Windows 11: Show taskbar icons and start menu on the left

By default, Windows 11 displays the Start menu and other icons centered on the taskbar. With just a few steps you can arrange it on the left again as you are used to with Windows 10 or earlier Windows versions. We’ll show you how to do this here.

The problem with the centered Start menu

If the start button is at the bottom left, you can almost blindly move the mouse to the corner of the screen and click to open the start menu. However, if the start button is displayed somewhere in the middle of the taskbar – as in Windows 11 – this is no longer possible and you have to aim precisely to move the mouse to it. Most of the time you just want the left-aligned start menu back out of habit. Fortunately, you can in Windows 11 restore the old start menu positionwhich you know from Windows 10.

Show taskbar icons & start menu on the left again

1. Click with the right mouse button on an empty area of ​​the taskbar.
2. Choose “Taskbar settings” out of.
3. Scroll down and click on the “Taskbar behavior“ to expand a menu.
4. Click next to “Taskbar orientation“ on the drop-down menu and select “Left aligned“ instead of “Centered”.
5. Your taskbar will now be displayed again like the older Windows operating systems (Windows 7, Windows 10 etc.).

If you want to move the taskbar completely to a different position on the screen – for example to the top edge – take a look at this tip:

Unfortunately, the taskbar can no longer be customized as easily as it was under Windows 10 or 7. For example, the taskbar can no longer be positioned on the left or right edge of the screen. You also cannot display the taskbar icons at the bottom right (right-aligned). There are still some opportunities for improvement for Microsoft.

Did you like the post? Follow us on WhatsApp and Google News and don’t miss any news about technology, games and entertainment.