Microsoft is gradually rolling out the new Windows 11 taskbar customization options, but there’s already a workaround to unlock them on compatible PCs.
After several years of restrictions, the Windows 11 taskbar is finally becoming more flexible. The latest optional system update, KB5120998, introduces the ability to move the taskbar to the top or sides of the screen, as well as to reduce its height and that of its icons. The problem is that Microsoft is rolling out these features gradually, so not all Windows 11 users can take advantage of them yet. In a relatively short and well-researched article, the website Clubic.com explains how to do this, but before making any changes, users should check whether these new options are already available on their machines.
Options for the new Windows 11 taskbar © Clubic.com
Simply go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behavior. If the “Taskbar position” and “Taskbar size” sections are present, no further action is needed. If not, a tool called ViVeTool can be used to manually enable the features already built into the system. ViVeTool is not software developed by Microsoft, but it allows you to modify the “feature flags” used by Windows to enable or disable certain features. After downloading the version compatible with their computer, the user must open the Command Prompt with administrator privileges and navigate to the folder containing the tool. A specific command can then be used to enable the feature flags corresponding to moving and minimizing the taskbar. You’ll then need to restart Windows for the changes to take effect.
Using ViVeTool helps resolve the issue © Clubic.com
Once this is done, the new options appear in the personalization settings. The taskbar can then be positioned at the bottom, top, left, or right of the screen. Its size can also be reduced, although Microsoft still imposes certain limitations: compact mode is currently only available when the taskbar is positioned at the top or bottom. However, this process is intended for users who are comfortable with system tools. Since ViVeTool directly modifies experimental or gradually rolling-out features, it’s best to avoid changing other settings without knowing exactly what they do. The good news, though, is that if you’re not satisfied with the results, you can undo the changes using a reset command, followed—once again—by a restart. Windows will then resume managing these features as usual.
