How To Change The Windows Taskbar

Introduction

Most Windows operating system users are familiar with the taskbar at the bottom of the desktop. Some sources date this feature back to the Windows 95 operating system. Whether you use the Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 operating system. The taskbar will also appear in the upcoming Windows 8 operating system. No matter which modern Windows operating system you use, you have the ability to make some general changes to the taskbar.

 

Step 1

Right-click on the taskbar in Windows. Select Properties from the menu. The title of this box is commonly called the Taskbar and Start Menu properties, because you will see at least two tabs -- one for the task bar and the other for the Start Menu. The Start Menu appears when you press the Start button on the taskbar in the bottom left hand corner of the desktop. The taskbar on the other hand is always present at the bottom of the desktop.

 

Step 2

Place a check mark in the auto hide box in the Properties dialog box. This function automatically hides the taskbar out of sight at the bottom of the screen. This gives you more real estate to do other things on the computer. For example, if you need your Internet browser to appear longer, from top to bottom, you can again about a half inch at the bottom of the screen, by eliminating the taskbar.

Step 3

Unlock the taskbar and move it around the screen. In most versions of Windows, you can click once on the taskbar with your mouse. Then you can drag the taskbar to the side or top of the screen. When you move the taskbar to the side, the programs that appear on the taskbar run veritically instead of horizontally. This may be an easier way to read all of the open programs, because you can see the full title of the program.

Step 4

Place icons for programs on the taskbar. If you have favorite programs that you use in Windows you can gain faster access to opening the programs by having the icon always visible on the taskbar. In later versions of Windows, you can even see a history of documents that you have been working on, directly from this icon on the taskbar.

 

Step 5

Change the color of the taskbar by changing the overall colors in the Windows operating system.

Tips

You can also group similar icons on the taskbar in Windows to create more space.

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