If you’re using Windows 11, one of the first differences you’ll notice is that the taskbar options (Start Menu, Search and App icons) are all centred. It’s definitely a bit different from decades of everything being on the left. If this has been bugging you, then I have good news for you! In this guide, I’ll show you how to quickly and easily move your Windows 11 taskbar back to the left where it feels more familiar.
Why Would You Want to Move the Taskbar?
After decades of having the Start button and taskbar icons anchored in the bottom left side of the screen, Windows 11’s centred approach can feel ‘wrong’. Many users report that muscle memory makes them click the wrong spot repeatedly – especially as there’s now ‘headlines’ placed there – causing frustration during everyday computer use.
Fortunately, Microsoft has included an option to change to the classic left-aligned layout, recognising that user preference plays an important role in productivity and comfort.
Step-by-Step: Moving Your Windows 11 Taskbar to the Left
The process to change the taskbar alignment is surprisingly straightforward:
- Access the Taskbar Settings: Right-click on any empty area of your taskbar. This could be to the right of your application icons or to the left of the Start button—it doesn’t matter where, as long as it’s an empty space.
- Open Personalisation Settings: From the context menu that appears, select “Taskbar settings”. This will open the Personalisation section of your Windows Settings.
- Find Taskbar Behaviours: Scroll down the settings page until you locate the “Taskbar behaviours” option. Click on this section to expand it.
- Change the Alignment: In the expanded list, you’ll notice the first option is “Taskbar alignment”, which is set to “Centre” by default. Simply click and change this to “Left”.
- Enjoy the Results: The change takes effect immediately! You’ll see your Start button and all taskbar icons shift to the left side of your screen, just like in previous versions of Windows.
If you decide later that you’d prefer to try the centred taskbar again, simply follow the same steps and switch the alignment back to “Centre”.
Why This Matters
Personalisation is a crucial aspect of creating a comfortable computing environment. Microsoft’s design decisions with Windows 11 was aimed to create a more modern look. Fortunately they also included options for us to make changes, including returning parts to Windows 10.
This small change can make a significant difference in your daily workflow, especially if you’ve been using Windows for many years and find yourself constantly clicking in the wrong spot on your screen. 😁
Additional Customisation Tips
While adjusting your taskbar alignment, you might also want to explore other personalisation options in the same settings menu. You can:
- Hide or show certain system icons
- Choose which apps appear in your taskbar corner
- Enable or disable taskbar notifications
- Adjust how the taskbar behaves on multiple displays
These small tweaks can help make Windows 11 feel more personalised and suited to your specific needs.
Final Thoughts
Windows 11 brings many changes, but thankfully, Microsoft has provided options to customise the experience. Moving the taskbar to the left is one of the quickest ways to make the new operating system feel more familiar and comfortable.
I hope you’ve found this guide helpful. If you’re interested in more Windows 11 tips and tutorials, be sure to check out my other blog posts and YouTube videos where I share weekly computer tips to make your digital life a little bit easier.
Written with the help of Claude AI from an original transcription.
YouTube Videos
Windows 10 or 11? 4 Easy Ways to Check Which Version You Have
Easy Fix: Bring Back Classic Windows Taskbar Layout on Windows 11
Quick Tip: Accessing All Right-Click Menu Options in Windows 11
Windows 11 Layouts vs Snap: The Guide to Managing Your Windows | Productivity Tip
Windows 11 Snipping Tool: New Features & Complete Tutorial (Including Screen Recording!)
How to Capture Right-Click Menus in Windows 11 Snipping Tool (The Workaround That Actually Works!)
Windows 11 Tip: Disable Annoying Widget Pop-ups in 30 Seconds
How to Add Borders to ALL Your Screenshots in Windows 11 Snipping Tool (Jun 17)
How to Copy File Path in Windows 11 (Quick & Easy Method) (Jun 23)
How to Show File Extensions in Windows 11 File Explorer (Easy Tutorial) (Jun 24)
Other Windows 11 Posts
Quick Tips to Identity Windows 10 vs Windows 11
How to Move Windows 11 Taskbar to the Left: A Simple Guide (current post)
Access Hidden Options in the Windows 11 Right Click Menu
How to use Windows 11 Layouts to Organise Your Screen
Windows 11 Snipping Tool – What’s New
How to Capture Right-Click Menus in Windows 11 Snipping Tool
How to Stop Windows 11 Widgets from Automatically Opening When You Hover
Windows 11 Screenshots Made Better: Add Eye-Catching Borders In Just 3 Steps (Jun 18)
5 Powerful Reasons Why You Need File Extensions Visible in Windows 11 (Jun 25)
Recent Posts
- How to Stop Windows 11 Widgets from Automatically Opening When You Hover
Have you ever found yourself accidentally triggering the Windows 11 widget panel when moving your mouse to the bottom of the screen? That annoying pop-up that appears when you least expect it and then refuses to disappear quickly? I know how frustrating this can be, as I’ve experienced it myself for years, both with Windows… Read more: How to Stop Windows 11 Widgets from Automatically Opening When You Hover - How to Capture Right-Click Menus in Windows 11 Snipping Tool
If you’re like me and rely on the Windows Snipping Tool for capturing screenshots, you’ve probably noticed a frustrating change in Windows 11. The ability to capture right-click context menus has disappeared, leaving many of us scratching our heads and searching for solutions. As a computer coach who regularly creates tutorials, this limitation has been… Read more: How to Capture Right-Click Menus in Windows 11 Snipping Tool - Windows 11 Snipping Tool – What’s New?
With Windows 10, Microsoft gave us the Snipping Tool and then replaced it with Snip and Sketch. Now Microsoft has returned us back with the Windows 11 Snipping Tool, but with a few changes. In this guide, I’ll walk you through what’s different and how you can put it to use. Getting Started with the… Read more: Windows 11 Snipping Tool – What’s New? - How to use Windows 11 Layouts to Organise Your Screen
Have you seen the new window layouts in Windows 11? If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, it’s where you can automatically position the different app windows around the screen. You may be wondering how this compares to Windows Snap, which was introduced in 2009. The Basics: Minimise, Maximise, and Restore Let’s start with… Read more: How to use Windows 11 Layouts to Organise Your Screen - Access Hidden Options in the Windows 11 Right Click Menu
If you’ve been using Windows 11, you’ve probably noticed something different when right-clicking on files and folders – the context menu looks sleeker but seems to be missing many familiar options. Don’t worry; I’ll show you exactly how to find all those “missing” commands under the Windows 11 Right Click. The New Windows 11 Right-Click… Read more: Access Hidden Options in the Windows 11 Right Click Menu
windows 11 taskbar, taskbar alignment settings, personalise taskbar positioning