top of the screen.

If you want to revert the changes, you can click the “Disable” button in the “Taskbar on top for Windows 11” extension, and then click the “Uninstall” button (if necessary).

Move Taskbar to top with ExplorerPatcher tool

Alternatively, if you can’t use the Registry settings, you may be able to use third-party tools to move the Taskbar to the top of the screen. For example, ExplorerPatcher is a free tool that restores the classic Taskbar design and legacy features, such as changing the bar position. It’s not a perfect solution, but this might be the best free option if you want to reposition settings.

To move the Taskbar to the top of the screen with ExplorerPatcher, follow these steps:

Open the ExplorerPatcher GitHub page.
Under the “Assets” section, click the ep_setup.exe link to download the app.

Quick note: The browser may complain that the software is untrusted, but this is only because the app makes system changes. Although the app works as advertised, use it at your own risk.
Confirm you want to keep the file in the web browser (if applicable).
Double-click the file to install the app.
Right-click the Taskbar and select the Properties option.
Click on Taskbar from the left pane.
Select the “Windows 10” option from the “Taskbar style” setting.
Use the “Primary taskbar location on screen” setting and select the Top option to move the Taskbar to the top of the screen. (You also have the option to move it to the left or right side.)
(Optional) Use the “Start button style” setting and select the “Windows 11” option.
(Optional) Use the “Combine taskbar icons on the primary taskbar” setting and select the Always combine option.
Click on Start menu from the left pane.
Select the “Windows 11” option from the “Start menu style” setting.
Click the Restart File Explorer option in the bottom-left corner (if you don’t see the changes).

After you complete the steps, you can start using the Taskbar from the top of the screen.

It’s important to note that the ExplorerPatcher app sometimes breaks due to Microsoft operating system changes. However, the developer usually resolves the issues promptly.

Move Taskbar to top with Start11 tool

Another way to change the Taskbar location on the screen is to use the Start11 app from Startdock. It is similar to ExplorerPatcher but is more reliable because it’s a paid product. At the time of this update, the app costs $9.99, but you can use a 30-day trial with your email address before purchasing.

To move the Taskbar to the top with Start11, follow these steps:

Open the Start11 page.
Click the Try Free button to download the app on your computer.

Quick note: The browser may complain that the software is untrusted, but this is only because the app makes system changes. Although the app works as advertised, use it at your own risk.
Double-click the setup file to launch the installer.
Check the option to agree to the terms.
Click the Next button.
Click the Next button again.
Open Start11 from the Start menu.
Click the “Start 30 Day Trial” button.
Confirm your email address.
Click the Continue button.
Confirm the email to start the trial.
Click the Finish button.
Click on Start Menu.
Choose the “Windows 11 style” option.
Click on Taskbar.
Click the Taskbar position setting.
Choose the Align top option for the “Primary monitor” setting.
Click the Yes button.
(Optional) Choose the Align top option for the “Secondary monitor” setting.
Click the Yes button.

Once you complete the steps, the Taskbar will align at the top of the screen, matching the Windows 11 Start menu.

The Start11 app offers many settings to customize the Taskbar and Start menu, and it’s up to you to experiment and find the best setup for you.

Move Taskbar position on Windows 11 (Deprecated)

After the release of version 22H2, the Registry method is no longer working. You can try it, but it may or may not work. If you’re using version 21H2 or an older release of the operating system, this method may still work. Using the ExplorerPatcher or Start11 apps is the best option available to move the Taskbar to the top.

Warning: Modifying the Windows Registry can cause serious problems if misused. It’s assumed you know what you’re doing and have created a full backup of your system before proceeding. As always, use these instructions at your own risk.

To move the Taskbar to the top, left, right, or bottom of the screen on Windows 11, follow these steps:

Open Start on Windows 11.
Search for regedit and click the top result to open the Registry Editor.

Browse the following path:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects3

Double-click the Settings binary key.
Under the “Value data” section, in the second row and the sixth column, click the 03 value, press the Delete key, and replace the value with 01 to move the Windows 11 Taskbar at the top of the screen.
Change the 03 value to 02 to move the Taskbar to the right side of the screen.
Change the 03 value to 00 to move the Taskbar to the left side of the screen.
Change the value to 03 to move the Taskbar to the bottom of the screen.
Click the OK button.
Right-click the Start button and select Task Manager.
Click the Processes tab.
Select the Windows Explorer process.
Click the Restart button.

Once you complete the steps, the Windows 11 Taskbar will move to the top or either side of the screen as specified in the binary key.

While you can still change the Taskbar position, it is not a supported feature on Windows 11, so this behavior may not work as expected.

Update May 15, 2026: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.

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