computer task bar

How to use the taskbar in Windows

Use the taskbar for more than seeing your apps and checking the time. You can personalize it in many ways—change the color, pin your favorite apps to it, and move or rearrange taskbar buttons. You can also check your battery status and minimize all open programs momentarily so that you can take a look at your desktop.

Pin an app to the taskbar

Pin an app directly to the taskbar for quick access when you're on the desktop. (Or unpin it, if you want.) You can do it from Start or the Jump List—which is a list of shortcuts to recently opened files, folders, and websites.

Pin an app from Start

In the Search box on the taskbar, type the name of the app you want to pin to the taskbar. Press and hold (or right-click) on the app, then select Pin to taskbar .

To unpin an app, follow the same steps and select Unpin from taskbar .

Pin or unpin an app from the App list

If the app is already open, select and hold the icon in the taskbar (or right-click it), then select Pin to taskbar .

If you’re unpinning, follow the same steps and select Unpin from taskbar .

Change your taskbar settings

Customize the taskbar from the taskbar itself. If you want to change multiple aspects of the taskbar at one time, use Taskbar settings. Press and hold (or right-click) any empty space on the taskbar, and then select Taskbar settings .

In the Taskbar settings , scroll to see the options for customizing, choosing icons, and much more.

Note:  The Taskbar settings allow you to align taskbar icons in the center or on the left—but there are no settings for moving a taskbar to the top or side of the screen. By default, the taskbar sits at the bottom of the screen.

Select any of the following to see more ways to customize your taskbar.

Hide or display taskbar items

These are the buttons and bars that sit right next to your Start button and cannot be moved.

Search  on the taskbar can be set in four ways: either to  Search box , which includes a full text box to enter your search (or your Bing Chat prompt; see Using the new Bing on the Windows taskbar for more) into plus additional search highlights,  Search icon and label (displaying as a search icon and Search label), Search icon only (just the icon) or  Hide (completely hidden).

Note:  The Search box setting is not supported when Automatically hide the taskbar is selected under Taskbar behaviors .

You can also set the Task view , Widgets , or Chat buttons On or Off .

Open Taskbar settings

Hide or display system tray icons

Keep your system tray neat and tidy! In System tray icons , you can determine when the Pen menu , Touch keyboard , or Virtual touchpad icons are displayed. In Other system tray icons , you can turn icons that are mostly installed alongside other apps On (meaning they will display in the tray all of the time) or Off (meaning they will only show when they need your attention, and otherwise can be accessed in the Hidden icon menu , if you have that turned On .)

Change the taskbar alignment

Typically, the taskbar icons are centered, but you can also align them to the side of the taskbar.

Press and hold (or right-click) any empty space on the taskbar, then select Taskbar settings > Taskbar behaviors .

Scroll to Taskbar alignment and select Left.

Rearrange taskbar buttons

Whenever you want to change the order of app buttons on the taskbar, just drag a button from its current position to a different one.

Show badges on taskbar buttons

A badge on a taskbar button is an alert to let you know that some activity is happening, or needs to happen, with that app.

For example, a bell badge on the Alarms & Clocks app alerts you to an active alarm that will notify you at the time you set. This feature is turned on by default, but if you want to make sure it’s on (or to turn it off), press and hold (or right-click) any empty space on the taskbar, select Taskbar settings , select  Taskbar behaviors , and scroll to  Show badges (unread messages counter) on taskbar apps .

Use the taskbar to show the desktop

Use the show desktop feature to take a quick look at what’s on your desktop behind all the open windows.

Press and hold (or right-click) any empty space on the taskbar, select Taskbar settings , select  Taskbar behaviors , then choose  Select the far corner of the taskbar to show the desktop . Open Taskbar settings

Move the mouse over, or press, the far-right edge of the taskbar to see the desktop.

To restore the view of all your open windows, move the mouse over, or press, the far-right edge of the desktop again.

Automatically hide the taskbar

You can hide the taskbar both in desktop mode and tablet mode. Press and hold (or right-click) any empty space on the taskbar, select Taskbar settings , select Taskbar behaviors , and select Automatically hide the taskbar .

To see the taskbar after it's hidden, hover your mouse over, or touch, the bottom edge of your screen.

Change the color of your taskbar

Select Start  > Settings  > Personalization .

Select Colors and scroll to Accent color .

Turn on Show accent color on Start and taskbar . This will change the color of your taskbar to the color of your overall theme.

Note:  This option is only available if you select Dark or Custom as your Windows color (under Choose your mode ). If you choose Custom , you'll also need to choose Dark for Choose your default Windows mode .

Open Colors settings

Use the tablet-optimized taskbar on 2-in-1 devices

Note:  This setting is only available on 2-in-1 devices with tablet functionality.

When you disconnect or fold back the keyboard on your 2-in-1 device, you'll now see the tablet-optimized taskbar in the latest versions of Windows 11. This taskbar has two states: collapsed and expanded. In the collapsed state, the taskbar is minimized so you can focus on your task, but you can still see critical status icons like the time or battery level. When you need to use the taskbar, swipe up from the bottom to see the expanded state that has a touch-friendly design with larger icons. When you launch an app, the taskbar will automatically collapse again.

To turn the tablet-optimized taskbar on or off, do this:

Press and hold (or right-click) any empty space on the taskbar, select Taskbar settings , and then select  Taskbar behaviors .

To turn off the tablet-optimized taskbar, uncheck the box next to  Optimize taskbar for touch interactions when this device is used as a tablet . To turn it back on again, simply recheck the box.

Display seconds in the clock on the taskbar

You can show seconds alongside hours and minutes in your system tray clock on the taskbar. Press and hold (or right-click) any empty space on the taskbar, then select Taskbar settings  >  Taskbar behaviors , and then check Show seconds in system tray clock .

Use the taskbar for more than seeing your apps and checking the time. You can personalize it in many ways—change the color and size, pin your favorite apps to it, move it around on your screen, and rearrange or resize taskbar buttons. You can also check your battery status, minimize all open programs momentarily so that you can take a look at your desktop, lock the taskbar to keep your options, and customize your settings for search highlights, news and interests, and more.

Pin an app directly to the taskbar for quick access when you're on the desktop. (Or unpin it, if you want.) You can do it from Start or the Jump List, which is a list of shortcuts to recently opened files, folders, and websites.

Pin or unpin an app from Start

To unpin an app, follow the same steps and select Unpin from taskbar  .

If the app is already open, right-click or press and hold the app's icon on the taskbar, then select Pin to taskbar . Or select  Unpin from taskbar  if you're unpinning the app.

In the Taskbar settings, scroll to see the options for customizing, sizing, choosing icons, battery information and much more. 

Select any of the following to see more info.

Lock and unlock the taskbar

Locking the taskbar is handy to make sure it remains how you set it up. Unlock the taskbar later when you want to make changes or change its location on the desktop.

Press and hold (or right-click) any empty space on the taskbar.

Select Taskbar settings    and turn on Lock the taskbar .

If Lock the taskbar has a check mark next to it, you know it’s already locked. To turn it off, under  Lock the taskbar  set the toggle to  Off .

If you have multiple monitors that display the taskbar, you'll see Lock all taskbars .

Change the taskbar location

Typically, the taskbar is at the bottom of the desktop, but you can also move it to either side or the top of the desktop. When the taskbar is unlocked, you can change its location. See the  Lock and unlock the taskbar  section to find out if yours is locked. When you've confirmed that your taskbar is unlocked, you can change its location.

Press and hold (or right-click) any empty space on the taskbar and select  Taskbar settings  .

Scroll down to Taskbar location on screen , and then select Left, Top, Right, or Bottom .

Change the height of the taskbar

Like many other changes in the taskbar, you'll need to first unlock the taskbar. Then, move the pointer over the border of the taskbar until the pointer turns into a double arrow. Drag the border to the size you want and release. 

See your battery status on the taskbar

You can add the battery icon to the taskbar.

Select Taskbar settings   , scroll down, and choose  Select which icons appear on the taskbar.

Set the toggle for  Power to  On .

You can check battery status by selecting the battery icon in the taskbar.

Note:  You might need to select the Show hidden icons  icon on the taskbar before selecting the battery icon. Power is not an option on systems without a battery.

Whenever you want to change the order of app buttons on the taskbar, just drag a button from its current position to a different one. You might want to choose how taskbar buttons are grouped, especially if you have multiple windows open. By default, all open files from the same app are always grouped together, even if you didn’t open them in succession.

Change how taskbar buttons group together

Press and hold (or right-click) any empty space on the taskbar, then select Taskbar settings  >  Combine taskbar buttons .

Select from the list:

Always, hide labels . This is the default setting. Each app appears as a single, unlabeled button, even when multiple windows for that app are open.

When taskbar is full . This setting shows each window as an individual, labeled button. When the taskbar becomes crowded, apps with multiple open windows collapse into a single app button. Select the button to see a list of the windows that are open.

Never . This setting shows each window as an individual, labeled button and never combines them, no matter how many windows are open. As more apps and windows open, buttons get smaller, and eventually the buttons will scroll.

If you use multiple displays, you can make a different choice for your extra displays. 

Select Taskbar settings  .

Scroll down to  Multiple Displays and select from the  Combine taskbar buttons   on other taskbars list.

Use smaller or larger taskbar buttons

If you want to show more of your apps on the taskbar, you can show smaller versions of the buttons.

Press and hold (or right-click) any empty space on the taskbar, select Taskbar settings , and then select  On for  Use small taskbar buttons. 

Select  Off to return to the larger taskbar buttons.

Note:  Badges aren't displayed on small taskbar buttons.

A badge on a taskbar button is an alert to let you know that some activity is happening or needs to happen with that app. For example, a bell badge on the Alarms & Clocks app alerts you to an active alarm that will notify you at the time you set. This feature is turned on by default, but you can make sure it’s on (or turn it off). 

Press and hold (or right-click) any empty space on the taskbar, and select Taskbar settings  .

Scroll down to Show badges on taskbar buttons  and set the toggle as desired.

Use the taskbar to peek at the desktop

Use the Peek feature to take a quick look at what’s on your desktop behind all the open windows.

Press and hold (or right-click) any empty space on the taskbar, select Taskbar settings , and then turn on Use Peek to preview the desktop when you move your mouse to the Show desktop button at the end of the taskbar . Open Taskbar settings

Move the mouse pointer over (or press and hold) the far-right edge of the taskbar to see the desktop.

To restore the view of all your open windows, move the pointer away or press and hold the edge one more time.

You can hide the taskbar based on whether you’re in desktop mode or tablet mode.

Press and hold (or right-click) any empty space on the taskbar, and select Taskbar settings .

Turn on either  Automatically hide the taskbar in desktop mode or  Automatically hide the taskbar in tablet mode (or both).

Select Start  > Settings  > Personalization .

Select Colors  and scroll down to  Show accent color on the following surfaces .

Select Start, taskbar, and action center . This will change the color of your taskbar to the color of your overall theme.

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The taskbar is an element of an operating system located at the bottom of the screen. It lets you locate and launch programs through Start and the Start menu or view any currently open program. On the right side of the taskbar is the Notification Area that lets you check the date and time, items running in the background. The taskbar was first introduced with Microsoft Windows 95 and is found in all subsequent versions of Windows.

Users familiar with Apple Macintosh computers can think of the taskbar as the Dock . On a Chromebook , the app shelf is the equivalent of a taskbar.

The picture above shows the Windows taskbar throughout Windows history. Except for the Quick Launch feature, the taskbar in Windows 95, 98, ME, NT 4.0 resembled the Windows 98 taskbar. Windows Vista and 7, Microsoft removed the Quick Launch, added the Start Orb , and allowed icons in the Windows Notification Area to be hidden. With Windows 8, Microsoft removed the Start button but later added it back in Windows 8.1. Windows 10 resembles Windows 8.1, but with a new Cortana search box. Windows 11 changes the look of the taskbar, centering the Start, Search , and Widget icons, and the pinned program icons.

Below is an overview of the Microsoft Windows 10 taskbar with its major elements listed.

Use the keyboard shortcut Windows key + 1 through Windows key + 0 to open the first to tenth icon on the Windows taskbar.

Should I use "taskbar" or "task bar" in my writing?

Always write "taskbar" as one word and in lowercase.

Related information

• Issues and questions related to the Windows taskbar.
• How to toggle the autohide feature for the Windows taskbar.
• Windows taskbar tips.

Live taskbar previews , Operating system terms , Quick Launch , Shelf , Task

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• 5 contributors

This design guide was created for Windows 7 and has not been updated for newer versions of Windows. Much of the guidance still applies in principle, but the presentation and examples do not reflect our current design guidance .

The taskbar is the access point for programs displayed on the desktop. With the new Windows 7 taskbar features, users can give commands, access resources, and view program status directly from the taskbar.

The taskbar is the access point for programs displayed on the desktop, even if the program is minimized. Such programs are said to have desktop presence. With the taskbar, users can view the open primary windows and certain secondary windows on the desktop, and can quickly switch between them.

The Microsoft Windows taskbar.

The controls on the taskbar are referred to as taskbar buttons. When a program creates a primary window (or a secondary window with certain characteristics), Windows adds a taskbar button for that window and removes it when that window closes.

Programs designed for Windows 7 can take advantage of these new taskbar button features:

• Jump Lists provide quick access to frequently used destinations (like files, folders, and links) and commands through a context menu accessible from the program's taskbar button and Start menu item even if the program isn't currently running.
• Thumbnail toolbars provide quick access to frequently used commands for a particular window. Thumbnail toolbars appear in the taskbar button's thumbnail.
• Overlay icons show change of status on the program's taskbar button icon.
• Progress bars show progress for long-running tasks on the program's taskbar button.
• Sub-window taskbar buttons allow users to use taskbar button thumbnails to switch directly to window tabs, project windows, multiple-document interface (MDI) child windows, and secondary windows.
• Pinned taskbar buttons allow users to pin program buttons to the taskbar to provide quick access to programs even when they aren't running.

Technically, the taskbar spans the entire bar from the Start button to the notification area; more commonly, however, the taskbar refers only to the area containing the taskbar buttons. For multiple monitor configurations, only one monitor has a taskbar, and that monitor is the default monitor.

Note: Guidelines related to desktop , notification area , and window management are presented in separate articles.

Is this the right user interface?

Programs designed for Windows 7 can take advantage of these taskbar button features. Ask yourself the following key questions to determine whether or not to use them:

Do users often need to start new tasks using your program? If so, consider providing a Jump List. While Jump Lists can be used for other purposes, most scenarios involve starting a new task.

Do users often need to access recently or frequently used files, folders, links, or other resources? If so, consider providing a Jump List to access these useful resources.

In this example, Windows Internet Explorer uses a Jump List to present frequently visited pages.

Do users often need quick access to a small number of your program's commands while using other programs, even if your program isn't running? If so, consider providing a Jump List with these frequently used commands. These commands must work even if your program isn't running, and must apply to the entire program, not a specific window. As an alternative, consider providing a thumbnail toolbar for commands that apply to a specific window.

In this example, the Sticky Notes accessory allows users to create a new note quickly while using other programs.

Are you promoting new, single use, or hard to find features? If so, don't use Jump Lists because they aren't intended for this purpose. Instead, improve the discoverability of such commands directly in the program.

Thumbnail toolbars

Do all of the following conditions apply?

Do the commands apply to a specific window? Thumbnail toolbars are for commands that apply to existing tasks, whereas Jump List commands are for starting new tasks.

Do users need to interact with a running task quickly while using other programs? If so, thumbnail toolbars are a good choice. Thumbnail toolbars can present a maximum of seven commands, but a maximum of five commands is generally preferred.

Are the commands immediate? That is, do they not require additional input? Thumbnail toolbars need to have immediate commands to be efficient, whereas Jump Lists work better with commands that require additional input.

Commands that require additional input don't work well on thumbnail toolbars.

Are the commands direct? That is, can users interact with them using a single click? Toolbars need to have direct commands to be efficient.

Are the commands well represented by icons? Thumbnail toolbar commands are presented using icons not text labels, whereas Jump List commands are represented by text labels.

In this example, the command isn't well represented by icons.

Overlay icons

• Does the program have "desktop presence"? If not, use a notification area icon instead. If so, consider using an overlay icon instead of putting status on the notification area icon for programs designed for Windows 7. Doing so ensures that the icon will always be visible (when large icons are used), and consolidates the program with its status in one place.

Is the status useful and relevant while using other programs? If not, display the information in the program's status bars or other program status area.

In this example, the status bar is used because the status isn't useful when using other programs.

Is the status showing progress? If so, use a taskbar button progress bar instead.

Is the status critical? Is immediate action required? If so, display the information in a way that demands attention and cannot be easily ignored, such as a dialog box .

Progress bars

Is the progress feedback useful and relevant while using other programs? That is, are users likely to monitor the progress while using other programs, and change their behavior as a result? Such useful and relevant status is usually displayed using a modeless progress dialog box or a dedicated progress page, but not with a busy pointer, activity indicator, or progress bar on a status bar. If the status isn't useful when using other programs, just display the progress feedback directly in the program itself.

In the incorrect example, the taskbar button progress bar isn't very useful.

Is the task continuous? If the task never completes, there's no need to show its progress. Examples of continuous tasks include antivirus scans that aren't initiated by users, and file indexing.

In this example, a continuous task doesn't need to show progress.

Sub-window taskbars

• Does your program contain tabs, project windows, MDI child windows, or secondary windows that users would often want to switch to directly? If so, giving these windows their own taskbar button thumbnails may be appropriate.

Design concepts

Using jump lists and thumbnail toolbars effectively.

Jump Lists and thumbnail toolbars help users access resources and perform commands more efficiently. However, when designing how your program supports these features, don't take improved efficiency for granted. If users can't accurately predict which feature has the command they need, or they have to check multiple places, eventually users will become frustrated and stop using these features.

Jump Lists and thumbnail toolbars work together most effectively when they are:

• Clearly differentiated. Users know when to look for a destination or command in a Jump List, and when to look in a thumbnail toolbar. There is a clear purpose for each, so users rarely confuse the contents of the two. Generally, Jump Lists are used to start new tasks, whereas thumbnail toolbars are used to interact with running tasks while using other programs.
• Useful. The destinations and commands offered are the ones that users need. If users aren't likely to need something, it isn't included. Don't use the maximum number of items if they aren't needed.
• Predictable. The destinations and commands offered are the ones that users expect to find. Users rarely have to look in more than one place.
• Well organized. Users are able to find what they are looking for quickly. They use descriptive yet concise labels, and suitable icons to aid recognition.

Be sure to do user research to make sure you've got it right. If you ultimately find that you can't design Jump Lists and thumbnail toolbars together that achieve these goals, consider providing only one of them. It's better to have one predictable way to give commands than two confusing ones.

Taskbar buttons

Make the following window types appear on the taskbar (for Windows 7, by using a taskbar button thumbnail):

• Primary windows (which includes dialog boxes without owners)
• Property sheets
• Modeless progress dialog boxes

For Windows 7, use taskbar button thumbnails to group the following window types with the primary window taskbar button it was launched from. Each program (specifically, each program perceived as a separate program) should have a single taskbar button.

• Secondary windows
• Workspace tabs
• Project windows
• MDI child windows

In this example, a secondary window is grouped with its primary window's taskbar button.

In this example, Control Panel is incorrectly grouped with Windows Explorer. Users perceive these as separate programs.

In this example, Windows Backup incorrectly uses two taskbar buttons for a single program.

Restoring a primary window should also restore all its secondary windows, even if those secondary windows have their own taskbar buttons. When restoring, place secondary windows on top of the primary window.

For Windows 7, programs that normally have desktop presence may temporarily display a taskbar button to show status. Do so only if your program is normally displayed on the desktop and users frequently interact with it. A program that normally runs without desktop presence should use its notification area icon instead, even though it might not always be visible.

In this example, Windows Sync Center incorrectly uses a temporary taskbar button to display status. It should use its notification area icon instead.

Design your program icon to look great on the taskbar. Ensure it is meaningful, and reflects its function and your brand. Make it distinct, make it special, and ensure it renders well in all icon sizes. Spend the time necessary to get it right. Follow the Aero-style icon guidelines .

If your program uses overlay icons, design your program's base icon to handle overlays well. Overlay icons are displayed in the lower right corner, so design the icon so that area can be obscured.

In this example, the program's taskbar button icon doesn't have important information in the lower right area.

Don't use overlays in your program's base icon, whether your program uses overlay icons or not. Using an overlay in the base icon will be confusing because users will have to figure out that it's not communicating status.

In this example, the program's base icon looks like it is showing status.

For general icon guidelines and examples, see Icons .

Use overlay icons to indicate useful and relevant status only. Consider the display of an overlay icon to be a potential interruption of the user's work, so the status change must be important enough to merit a potential interruption.

In these examples, the overlay icon isn't important enough to merit a potential interruption.

Use overlay icons for temporary status. The overlay icons lose their value if displayed constantly, so normal program status should not show an icon. Remove the overlay icon when the icon:

• Is for a problem: Remove the icon once the problem has been resolved.
• Alerts that something is new: Remove the icon once the user has activated the program.

Exception: Your program can constantly display an overlay icon if users always need to know its status.

In this example, Windows Live Messenger always displays an overlay icon so that users can always check their reported presence.

Don't display an icon to indicate that a problem has been solved. Instead, simply remove any previous icon indicating a problem. Assume that users normally expect your program to run without problems.

Display either overlay icons or notification area icons, but never both. Your program may support both mechanisms for backward compatibility, but if your program displays status using overlay icons, it shouldn't also use notification area icons for status.

In this example, the new mail icon is displayed redundantly.

Don't flash the taskbar button to draw attention to a status change. Doing so would be too distracting. Let users discover overlay icons on their own.

Prefer standard overlay icons to indicate status or status changes. Use these standard overlay icons:

For custom overlay icons, choose an easily recognizable design. Use high-quality 16x16 pixel, full color icons. Prefer icons with distinctive outlines over square or rectangular shaped icons. Apply the other Aero-style icon guidelines as well.

Keep the design of custom overlay icons simple. Don't try to communicate complex, unfamiliar, or abstract ideas. If you can't think of a suitable custom icon, use a standard icon error or warning icon instead when appropriate. These icons can be used effectively to communicate many types of status.

Don't change status too frequently. Overlay icons shouldn't appear noisy, unstable, or demand attention. The eye is sensitive to changes in the peripheral field of vision, so status changes need to be subtle.

Don't change the icon rapidly. If underlying status is changing rapidly, have the icon reflect high-level status.

In this example, the rapidly changing overlay icon demands attention.

Don't use animations. Doing so is too distracting.

Don't flash the icon. Doing so is too distracting. If an event requires immediate attention, use a dialog box instead. If the event otherwise needs attention, use a notification.

Taskbar button flashing

• Use taskbar button flashing sparingly to demand the user's immediate attention to keep an ongoing task running. It's hard for users to concentrate while a taskbar button is flashing, so assume that they will interrupt what they are doing to make it stop. While flashing a taskbar button is better than stealing input focus, flashing taskbar buttons are still very intrusive. Make sure the interruption is justified, such as to indicate that the user needs to save data before closing a window. Inactive programs should rarely require immediate action. Don't flash the taskbar button if the only thing the user has to do is activate the program, read a message, or see a change in status.
• Use an action success notification to indicate that a task has completed.
• Do nothing. Just wait for users to attend to the issue the next time they activate the program. This is often the best choice.
• If an inactive program requires immediate attention, flash its taskbar button to draw attention and leave it highlighted. Don't do anything else: don't restore or activate the window and don't play any sound effects. Instead, respect the user's window state selection and let the user activate the window when ready.
• For secondary windows that have a taskbar button, flash its button instead of the primary window's taskbar button. Doing so allows users to attend to the window directly.
• For secondary windows that don't have a taskbar button, flash the primary window's taskbar button and bring the secondary window on top of all the other windows for that program. Secondary windows that require attention must be topmost to ensure that users see them.
• Flash only one taskbar button for one window at a time. Flashing more than one button is unnecessary and too distracting.
• Remove the taskbar button highlight once the program becomes active.
• When the program becomes active, make sure there is something obvious to do. Typically, this objective is accomplished by displaying a dialog box that asks a question or initiates an action.

Quick Launch shortcuts

• Put program shortcuts in the Quick Launch area only if users opt in. Because Quick Launch was removed from Windows 7, programs designed for Windows 7 shouldn't add program shortcuts to the Quick Launch area or provide options to do so.

Design Jump Lists to satisfy your users' goals for their everyday tasks. Consider:

Your program's purpose. Think about what users are most likely to do next. For document creation programs, users are likely to return to recently used documents. For programs that show existing content, users may want access to resources they use frequently. For other programs, users might be likely to do tasks they haven't done before, such as read new messages, watch new videos, or check their next meeting.

What users care about most. Think about why users would use the Jump List instead of other means. For example, users are more likely to care about destinations they explicitly identified as important (such as Web addresses users placed on their links bar or in Favorites, or typed in). They are less likely to care about those obtained indirectly or with little effort (such as Web addresses visited through redirection or by clicking links).

In the incorrect example, the Jump List contains many destinations that users aren't likely to care about.

Don't make destinations too granular. Making destinations too narrow and specific can result in redundancy, with several ways to go to the same place. For example, instead of listing individual Web pages, list top-level home pages instead; instead of listing songs, list albums.

In the incorrect example, listing songs in a Jump List will fill it with a single album.

Don't fill all the available Jump List slots if you don't need to. Focus Jump List content on the most useful items if your program has only three useful items, provide only three. The more items in a Jump List, the more effort required to find any specific item.

In this example, the Sticky Notes accessory provides a single Jump List command, because that's all that is needed.

Provide tooltips only when needed to help users understand Jump List items. Avoid redundant tooltips because they are an unnecessary distraction. For more tooltip guidelines, see Tooltips and Infotips .

In this example, the Jump List tooltip is redundant.

Jump List features vs. program features

• Don't make destinations and commands available only through Jump Lists. The same destinations and commands should be available directly from the program itself.
• Use consistent names for destinations and labels for commands. Jump List items should be labeled the same as the equivalent items accessed directly from the program.
• Enable your program to handle destinations and commands even when the program isn't running. Doing so is necessary for a consistent, dependable, and convenient experience.

Provide at least one and at most three groups. Jump List items are always grouped to label their purpose. Having more than three groups makes items harder to find.

Use standard group names when appropriate. Standard group names are familiar and easier for users to understand.

Commands are given the Tasks group name, which is assigned by Windows and therefore can't be changed.

Recent is the better group name because it is familiar, and the subtle distinction between history and recent isn't worth making.

Provide a fixed set of commands regardless of program running state, current document, or current user. The commands should apply to the entire program, not to a specific window or document. Doing so is necessary for a consistent, dependable, and convenient experience. Commands shouldn't be removed or disabled.

Exceptions: You may substitute or remove commands when:

• A set of mutually exclusive commands share a single command slot, as long as one command always applies.
• Commands don't apply until specific features have been used, as long as the commands otherwise always apply.

In this example, Print isn't a good Jump List command because it depends on the current document.

In this example, Sign in and Sign out are mutually exclusive commands. Also, separators are used to group related commands.

Use the following standard command labels when appropriate. Standard command labels are easier for users to understand.

Present the commands in a logical order. Common orders include by frequency of use or order of use. Place highly related commands next to each other. Within the Tasks group, put separators between groups of related commands as needed.

Don't provide commands for opening or closing the program. These commands are built into all Jump Lists.

Command icons

Within the Tasks group, provide a command icon only when it helps users understand, recognize, or differentiate commands, especially when there is an established icon for the command used within the program.

• Exception: If your program uses both destinations (which always have icons) and commands, consider providing icons for all commands if not doing so would look awkward.

In this example, Internet Explorer should provide icons for all commands to avoid an awkward appearance.

Destinations

Provide a dynamic set of destinations that are specific to the current user, but independent of the program running state or current document. As mentioned previously, make sure they fit your program's purpose, are what users care about the most, and have the right level of specificity.

When suitable, use an "automatic" destination list. Automatic destinations are managed by Windows, but your program controls the specific destinations that are passed on.

Consider using Recent for document creation programs where users are likely to return to recently used destinations.

In this example, Windows Notepad uses Recent destinations.

Consider using Frequent for programs that show existing content, where users are likely to return to items that they use often. Frequent destinations are sorted in order of frequency, most frequent first.

In this example, Windows Explorer uses Frequent destinations.

Use Frequent if Recent would result in many useless destinations. Frequent lists are more stable, and the better choice when users go to many different destinations, but aren't likely to return to rarely used ones.

Using Recent in Windows Internet Explorer would result in many useless destinations.

If Recent or Frequent are equally suitable choices, use Recent because that approach is easier for users to understand and is more predictable.

If using Recent, and the program has an equivalent in the File menu, make the lists have the same contents in the same order. To users, these should appear to be the same lists.

When necessary, use a custom destination list. Your program has complete control over a custom destination list's contents and sort order, and therefore can base the list on any factors.

Create custom versions of Recent or Frequent if those are suitable, but the automatic management doesn't work well for your program. For example, your program may need to track a variety of factors beyond open file commands. In this case, use the same name (Recent or Frequent) and sort order because users won't be aware of the difference.

Otherwise, use a different type of destination to better satisfy your user's goals. Often, these lists help users perform tasks that they haven't done before, such as read new messages, watch new videos, or check their next meeting.

In this example, Windows Media Center lists the recently recorded shows that the user hasn't seen yet.

Choose a sort order that corresponds to the user's mental model of the list. For example, a to-do style list would have the next thing to do listed first. If there is no clear mental model, sort the destination list in alphabetical order.

Don't use multiple destination lists that give different views of the same data. Rather, multiple destination lists should have mostly different data to support difference scenarios. For example, you can provide a Recent list or a Frequent list, but not both. Doing so is wasteful if overlapping items are present, but confusing if overlapping items are removed.

In this example, providing different views of the same destinations is wasteful.

In this example, the destination lists have different data for different tasks.

If your program has a command to clear data for privacy, clear the Destinations lists as well. Destination lists may contain sensitive data.

Interaction

Provide up to seven of the most important, frequently used commands that apply to the window shown in the thumbnail. Don't feel obligated to provide as many commands as you can if your program has only three important, frequently used commands, provide only three.

In this example, the thumbnail toolbar has commands that aren't important.

Use commands that are direct and immediate. These commands should have an immediate effect clicking the command should not display a drop-down menu or dialog box for more input.

Thumbnail toolbar commands must have an immediate effect.

Disable commands that don't apply to the current context, or that would directly result in an error. Don't hide such commands because doing so makes the toolbar presentation unstable.

Don't dismiss the thumbnail when users click a command if they are likely to review the results or immediately click another command. Remove the thumbnail for commands that indicate that the user is finished for now, such as with commands that display other windows.

In this example, clicking Next in Windows Media Player continues to display the thumbnail because users might want to give other commands.

In this example, clicking Chat in Windows Live Messenger dismisses the thumbnail because users are most likely to send a message.

Presentation

• Make sure thumbnail toolbar icons conform to the Aero-style icon guidelines. For each command, provide high-quality 16x16, 20x20, and 24x24 pixel, full color icons. The larger versions are used in high-dpi display modes.
• Make sure the icons are clearly visible against the toolbar background color in both normal and hover states. Always evaluate icons in context and in the high-contrast modes.
• Choose command icon designs that clearly communicate their effect. Well-designed command icons are self-explanatory to help users find and understand commands efficiently.
• Choose icons that are recognizable and distinguishable. Make sure the icons have distinctive shapes and colors. Doing so helps users find the commands quickly, even if they don't remember the icon symbol. After initial use, users shouldn't have to rely on tooltips to distinguish between the commands.
• Provide a tooltip to label each command. A good tooltip labels the unlabeled control being pointed to. For guidelines and examples, see Tooltips and Infotips .
• Follow the general progress bar guidelines, including not restarting or backing up progress, and using a red progress bar to indicate a problem.
• Avoid using indeterminate progress bars. Indeterminate progress bars show activity, not progress. Reserve indeterminate progress bars for those rare situations where users don't take activity for granted.

For more guidelines, see Progress Bars .

Window titles

When choosing window titles, consider the title's appearance on the taskbar:

Optimize titles for display on the taskbar by concisely placing the distinguishing information first.

For modeless progress dialog boxes, first summarize the progress. Example: "66% Complete."

Avoid window titles that have awkward truncations.

In this example, the truncated window title has unfortunate results.

Jump List commands

• Start commands with a verb.
• Use sentence-style capitalization.

For more command label guidelines, see Menus .

Documentation

When referring to the taskbar:

• Refer to the entire bar as the taskbar (a single compound word in lowercase).
• Refer to items on the taskbar specifically by their label, or generally as taskbar buttons.
• When possible, format the taskbar labels using bold text. Otherwise, put the label in quotation marks only if required to prevent confusion.
• Refer to overlay icons as taskbar button icons. Don't refer to them as notifications, even if their purpose is to notify users. However, you can say that these icons notify users of specific events.

Example: The New Mail taskbar button icon notifies you that a new e-mail message has arrived.

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What is a taskbar.

The taskbar is an important part of the Windows operating system and is used to give users quick access to all of their essential programs, applications, settings, and notifications. It can be found in the bottom left corner of the screen or in the top right corner depending on what version of Windows you are running.

The taskbar consists of several components: a clock, system tray icons, pinned programs, and a start button. The clock allows users to keep an eye on the time without taking up too much space; system tray icons allow users to control key features such as volume levels or network connections; pinned programs enable quick access to frequently used apps; and the start button provides users with easy access to all installed programs.

In addition to these basic components, Windows also includes a task view feature that enables you to view multiple virtual desktops at once. This allows them to group windows together by project or application so they can easily switch between them without having to minimize each window individually. The taskbar is not only an integral component for navigating windows, but it also serves as a hub for your computer’s applications, settings, and notifications. With its simple design and intuitive layout, it helps make accessing your Windows machine much easier than ever before.

Where are my taskbar shortcuts stored?

Taskbar shortcuts in Windows are stored within two locations: the Start Menu folder and the Taskbar folder. The Start Menu folder is where all program shortcuts are stored, including those that appear on the taskbar. It can be found under C:\Users[username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu. The Taskbar folder stores all taskbar-specific settings and can be found under C:\Users[username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch.

This folder will contain any items added to the taskbar, such as programs that are pinned there or special shortcuts created right from the taskbar itself. Taskbar shortcuts can be useful for quickly accessing programs, documents, and other features without having to search through multiple folders or windows. To create a new shortcut on your taskbar, simply right-click an item in the Start menu and select "Pin to Taskbar". The shortcut will then appear on your taskbar with a small icon representing it. Changing which items appear on your taskbar is just as simple—just click and drag a program's shortcut onto or off of the taskbar to add or remove it accordingly. This makes it easy to customize the look of your desktop by adding only those apps and services you use most often so they're always in easy reach when working on your computer.

Where are my taskbar pinned items stored?

Your taskbar shortcuts in Windows are stored within two locations: the Start Menu folder and the Taskbar folder. The Start Menu folder is where all program shortcuts are stored, including those that appear on the taskbar. It can be found under C:\Users[username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu. The Taskbar folder stores all taskbar-specific settings and can be found under C:\Users[username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch.

This folder will contain any items added to the taskbar, such as programs that are pinned there or special shortcuts created right from the taskbar itself. Taskbar shortcuts can provide quick access to common tasks without having to go through a menu or multiple folders. These shortcuts come in various forms, including pinned apps and documents, opened windows, and other shortcuts from Windows' built-in programs like File Explorer and Control Panel. To pin an item to your taskbar, just right-click it in the Start menu and select "Pin to Taskbar". Once an item is pinned, you'll have instant access to it whenever you need it—no more rummaging through folders or windows for what you need! Plus, if you ever want to rearrange your taskbar icons or remove something from them, all you have to do is click and drag the item off of the bar (or onto it) accordingly.

What are taskbar settings?

Taskbar settings are the various options for customizing the appearance and behavior of your taskbar in Windows. They can be found in Settings, under Personalization. The taskbar can be set up to show either live tiles, pinned apps, documents, or a combination of both. You also have control over which icons appear on the taskbar and their order. Additionally, you can choose whether each item opens in a new window when clicked or whether all windows are grouped together into one larger window, which is great for when you're working with multiple items at once. You can also adjust the look and feel of your taskbar by changing its position, size, color theme, transparency levels, and more. Furthermore, there are several advanced options such as setting up taskbar jump lists or disabling features such as dragging and dropping files onto the taskbar. Once you've adjusted these settings as desired to make your taskbar work best for you, it's just a matter of clicking Apply to save your changes so they take effect right away!

What are taskbar buttons?

Taskbar buttons are the small icons on your Windows taskbar that represent the apps and documents you have pinned there. You can click or tap one of these buttons to open its associated program or file, or hover over it for a moment to see what it is. As well as showing an icon for each item, the taskbar also gives you an indication of how many windows that program has open by displaying multiple versions of its icon. For example, if you have three Chrome windows open, you’ll see three Chrome buttons in your taskbar.

These buttons are just shortcuts to whichever items are currently pinned to your taskbar: they don't actually contain any data themselves so when programs get removed from the taskbar their associated button will go away too. But don't worry—you can always add programs back onto the taskbar with a few clicks! If you ever want to rearrange or remove items from the taskbar, all you have to do is click and drag them around until they're arranged how you'd like them. That way, you'll always be able to access the items and programs most important to you in an instant!

How does the taskbar work?

The taskbar works by presenting all active programs as individual icons which can be clicked in order to access them quickly. This can save time compared to searching for an app or document manually through folders - especially if you’re multitasking between multiple programs simultaneously! Notifications also appear here giving quick access to emails, messages, etc.

Why do I need a taskbar?

Having a taskbar makes it much easier to navigate between different windows or applications quickly without having to search through endless folders. It also allows you to check notifications such as new emails and messages without having to leave whatever you’re doing which again saves lots of time! As such, it should be seen as an invaluable part of most operating systems nowadays!

What are the different elements of my taskbar?

The main component of your taskbar should consist of the Start button; a tray with shortcuts such as volume/Wi-Fi controls; an area displaying open windows (or minimized apps); and finally, a notification area that houses system-related info such as date/time and current battery status!

How do I customize my taskbar?

Customizing your taskbar will depend slightly on what operating system you have installed; however, there are some universal settings that can be changed regardless such as whether pinned items should reside there or whether notifications should appear on one side instead of another. You can also choose to hide certain options entirely like the clock or specific buttons within the notification area depending on personal preference!

This glossary is provided for reference purposes only. It serves as a helpful resource to understand commonly used terms and concepts. However, if you require specific support or assistance regarding our products, we encourage you to visit our dedicated support site . Our support team is ready to help address any questions or concerns you may have.

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The Windows TaskBar

The Taskbar usually consists of 4 distinct parts:

• The Start Button--Opens the menu.
• The Quick Launch bar--contains shortcuts to commonly used applications. Use this to avoid cluttering up your desktop with application shortcuts. If you don't use it, you can remove it (see #2 below).
• The main Taskbar--displays icons for all open applications and files.
• The System Tray--contains the clock and icons for some of the programs running in the background.

We'll look at each of these in turn.

• While the Start menu isn't technically part of the Taskbar, you can control it from there. Right click on an empty area of the main Taskbar section, and a menu will pop up. Click on Properties, and you will see a tab for the Start Menu. Check this out to see all the ways you can customize the Start menu. One other thing you can do to make Programs easier to find in the Start menu is to open the "All Programs" menu. Right click on any item in the list. A menu will pop up. Click "Sort by Name" to alphabetize. Notice you can also delete menu items if you don't use them.
• Resize the Quick Launch area by clicking and dragging the divider line after the small icons. If there is a double >> symbol, that means there are more icons on the menu. Click on this to display them. To make the Quick Launch bar more useful, delete icons for applications you don't use. You can also rearrange icons by clicking and dragging them to new locations.
• To customize the Taskbar, right click on any blank space. Choose "Properties" from the popup menu to Autohide the Taskbar among other features. You can even remove the clock. Check this out.
• The popup menu also contains "Toolbars" that you can add to the Taskbar. If you keep a lot of documents and files on your desktop, click on the Desktop Toolbar item to add it. Now, when you have multiple pages opened, you don't have to close them all to access something on your desktop.
• You can resize each toolbar by clicking and dragging on the vertical gray bar that separates them. You can even drag a toolbar onto a second row and make the toolbar taller.
• Finally, you can move the Taskbar to any edge of your screen. Try it out by clicking and dragging it to a position along the top, right or left edge of the screen.
• The most important thing you can do with the System Tray is to determine whether all of the applications represented by the icons really need to be starting up and running all the time. Each icon represents a little program that is taking memory to remain active. If your computer is starting up or running slowly, see if you can shut some of these down. Common ones that are not needed are quick launches for Acrobat Reader, music, or chat programs, like Yahoo! or MSN Messenger. If you don't use them often, remove them.

This is just a quick tour of some of the most helpful features you can customize on the Windows Taskbar. If you want to explore more, or need clarification of any of these instructions, contact the Help Desk for assistance. 

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