Drag and Drop Files

When Windows 11 was first released, the taskbar was missing one of the handiest features from previous versions. Thankfully, it’s now possible to drag and drop files to apps in the taskbar again as of Windows 11’s 2022 Update, and you should use this feature.

It works exactly like you would think. Let’s say you’ve downloaded an image in Google Chrome and you want to use it in Photoshop. You can simply drag the file from Chrome’s Downloads page and hover over the Photoshop icon in the taskbar. Photoshop will open and you can drop the image in the app. It works the same way for other apps.

Move the Icons to the Left Side

One of the biggest visual changes in Windows 11 is the centered taskbar icons. By default, the Start Menu and all the apps pinned to the taskbar sit in the center of the taskbar—more like macOS than past versions of Windows.

If you prefer the classic left-aligned Start Menu and taskbar icons, it’s simple to change it back. You’ll want to go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar Behaviors. Choose “Left” for the “Taskbar Alignment” option.

Hide the Taskbar

Maybe you don’t want to see the taskbar at all unless you actually need it. This gives you a little extra screen real estate when the taskbar isn’t in use. When you need it, simply move your mouse to the edge of the screen, and the taskbar will slide up.

To do this, go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar Behaviors. Check the box for “Automatically Hide the Taskbar.” You can also hide the taskbar on secondary monitors.

Change Audio Devices from the Taskbar

If you want to switch between headphones, speakers, or other sound devices on Windows 11, there’s a way to do it that isn’t super obvious, but it’s a much faster way to switch audio devices. All you have to do is click the sound icon in the taskbar and then click the little arrow next to the volume slider. Now you’ll see a list of audio devices you can switch between. It’s much easier than opening Settings.

Make the Taskbar Bigger or Smaller

Unlike Windows 10, the Windows 11 taskbar can’t be easily resized right from the taskbar. The good news is there is technically still a way to resize it, but you’ll need to use the registry editor to do it.

We actually have our own One-Click Registry Hack file that will accomplish the same thing a lot easier. The file includes three taskbar sizes to choose from. Here’s how to make the taskbar larger or smaller on Windows 11.

Change the Taskbar Color

By default, the Windows 11 taskbar is white, and it can be easily switched to black with dark mode. What if you want your own custom color? You can change the taskbar color, too.

To get a colorful taskbar, you’ll need to select an accent color and toggle the switch to “Show Accent Color on Start and Taskbar.” This can be found in Settings > Personalization > Colors.

See Weather in the Taskbar

When Windows 11 was first released, there was a “Widgets” button on the taskbar to the right of the Start button. If you were like us, you probably disabled the Widgets button. The widget button now shows the current weather on your taskbar, which is much more useful than the original implementation. It shows a weather icon, the temperature, and a short description of the conditions.

Move the Taskbar to the Top

One of the most disappointing things about the Windows 11 taskbar is the inability to move it to any side of the screen. At the time of writing, it’s still not officially possible, but there’s a hacky method that works to put it at the top of the screen.