Get Windows 7 Iconized (Icon Only) Taskbar Feature in Windows XP and Vista



Windows 7 taskbar doesn't show text in application buttons, it only show their icons. On the other hand previous Windows versions used to show icon as well as text in all application's taskbar buttons.

Actually Windows 7 new iconized taskbar feature looks good and it also saves space in taskbar area. If you want to have the same feature in Windows XP, Vista, Server 2003, 2008, etc, then you can get it after following a few simple and easy steps.

Before applying this tutorial:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v374/vishaal_here/Default_Taskbar.jpg

After applying this tutorial:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v374/vishaal_here/Iconized_Taskbar.jpg

So here are the steps to follow:

1. Type regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter. It'll open Registry Editor. Now go to following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics

2. In right-side pane, create a new String value MinWidth and set its value to -255

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v374/vishaal_here/Adding_MinWidth_Value_in_Registry.jpg

3. That's it. Log off or restart your system and get ready to have iconized taskbar in your system.

4. To restore default taskbar behavior, delete the MinWidth String value and log off or restart your system.

PS: If you want a ready-made registry script which can do the task automatically, then download following ZIP file, extract it and then run the Install.reg file. It'll ask for confirmation, accept it:

Download Registry Script

Complete list of AskVG articles



This article was posted in Windows Vista, Windows XP.


Share |


Related Articles

Popular Articles



126 Comments

  • Dude u rule this helped me so much

  • i spend my more than 12 hours in a day on a desktop with windows 2000 on and rest of the time on xp/vista and i am not able to make any changes in windows 2000 which is so disappointing these changes should also work on window2000 which is the first complete operating system any help will be appreciated.Thanks

  • VG

    ^^ I have not checked it on Windows 2000 but it should work. Did you try the ready-made registry script?

  • Thanks much needed

  • Um.. VG

    In XP, it shows the first character...

    Any way to fix that?

  • VG

    ^^ Its a problem in theme. If you use SevenVG R2 theme, you'll not face this problem.

  • VG this really rocks, I was using a vtp and have abandoned it for your excellent work and easy instructions, thanks!

    But one thing: I like the bottom panel in the windows but is there a way to have it display the details? It displays in the side panel but not in the bottom. In otherwords I would really rather have a bottom details pane than a bottom common tasks pane.

  • VG

    ^^ Sorry but its not possible because of XP limitations.

  • hey...how come you are so good at this....?......i am very glad to visit your site man...so cooooool............

  • Hello vishal i went to make like that is it possible sorry for my bed English :d
    http://www.aeroxp.org/board/uploads/monthly_08_2007/post-20915-1186135213_thumb.jpg
    like that large icon's

Add a Comment

NOTE: If you can't see your comment, please be patient. It'll appear as soon as we approve it.


Create an avatar that will appear with your comment.