How to change Taskbar size on Windows 11

Yes, you can change the taskbar size on Windows 11, but you'll have to use third-party tools – here's how.

Windows 11 change Taskbar size
Windows 11 change Taskbar size
  • Method 1: To change the Taskbar size on Windows 11, open “Windhawk,” install “Taskbar height and icon size,” and choose the size for icons and interface height.
  • Method 2: To resize the Taskbar, open “ExplorerPatcher,” click “Taskbar,” and change the “Taskbar icon side” to “Small” to make the interface smaller.
  • The Registry method no longer works to make the Taskbar smaller or larger in the latest release of Windows 11.

UPDATED 11/7/2023: Although the Taskbar on Windows 11 has a similar design to the one available on Windows 10, the new version lacks some essential features, including the ability to change the Taskbar size. However, it’s possible to change the size of the Taskbar to make it smaller or larger, and in this guide, I’ll show you the available methods.

In early releases of the operating system, you could use Registry to adjust the settings to change the Taskbar size, but it’s no longer the case. If you must show smaller or larger icons while minimizing the height of the interface, you will have to resource third-party tools, such as Windhawk and ExplorerPatcher.

Windhawk is an open-source project that makes it easier to modify the behavior of applications and the operating system. This solution requires installing the application and then downloading and installing the extension to perform a change, in this case, changing the size of the Taskbar.

ExplorerPatcher is also an open-source application that restores the classic Taskbar experience. Using this app, you can move the bar to any location, make the Taskbar smaller or larger, and more.

In this guide, you will learn the steps to change the size of the Taskbar on Windows 11. 

Warning: These are the third-party apps that have been designed to modify the behavior of the operating system. They do not have any guarantees. Use these apps at your own risk. You have been warned. It’s important that you only use one of the methods. If you want to change the application, undo the changes and remove the app first. If the clock is not showing correctly, consider hiding it from the Taskbar.

Change Taskbar size on Windows 11 from Windhawk 

Once you install the Windhawk application, you can use it to download the extension that allows you to change the Taskbar interface.

1. Install Windhawk

To install Windhawk on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Start.

  2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

  3. Type the following command to install Windhawk and press Enter:

    winget install --id RamenSoftware.Windhawk

    winget install Windhawk

Once you complete the steps, the app will install on Windows 11.

2. Change Taskbar from Windhawk

To change the size of the Taskbar with the Windhawk app, use these steps:

  1. Open Windhawk.

  2. Click the Explore button.

  3. Search for “Taskbar height and icon size” and click the Details button.

    Windhawk Taskbar height and icon change

  4. Click the Install button.

    Windhawk Taskbar extension install

  5. Click the “Accept Risk and Install” button.

    Confirm extension install

  6. Click the Settings tab.

  7. Set the “Icon size” to 16.

    Windhawk change Taskbar size to smaller

  8. Set the “Taskbar height” to 34 to make the Taskbar smaller.

  9. Click the Save settings button.

After you complete the steps, the settings will apply, making the Taskbar smaller on the Windows 11 desktop.

If you change your mind, you can revert the changes with the same instructions, but in steps 7 and 8, set the icon side to 24 and the Taskbar height to 48. You can also click the “Remove” button to delete the extension from the Windhawk application, which will also restore the default settings.

Change Taskbar size on Windows 11 from ExplorerPatcher

After you install the ExplorerPatcher application, you can change the size of the Taskbar.

1. Install ExplorerPatcher

To install ExplorerPatcher on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Start.

  2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

  3. Type the following command to install ExplorerPatcher and press Enter:

    winget install --id valinet.ExplorerPatcher

    winget install ExplorerPatcher

After you complete the steps, the app will install on Windows 11 and, by default, will put the Taskbar at the top of the screen.

2. Change ExplorerPatcher from ExplorerPatcher

To change the size of the Taskbar with the ExplorerPatcher app, use these steps:

  1. Open Start.

  2. Search for ExplorerPatcher and click the top result to open the Properties (ExplorerPatcher) interface.

  3. Click on Taskbar.

  4. Change the “Taskbar icon side” to “Small” to make the interface smaller.

    ExplorerPatcher Taskbar change size

  5. (Optional) Change the “Primary taskbar location on screen” to “Bottom,” “Top,” or the position to place the Taskbar.

  6. Click the Restart File Explorer option in the bottom-left corner to apply the changes.

Once you complete the steps, the ExplorerPatcher will make the Taskbar smaller or larger, depending on your configuration.

If you want to revert the changes from the “Properties (ExplorerPatcher)” interface, choose the “Large” option for the “Taskbar icon side” setting.

Change Taskbar size on Windows 11 from Registry (deprecated)

This method used work, but after recent changes in the operating system, it’s no longer an option to change the Taskbar size. I’ll be leaving these steps as a reference.

Warning: Modifying the Windows Registry can cause serious problems if it’s not handled correctly. It’s assumed you know what you’re doing and have created a full backup of your system before proceeding.

To change the Taskbar size on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Start.

  2. Search for regedit and click the top result to open the Registry Editor.

  3. Browse the following path:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
  4. Right-click the Advanced key, select New, and click on DWORD (32-bit) Value.

    Registry Advanced key

  5. Name the key TaskbarSi and press Enter.

  6. Double-click the newly created DWORD and change its value from 0 to 2 to change the Taskbar icon size to large. The value 0 is for the small size and 1 is for the default icon size.

    Windows 11 taskbar change size

  7. Click the OK button.

  8. Restart the computer.

Once you complete the steps, the Taskbar will reflect the size you specified on Windows 11.

If you want to revert the changes, you can always follow the same instructions, but in step 4, right-click the TaskbarSi DWORD and select the Delete button.

Update November 7, 2023: This guide has been updated to include new methods to change the Taskbar size and confirm that the Registry method no longer works.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.