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How to Rearrange and Customize Taskbar Icons in Windows

Applies toWindows 11Windows 10
6 min fix Updated 9 Mar 2026 · 6 months ago

By , 10+ years in IT support and helpdesk How these guides are checked

Quick Answer

Click and hold the left mouse button on any app icon on your taskbar, drag it left or right to your preferred position, and release the mouse button to drop it into place.

Checked against Microsoft Learn - Windows release health and Microsoft Learn - end of support and retirement between 5 Aug 2026 and 12 Sep 2026. Nothing published in that period has been linked to this guide.

Summary ​

The Windows taskbar displays your pinned and running apps, system tray icons, and quick access tools. Customizing which icons appear and their order helps you work more efficiently. This article explains how to rearrange pinned apps, show or hide system tray icons, and adjust taskbar behaviour — all without admin rights.

Before You Start ​

  • Windows 10 or Windows 11.
  • No admin rights required.

Instructions ​

1. Rearrange Pinned Apps on the Taskbar ​

Change the order of your pinned applications.

  1. Locate the app icon on the taskbar that you want to move.
  2. Click and hold the icon.
  3. Drag it left or right to the desired position.
  4. Release the mouse button to drop it in place.
  5. The remaining icons shift automatically to accommodate the new order.

2. Show or Hide System Tray Icons ​

Control which icons appear in the bottom-right corner.

Windows 11:

  1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
  2. Go to Personalization > Taskbar.
  3. Expand Other system tray icons.
  4. Toggle individual apps on or off to show or hide them in the system tray.

Windows 10:

  1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
  2. Go to Personalization > Taskbar.
  3. Scroll down and click Select which icons appear on the taskbar.
  4. Toggle individual apps on or off.

3. Change Taskbar Alignment (Windows 11) ​

Move the taskbar icons from centre to left alignment.

  1. Right-click any empty space on the taskbar.
  2. Select Taskbar settings.
  3. Expand Taskbar behaviours.
  4. Under Taskbar alignment, select Left or Centre from the dropdown.
  5. The icons reposition immediately.

4. Auto-Hide the Taskbar ​

Reclaim screen space by hiding the taskbar when not in use.

  1. Right-click any empty space on the taskbar.
  2. Select Taskbar settings.
  3. Expand Taskbar behaviours (Windows 11) or scroll to the toggle (Windows 10).
  4. Enable Automatically hide the taskbar.
  5. The taskbar disappears when you move your cursor away and reappears when you hover at the bottom of the screen.

5. Show or Hide Taskbar Buttons ​

Control which system buttons appear on the taskbar.

  1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
  2. Go to Personalization > Taskbar.
  3. Under Taskbar items, toggle the following on or off:
    • Search — Search bar or icon.
    • Task view — Virtual desktops button.
    • Widgets — News and weather panel.
    • Chat — Teams chat shortcut.
  4. Changes apply immediately.

Troubleshooting ​

TIP

If your taskbar feels cluttered, unpin rarely used apps by right-clicking the icon and selecting Unpin from taskbar. Keep your most-used 5–7 apps pinned for the best balance.

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
Cannot drag icons to rearrangeTaskbar may be locked (Windows 10)Right-click the taskbar and uncheck Lock the taskbar.
System tray icons keep reappearingApp restarts restore tray iconHide the icon again in Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Other system tray icons.
Auto-hide taskbar does not reappearNotification keeping taskbar hiddenClick the notification area to dismiss any pending alerts.

Last updated:

Frequently asked questions

How do I hide the Search bar or Widgets from the taskbar?
Right-click an empty space on the taskbar, select Taskbar settings, and use the toggle switches to turn off Search, Task view, Widgets, or Chat.
Can I move the Windows 11 Start button back to the left side?
Yes. Right-click the taskbar, select Taskbar settings, expand 'Taskbar behaviors', and change 'Taskbar alignment' from Center to Left.