If you’ve had a look at the new Windows 11, the improved Taskbar design must have impressed you. The Taskbar in Windows 11 is centered in the middle and bundles a few other features together. If you want a similar experience on your Windows 10 computer, you can enjoy it before you decide to jump the gun in the Windows 11 update.
Before we begin, let’s say that Windows 10 does not have a native way to change the appearance of the Taskbar. You will have to play with the system settings. The good thing is that this isn’t rocket science.
However, it is not possible to copy the entire view with this method. For example, the Start button will still be on the left. Wi-Fi, Volume etc. icons will also be standard Windows 10 icons.
If you still want to continue, here is how you can get Windows 11-like Taskbar in Windows 10.
How to Get Windows 11-like Taskbar in Windows 10
This should work on all versions of Windows 10.
Stage 1: Open Windows Explorer and create two empty folders. The name and location of the folders are not so important.
In our case, we named our folders F1 and F2.
step 2: Next, right-click the Taskbar and choose Toolbars > New Toolbar. The system will now ask you for a location. Select one of the empty folders you just created.
Do the same for the second folder.
When you scroll down, you will see two toolbars on the taskbar containing the names of the folders you just created.
Stage 3: Next, right-click on the taskbar and uncheck Lock All Toolbars. You will see vertical marks next to the toolbars you just created. These markers are draggable.
All you have to do is drag one of the toolbars next to the Start button to the left. Let the toolbar on the right remain as it is.
Step 4: After that, drag the icons folder to the right and align it to the middle.
You will now see that a rough structure has formed. For finishing touches, right-click on the toolbars and uncheck Show Title and Show Text for both toolbars.
This will remove the name and text thus leaving you a blank space on either side of the icons folder, just like Windows 11.
step 5: Finally, right click on the taskbar and select Lock Taskbar to well, lock the Taskbar in place. After that, you cannot change the height or position of the Taskbar.
This is how you can change the position of the taskbar and make it look like Windows 11.
Although this process may seem tedious, you only need to install it once.
Taskbar Customizations
In Windows 11, Microsoft collapsed the entire Taskbar to the center. By default, the Start button and Search button are next to the center’s app icons and folder options.
However, as we mentioned earlier, you will not be able to center the Start button. That said, there are still a few customizations you can make.
1. Remove News and Weather
If you want a complete experience, you can remove or disable the News & Weather widget from the Taskbar.
To do this, right-click the taskbar and select News & interests > Close. This much.
The widget will disappear from the Taskbar.
2. Clutter-Free System Tray
Also, if you want to clear the clutter from the System Tray, you can do so by removing some icons. By default, Windows 10 displays Wi-Fi status, volume, battery, among others.
But if you don’t check it regularly, it can overflow with icons. For example, one of our Windows computers had icons for Meet Now, Windows Update Status, and Dropbox, making it look messy.
Stage 1: Right-click on the Taskbar and select Taskbar settings. Then scroll down until you see the Notification Area option.
Select ‘Which icon do you choose…’.
Step 2: Then change the key for the icons you want to remove. Associated with it.
While the user experience and icons will remain the same as Windows 10, you will still have a clean System Tray like Windows 11.
A Taste of Windows 11
This is how you can get Windows 11-like Taskbar in Windows 10. This is a one-time action and the Taskbar stays pretty much the same after it crashes. Of course, you can freely add your share of icons without worrying about the icons overflowing.