Until the release of Windows 11, it was possible to adjust the taskbar size by dragging your mouse up and down, but it changed with the latest version of Windows. If you want this feature back, I will show you how to unlock the taskbar in Windows 11.
Unfortunately, Windows 11 offer no settings to unlock the taskbar, and Microsoft didn’t show any signs of changing this shortly, so we will need to use a third-party free program for that.
To unlock the taskbar in Windows 11, download ExplorerPatcher and install it on your PC. When the installation is done, ExplorerPatcher will change your taskbar and restart File Explorer, then right-click on a space of the taskbar and uncheck Lock the taskbar.
If you don’t want to use a third-party app, I will show you in a later section how to resize your taskbar via Windows Registry.
But first, I will show you how to unlock the Taskbar with ExplorerPatcher step-by-step.
How to Unlock the Taskbar in Windows 11 using ExplorerPatcher
ExplorerPatcher is one of the must-have software in Windows. The only way to regain productivity in Windows 11 is by unlocking your taskbar, ungrouping tasking icons, or moving your taskbar.
To unlock your taskbar with ExplorerPatcher, follow the steps below:
- Download ExplorerPatcher on GitHub by clicking on setup program:
(Ignore any false warnings by Windows, this app is totally safe and I use it myself.) - Install it on your PC.
- When the installation is complete, Explorer Patcher will restart the file explorer and bring back the Windows 10 classic taskbar (but you can change it back to Windows 11 style if you prefer.)
- Right-click on an empty space on the taskbar and uncheck Lock the taskbar:
- Now you can use the mouse to drag your taskbar up or down.
You are not limited to adjusting the size of your taskbar, but you can also move your taskbar to the right, left, or top if you prefer.
You can also adjust the size of the taskbar in the Windows Registry, as explained below, even though it has several drawbacks.
How to Adjust the Size of the Taskbar via Windows Registry
While it is possible to adjust the size of your taskbar using the Registry Editor, you will need help to unlock your taskbar and drag it freely with your mouse.
So, there is not any significant advantage to using this method, and I recommend sticking with Explorer Patcher, but if you want to try, follow the steps below:
- Type Registry Editor on Windows Search and click on Open:
(I strongly recommend you back up your Registry before attempting any changes.) - Click Yes to allow the app to make changes to your device.
- On the Registry Editor, navigate to the following path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
- In the Advanced key, right-click on the empty space on the right and select New > DWORD (32-bit) value:
- Name the new entry as TaskbarSi.
- Double-click on TaskbarSi.
- Change the value to 0, 1, or 2 according to your preferred taskbar size. 0 is the smallest size, 1 is the default, and 2 is the largest.
Conclusion
It is impossible to unlock the taskbar in Windows 11 like in previous versions; however, you can quickly get this feature back and open the taskbar by installing ExplorerPatch, then right-clicking on your taskbar space and unchecking Lock the taskbar.
