And in another episode of Windows 11 will adapt to us whether we like it or not, today our attention turns to the taskbar. Microsoft did everything possible to block any major modification, in defense of a uniform experience that users have hated from minute zero. However, there is a way to customize the Windows 11 taskbar: First you must restore its previous version, and then use the latest build of 7+ Taskbar Tweaker.
Once more into the breach, dear friends. Microsoft refuses to listen to users, and our job is the same as always: Try to get a decent experience from its operating systems. Windows 11 presented a new round of challenges that we have slowly overcome, but we know well that we will need to repeat rituals with each major update.
Obviously, we're not going to give up. We have fought with worse systems before (ME, Vista, 8), and the similarities between Windows 10 and Windows 11 play in our favor. One of the most conflictive points in the new Windows is the taskbar, which has lost many functions. Fortunately, customizing the Windows 11 taskbar is a matter of combining the right software, and the first ingredient, so to speak, is 7+ Taskbar Tweaker.
How to customize the Windows 11 taskbar with 7+ Taskbar Tweaker
Why do I talk about ingredients? It's simple: The standard version of 7+ Taskbar Tweaker is not compatible with the Windows 11 taskbar. The program runs without issues, but all options appear blocked. Its developer is working on a new version with the goal of achieving some level of compatibility, but the best strategy right now is to restore the Windows 10 taskbar in Windows 11.
How? With Explorer Patcher, an old acquaintance here at NeoTeo. The latest build is even easier to use, and you no longer have to copy files manually: A double click, a download of online resources, and the classic bar will return immediately. Once Explorer Patcher is installed, 7+ Taskbar Tweaker works perfectly. Its interface allows us to modify the behavior of the secondary button on pinned items, assign commands with the wheel click on the bar (personally I chose Task Manager), hide the start button, show seconds in the clock, reduce spacing between icons, and adjust grouping/combining of windows, among other things.
Yes, I admit that installing two programs to customize the Windows 11 taskbar is not the most efficient thing in the world, but it is a clean route that doesn't require registry changes or edits to system files. Give it a try!
7+ Taskbar Tweaker: Click here
Explorer Patcher: Click here
