Windows 11’s taskbar can be moved to the top, left, or right through a position control in Settings, according to TweakTown’s October 26, 2026 report. Open Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors > Taskbar position, then choose an edge. Select Bottom to return it there. This changes where the taskbar sits, not whether its icons are aligned left or center.
Move the taskbar in Settings
- Open Taskbar settings. Right-click an empty area of the taskbar and select Taskbar settings, or open Settings > Personalization > Taskbar.
- Expand Taskbar behaviors. Find the Taskbar position control.
- Choose an edge. Select Bottom, Top, Left, or Right. The change takes effect immediately.
Rafee’s Tech demonstrates the Settings route and position change in this screen-recorded tutorial:
What changes at the top and sides
TweakTown reports that a top-positioned taskbar keeps the full Search box and the Small size option. Start opens below the bar. On the left or right, Search becomes an icon, and choosing Small does not shrink the taskbar. The alignment choices for a vertical bar are Top or Center.
| Position | Search | Small size | Auto-hide |
| Top | Full Search box | Available | Unavailable |
| Left or Right | Search icon | Does not shrink the taskbar | Unavailable |
TweakTown reports that auto-hide is available only when the taskbar is at the bottom. On a vertical taskbar, the clock and system tray stack at the base. Moving the bar uses Settings rather than dragging it to another screen edge.
One position applies across displays
TweakTown reports that the selected position applies to every display, rather than allowing a different edge for each monitor. It also reports that the tablet-optimized taskbar remains at the bottom.
Why the position control may not appear
On October 26, 2026, TweakTown reported seeing the setting on its author’s Windows 11 26H2 laptop and said monthly updates were bringing it to 24H2 and 25H2 in stages. With a staged rollout, the position control may not yet have appeared on every PC.
Choosing an edge for your screen
A vertical taskbar uses screen width. TweakTown’s author reported returning a 1920 × 1080 laptop to the bottom position and enabling auto-hide, while keeping the taskbar on the left on a wider desktop. There, setting Combine taskbar buttons and hide labels to Never displayed separate labeled buttons for three open File Explorer windows, which the author found easier to identify.
To make a vertical taskbar shorter, TweakTown suggests reducing pinned apps and turning off Task View and Widgets under Taskbar items.
