taskbar changed size -- too big -- and i can't change it back

Anonymous
2009-12-06T05:09:32+00:00

my taskbar changed from bottom to right side of my screen.  when i moved it back down, the task bar went from a single row of start up icons with open application windows in the same row on the right side to basically two rows -- top row has start up icons, 2nd row has the beneath the first row, even though there is plenty of room in the top row for them.

  the top sizing arrow doesn't do anything at all and the only sizing handle i can see is located on the right side of the start button and won't move.  (and yes, the taskbar is unlocked)  the task bar is about an inch high and even when i change the size of my icons to the smallest i STILL can't get the blasted thing to shrink down to it's former 1/2" or so. 

i wouldn't care except that i don't have access to the bottom portion of some open applications -- mostly games -- and there are buttons there that i have to click on to continue working.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Accessibility

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2011-03-20T20:53:43+00:00

I found the answer! Leo Notenboom for AskLeo.info.

"Click on an empty area of the taskbar and hold the mouse button down.

Now, just drag the mouse down to where you want the taskbar to be. Once you get close enough, it'll jump right into place.

To keep it from jumping around again, right click on the taskbar, and then select Lock the Taskbar.

If you like, you can actually put your taskbar on top, the bottom or any side of the screen you like.

That's all there is to it!" Leo Notenboom for AskLeo.info.

Was this answer helpful?

1200+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

176 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2015-06-10T07:22:44+00:00

    the reply may be a little too late now considering its 2015... but i decided to post since i was looking for answers for the problem you described and I fixed it doing the following...

    1- unlock the taskbar.

    2- Right click on the empty space on the taskbar to access 'Properties" 

    3- Click the toolbar tab.

    4- Uncheck any option which are checked, then click apply.

    hopefully at this stage your taskbar is collapsed to its single layer form.

    5- Re-Check the options which you unchecked in step 4.

    I hope this is of help.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2015-05-20T22:14:46+00:00

    Suddenly my task bar went about 3 inches tall in Windows 8.1.  To correct this, I right clicked on the taskbar, clicked on properties and changed the taskbar buttons to small, the switched the taskbar location to the top of the screen, clicked apply, the switched it back to bottom the screen and clicked apply again.  That worked, but I don't know why, or what happened in the first place.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2015-04-21T09:09:59+00:00

    This worked perfectly thank you!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2015-04-07T17:12:22+00:00

    Hi Kay, I went into taskbar properties and unlocked the taskbar then checked auto hide. It keeps it out of the way and all my stuff pinned to it is quickly accessible when needed. Hope this helps.

    Bonnie

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments