The taskbar is at the heart of major operations in Windows 10, as it carries items such as the Start menu, pinned apps, system icons, and Action Center. But while the taskbar can be a useful utility for some, others may see it as another obstacle on the screen while working.
The good news is that you can resize the Windows 10 taskbar to your liking. In this article, we will learn how to shrink or maximize the Windows 10 taskbar in several different ways. Let’s start.
How to Maximize the Taskbar
If your job requires you to constantly use the taskbar to access the Start menu, switch between apps, or use the Action Center, here are a few ways to make the taskbar larger and more accessible.
1. Resize Tool
The first and fastest method to increase the size of the taskbar is the Resize tool. Here’s how it works.
Stage 1: Right click on the taskbar and uncheck Lock the taskbar.
Step 2: After unlocking, move your cursor to the top edge of the taskbar and the cursor will turn into a double-sided arrow.
Stage 3: Click and drag the mouse up and the height of the taskbar will change accordingly. When your taskbar is set to a preferred height, release the mouse button.
Likewise, if you are someone who uses Vertical taskbar in Windows 10, move your cursor to the left or right edge of the taskbar and resize from there.
If you intend to keep the taskbar at its current height, lock the taskbar again to avoid accidentally changing its height.
2. Increase Screen Scale
To increase the size of icons and buttons on the taskbar. Therefore, if you want to increase the size of the taskbar along with its icons and buttons, you need to adjust the screen scale on your PC. Here’s how to do it.
Stage 1: Press Windows Key + I to launch the Settings app and go to System.
Step 2: On the Display tab, go to Scale and layout and use the drop-down menu under ‘Change the size of text, apps, and other items’ to increase the scale.
You will notice that as you increase the scale, the size of the taskbar and other items on your computer will increase. In other words, you will see a zoomed-in version of the screen.
Use this method for Google Chrome, Calendar, Notifications, etc. Note that it will also increase the text size in apps.
How to Make the Taskbar Smaller in Windows 10
If you’re working on a smaller screen and think the taskbar is just taking up valuable real estate, here’s how to minimize the taskbar in Windows 10.
1. Resize Tool
The Resize tool you use to increase the size of the taskbar can also be used to reduce its size. Here’s how.
Stage 1: Right click on the taskbar and uncheck Lock the taskbar.
Step 2: After unlocking, place your cursor at the top edge of the taskbar and when the cursor turns into a double-sided arrow, click and drag the mouse down and the height of the taskbar will decrease accordingly.
When your taskbar is set to a preferred height, release the mouse button.
2. Enable Small Icons
You can use the Resize tool in the above method to make the taskbar smaller, but it will stop at a certain limit. If you want to get around this limit and make your taskbar even smaller, you should use smaller taskbar icons. Here’s how to enable them.
Stage 1: Right-click anywhere on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings from the menu that appears.
Step 2: In the settings window, turn on the switch under Use small taskbar buttons.
Once complete, you will notice that the taskbar will be smaller than before. Alternatively, you can hide the Windows 10 taskbar from the Taskbar settings when not in use to get more screen space.
Bonus: How to Resize the Start Menu in Windows 10
Did you know that besides the taskbar, Windows 10 also lets you resize your favorite Start menu? So if you think your current Start menu is too big or small for your liking, here’s how to resize it.
Launch the Start menu by pressing the Windows key on your keyboard or clicking the Start button. Now move your cursor to its edge and the cursor should turn into a double-sided arrow. From here you can drag and drop to resize the Start menu.
As we just saw, resizing the Start menu is an experience similar to resizing the taskbar or any other window in Windows 10.
One Size Doesn’t Fit All
For those who work on a single app all day, the taskbar is just a distraction on the screen, so it makes sense to make it smaller. On the other hand, having a larger taskbar improves readability and makes icons easier to identify. Whatever the case, you can use any of the above methods to resize the taskbar to your liking.
