How to Restore or Enable Classic Taskbar in Windows 11 (All Versions)

This is the fastest and easiest way to restore classic Taskbar in Windows 11 operating system. This method will also work in the recently released Windows 11 Moment 4 Update and Windows 11 2023 Update (version 23H2).

Following screenshot shows classic Taskbar successfully restored in our Windows 11 device:

Also following screenshot shows all classic options such as lock/unlock Taskbar, open Task Manager, add toolbars, Show the Desktop, arrange program windows, etc restored in Taskbar context menu (right-click menu):

Windows 11 comes with a redesigned Taskbar which shows Start button and other program icons in center. All program buttons are grouped or combined by default and there is no option present to ungroup or never combine program buttons. Also the context menu (right-click menu) is very restricted and displays only one option “Taskbar Settings”. So basically Windows 11 Taskbar is very restricted at the moment and lacks lots of essential functions like open Task Manager, lock/unlock Taskbar, moving the Taskbar to other screen areas, arrange program windows, etc.

Last year, we shared a tutorial to enable classic Taskbar in Windows 11 which required editing Windows Registry. You can find the tutorial at following link:

[Tip] Restore Windows 10 Classic Taskbar in Windows 11 along with Classic Start Menu

Unfortunately, the Registry method stopped working in the latest Windows 11 2022 Update. Some readers reported that the Registry tweak causes Windows Explorer crashing in Windows 11 22H2. Also many people find modifying Windows registry difficult.

In this article, we are going to share a different method to enable classic Taskbar in Windows 11 which will also work in the new Windows 11 2022 Update without any issue.

With the help of this new method, you’ll be able to get following features in Windows 11 Taskbar:

• Restore Windows 10 style classic Taskbar in Windows 11
• Restore all classic options in Taskbar context menu such as lock Taskbar, open Task Manager, add toolbars, arrange windows, etc
• Lock or unlock the Taskbar
• Move the Taskbar to left, right, top or bottom locations
• Never group or combine similar program buttons
• Always show full text labels on Taskbar buttons
• Set the Taskbar size to small or large
• Open Task Manager directly from Taskbar right-click menu
• Remove skin or new UI effects from tool-tips in Taskbar and notification area
• Remove fly-out behavior from notification area icons
• Restore toolbar support in Taskbar such as Quick Launch toolbar

If you also want to get old classic Taskbar experience in your Windows 11 computer as shown above, following steps will help you:

STEP 1: Download and Install Explorer Patcher

To enable full classic Taskbar in Windows 11, we’ll take help of a freeware called “Explorer Patcher” developed by valinet.

Download Explorer Patcher from following link:

Download ExplorerPatcher for Windows 11

STEP 2: Run Explorer Patcher to Enable Classic Taskbar

After downloading the tool, install it and it’ll restart the Explorer.

Now right-click on the Taskbar and you’ll see some extra classic options added to the Taskbar such as Task Manager, cascade windows, Show desktop, etc. Click on Properties option in the context menu. It’ll open ExplorerPatcher settings window.

Alternatively, you can also open ExplorerPatcher properties using Start Menu -> All Apps -> Properties (ExplorerPatcher) option.

STEP 3: Restore Classic Taskbar in Windows 11

Now under Taskbar tab in ExplorerPatcher properties, click on the “Taskbar style” option present at the top in right-side pane and select Windows 10 option from the drop-down box.

Click on “Restart File Explorer” link given at the bottom-left corner of the window and it’ll restart Explorer.

Congratulations! The classic Taskbar will appear in your Windows 11 device.

Moving the Taskbar to Other Screen Areas in Windows 11

If you want to change Taskbar location and want to move it to other screen area, right-click on the Taskbar and uncheck “Lock the Taskbar” option. Now click and hold the Taskbar and you’ll be able to drag-n-drop the Taskbar to other screen areas such as top, left or right.

You can also change Taskbar position using ExplorerPatcher Properties. Click on Primary taskbar location on screen option in ExplorerPatcher properties and you’ll get 4 options to select:

• Bottom (default)
• Top
• Left
• Right

Select desired option and click on “Restart File Explorer” link given at the bottom-left corner of the window. It’ll restart Explorer.

After restart, you’ll see the Taskbar on selected screen area.

PS: The “Secondary taskbar(s) location on screen” option will help you in moving the Taskbar on secondary monitor.

Never Group or Combine Program Buttons in Windows 11 Taskbar

Once you enable classic Taskbar in Windows 11, it automatically sets the Taskbar to never combine program buttons i.e. the Taskbar shows expanded program buttons with full text labels by default. If you want to customize the option similar to Windows 10 operating system, click on Combine taskbar icons on primary taskbar option in ExplorerPatcher properties and you’ll get 3 options to select:

• Always combine
• Combine when Taskbar is full
• Never combine (default)

Select desired option and click on “Restart File Explorer” link given at the bottom-left corner of the window. It’ll restart Explorer.

After restart, you’ll get desired behavior of grouped or combined Taskbar buttons.

PS: The “Combine taskbar icons on secondary taskbar(s)” option will help you in customizing combined buttons behavior on secondary monitor.

Change Taskbar Size in Windows 11

If you want to customize Taskbar size in Windows 11, click on Taskbar icon size option in ExplorerPatcher properties and you’ll get 2 options to select:

• Small
• Large (default)

By default, the Taskbar size is set to Large. If you want a small Taskbar, select Small option and click on “Restart File Explorer” link given at the bottom-left corner of the window. It’ll restart Explorer.

After restart, you’ll get small sized Taskbar in your Windows 11 device.

Restore Classic Tool-Tips and Flyouts in Windows 11 Taskbar

You can also enable Windows 10 style classic tool-tips and flyouts (pop-up menus) in Windows 11 Taskbar and notification area icons.

Go to System Tray tab in ExplorerPatcher properties and disable following options:

• Skin taskbar and tray pop-up menus
• Center tray icon pop-up menus
• Flyout behavior for tray icon pop-up menus

Click on “Restart File Explorer” link given at the bottom-left corner of the window and it’ll restart Explorer.

Now you’ll get classic tool-tips and flyouts in Taskbar and system tray icons.

Other Options to Customize the Classic Taskbar in Windows 11

In ExplorerPatcher properties, you can also customize Start button appearance. On Taskbar tab, click on “Start button style” option and select “Windows 11” option from the drop-down box. Restart Explorer and you’ll get a different Start button in Taskbar.

Similarly, you can set the classic Taskbar to display all icons and buttons in center like the new Taskbar. On Taskbar tab, click on “Primary taskbar alignment” option and select any of following options from the drop-down box:

• At screen edge (default)
• Centered
• Centered, at screen edge when full
• Centered with Start button
• Centered with Start button, at screen edge when full

Select desired option and restart Explorer and you’ll get selected alignment of the Taskbar.

PS: In future, if you decide to restore the default or new Taskbar in your Windows 11 device, set all the above mentioned options to their previous values again in ExplorerPatcher Properties window.

Also Check:

[Tip] Restore Old Classic Start Menu in Windows 11

[Tip] Restore Full Classic Context Menu in Windows 11

[Tip] Enable Full Classic File Explorer in Windows 11