How do I move my taskbar vertically to the left side of the screen in windows 11?

Question

How do I move my taskbar vertically to the left side of the screen in windows 11?

Anonymous

How do I move my taskbar vertically to the left side of the screen like in windows 7, 8 and 10?

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Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

Hello,

Thank you for posting in Q&A forum.

In Windows 11, it is not supported to move the taskbar in any direction. I suggest you try to modify the registry to see if it works. Please refer to the following:

Use the Windows + R shortcut key to open the Run window and type the regedit command to open the registry editor.
Navigate to the following path: Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects3
Double-click the Settings registry key, and then double-click the 5th column in the 2nd row. You can change the following values according to the corresponding position you want to move the taskbar to:

00 Left side of the screen

01 Top of the screen

02 Right side of the screen

03 Bottom of the screen

User's image

Finally, open the Task Manager and find Windows Explorer. Right-click and restart it.

This thread with similar issue might be helpful:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/moving-the-taskbar-left-side-windows-11/5b75025a-5ffc-49f5-bc09-d700ca37525f?page=1

I hope the information above is helpful.

Best regards

Zunhui

============================================

If the Answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.

Andrey Yurchik 90 Reputation points

2025-02-18T06:39:59.83+00:00
Please allow for vertical task bar.
When I was using Windows 10, I had right side sticked task bar almost filled with different applications which I need for work.

Now my task bar looks like this:

How is it any better than a vertical task bar?

now Tray Icons I can't have displayed in 3 lines like before.

vertical real estate of the screen is much more valuable than horizontal.

SO, for work Windows 11 task bar is much more uncomfortable than in prior versions. it causes PAIN!
Michael Clark 10 Reputation points

2025-05-06T18:25:43.1166667+00:00

Every time I restart Explorer it resets the registry code back to 03. Any suggestion?
Wendy Penfold 20 Reputation points

2025-07-15T14:33:09.1533333+00:00

I agree that vertical real estate of the screen is more valuable than the horizontal--especially if you are a developer. It's really not helpful having the task bar at the bottom of the screen.
Ιωάννης Λέσσης 5 Reputation points

2025-07-25T09:00:06.69+00:00

does not work!!!
Deleted

This comment has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The comment was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.
Jay Dimock 5 Reputation points

2025-09-29T17:30:06.5466667+00:00

It may have worked at the time this post was written but it does not work now. Tried several times and also rebooted. No luck.
Lily Moser 0 Reputation points

2025-10-08T16:25:50.2833333+00:00

THIS- I have 3 screens that I move back and forth between, and having a vertical task bar eliminates the need to mouse all the down to the bottom of the screen. This is INFURIATING! Ive been working like this for 15+ years. IT was fast, efficient and I knew where my stuff was, and apps were ordered by priority, and work. The way it is now is absolute A.S.S. The moment I have the option of using a different system I will take it. Im even going to suggest that to our tech dept, and do everyting in my executive power to remove this crap from our company. its time to say goodbye to microsoft. Im sick of their shiz. We need to move to Linux, or Mac.
Ιωάννης Λέσσης 5 Reputation points

2025-10-09T08:03:14.34+00:00

https://www.stardock.com/products/start11/?utm_source=stardock-software&utm_medium=start11&utm_campaign=in-app-website&Referer=stardock
Ιωάννης Λέσσης 5 Reputation points

2025-10-09T08:03:55.2333333+00:00

go there an find peace bro!
Anonymous

2025-10-15T06:55:14.8533333+00:00

Please reintroduce this feature again. I have a virtual machine open on my second screen. It's hard to see which taskbar I'm clicking.
jeff millar 0 Reputation points

2025-10-30T19:34:04.0733333+00:00

Thank you for trying. Doesn't work for me, either.

Why does microsoft need to do this to it's customers. Unnecessary and infuriating.
w s 0 Reputation points

2025-12-02T18:38:38.51+00:00

doesn't work, sadly. the workaround StartAllBack also stopped working for me.
Fowler, Sharon (CEI-Atlanta-CON) 0 Reputation points

2026-02-27T15:00:29.76+00:00

Please give the option BACK to have the taskbar move to the left or the right of the screen. This is so annoying for my ADHD, the several daily presentations I have with sharing my screen and it supports my daily work as an engineer.

Why was this removed? This was one cool feature that Windows had.
How challenging it is to bring back this feature????

2 additional answers

Deleted

This comment has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The comment was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.
Andrey Yurchik 90 Reputation points

2025-02-18T06:39:59.83+00:00

Please allow for vertical task bar.
When I was using Windows 10, I had right side sticked task bar almost filled with different applications which I need for work.

Now my task bar looks like this:

How is it any better than a vertical task bar?

now Tray Icons I can't have displayed in 3 lines like before.

vertical real estate of the screen is much more valuable than horizontal.

SO, for work Windows 11 task bar is much more uncomfortable than in prior versions. it causes PAIN!
Michael Clark 10 Reputation points

2025-05-06T18:25:43.1166667+00:00

Every time I restart Explorer it resets the registry code back to 03. Any suggestion?
Wendy Penfold 20 Reputation points

2025-07-15T14:33:09.1533333+00:00

I agree that vertical real estate of the screen is more valuable than the horizontal--especially if you are a developer. It's really not helpful having the task bar at the bottom of the screen.
Ιωάννης Λέσσης 5 Reputation points

2025-07-25T09:00:06.69+00:00

does not work!!!
Deleted

This comment has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The comment was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.
Jay Dimock 5 Reputation points

2025-09-29T17:30:06.5466667+00:00

It may have worked at the time this post was written but it does not work now. Tried several times and also rebooted. No luck.
Lily Moser 0 Reputation points

2025-10-08T16:25:50.2833333+00:00

THIS- I have 3 screens that I move back and forth between, and having a vertical task bar eliminates the need to mouse all the down to the bottom of the screen. This is INFURIATING! Ive been working like this for 15+ years. IT was fast, efficient and I knew where my stuff was, and apps were ordered by priority, and work. The way it is now is absolute A.S.S. The moment I have the option of using a different system I will take it. Im even going to suggest that to our tech dept, and do everyting in my executive power to remove this crap from our company. its time to say goodbye to microsoft. Im sick of their shiz. We need to move to Linux, or Mac.
Ιωάννης Λέσσης 5 Reputation points

2025-10-09T08:03:14.34+00:00

https://www.stardock.com/products/start11/?utm_source=stardock-software&utm_medium=start11&utm_campaign=in-app-website&Referer=stardock
Ιωάννης Λέσσης 5 Reputation points

2025-10-09T08:03:55.2333333+00:00

go there an find peace bro!
Anonymous

2025-10-15T06:55:14.8533333+00:00

Please reintroduce this feature again. I have a virtual machine open on my second screen. It's hard to see which taskbar I'm clicking.
jeff millar 0 Reputation points

2025-10-30T19:34:04.0733333+00:00

Thank you for trying. Doesn't work for me, either.

Why does microsoft need to do this to it's customers. Unnecessary and infuriating.
w s 0 Reputation points

2025-12-02T18:38:38.51+00:00

doesn't work, sadly. the workaround StartAllBack also stopped working for me.
Fowler, Sharon (CEI-Atlanta-CON) 0 Reputation points

2026-02-27T15:00:29.76+00:00

Please give the option BACK to have the taskbar move to the left or the right of the screen. This is so annoying for my ADHD, the several daily presentations I have with sharing my screen and it supports my daily work as an engineer.

Why was this removed? This was one cool feature that Windows had.
How challenging it is to bring back this feature????

Answer 1

Benard Mwanza 1,006

Hi,

Unfortunately, In windows 11, this feature is not supported.

loretta cash 5 Reputation points

2026-03-01T20:03:13.42+00:00

hating Windows 11
Asbille, Jim 0 Reputation points

2026-06-04T15:54:10.3166667+00:00

So lame

Answer 2

Anonymous

Hello,

Thank you for posting in Q&A forum.

In Windows 11, it is not supported to move the taskbar in any direction. I suggest you try to modify the registry to see if it works. Please refer to the following:

Use the Windows + R shortcut key to open the Run window and type the regedit command to open the registry editor.
Navigate to the following path: Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects3
Double-click the Settings registry key, and then double-click the 5th column in the 2nd row. You can change the following values according to the corresponding position you want to move the taskbar to:

00 Left side of the screen

01 Top of the screen

02 Right side of the screen

03 Bottom of the screen

User's image

Open the Task Manager and find Windows Explorer. Right-click and restart it.

This thread with similar issue might be helpful:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/moving-the-taskbar-left-side-windows-11/5b75025a-5ffc-49f5-bc09-d700ca37525f?page=1

I hope the information above is helpful.

Best regards

Zunhui

============================================

If the Answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.

Alistair Forge 20 Reputation points

2025-02-14T22:43:43.17+00:00

This is so crap. How can a newer version of windows reduce usability? On most people's screens and in most apps there is much more spare real estate on the sides, than the bottom. Very poor Microsoft.
David Pierson 110 Reputation points

2025-12-21T23:03:55.4866667+00:00

Changed that byte in StuckRects3 to 00 but the taskbar stayed at the bottom. Worth a try though, so thank you. Win 11 24H2. What is going on in Microsoft?
Fowler, Sharon (CEI-Atlanta-CON) 0 Reputation points

2026-02-27T15:03:01.39+00:00

We (the users) are informing you (product development) we are disappointed that you have decided to remove a feature that is highly valued in organizing and keep on top of your work day. Why won't you listen to your customers and bring it back? How many lines of code could this possibly be?????
loretta cash 5 Reputation points

2026-03-01T20:02:54.3133333+00:00

just give back the feature PLEASE!!!!!! this is why we hate your crummy updates...it's only better for COMPUTER GEEKS, although I am not fond of minor changes, I can adapt...NOT happy with Windows 11!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!