Last Updated on March 29, 2026
If you have switched from Windows 10 to Windows 11, you most likely have noticed the differences in how the operating system works and especially how it looks and how you cannot customize it as much as you could with Windows 10.
One of the biggest complaints about Windows 11 is that you cannot move the taskbar from the bottom of the screen to the side or top of the screen. There are third party tools you can use such as Explorer Patcher that will let you change the way the Windows 11 taskbar looks and functions, but it can be difficult to configure.
**UPDATE**
Microsoft is now natively allowing us to move the Windows 11 taskbar to the left, right and top of the screen.
Installing the Vertical Taskbar Mod
1. Download and Search in Windhawk
The first thing you will need to do is download and install the Windhawk software. Open the application once the installation finishes. Go to the Explore section and do a search for vertical taskbar for Windows 11. Once you find it, click on the Details button.
2. Review the Mod Details
You will then be shown information about the mod as well as its compatibility. Read the system requirements carefully to ensure your build is supported. Then all you need to do is click on the blue Install button.
3. Accept the Installation Risk
You will then be warned that you should proceed with care since these mods are not guaranteed to be 100% safe. It will also show you links that you can click on to get more information about the mod author. If you wish to proceed, you can then click on the Accept Risk and Install button.
4. View the New Vertical Layout
Once the mod is installed, your taskbar will automatically be moved to the left side of the screen. You do not need to reboot your computer. The system applies the vertical visual change instantly.
Customizing the Taskbar Width
1. Access the Mod Settings
As of this writing, you can only have your taskbar on the left side of the screen using this specific mod. Supposedly there are plans to update the mod so you can move it to other locations soon. Click the Settings tab inside the mod window to view your configuration options.
2. Change the Taskbar Width Value
You can then go to the Settings section to change the width of the taskbar if desired. The image below shows how the taskbar width looks when changing the Taskbar width from the default 48 to 120. You will need to click on the Save settings button every time you change this value to have it take effect.
3. Revert to the Default Layout
To have the taskbar placed back on the bottom of the screen, you can click on the Disable button. To remove the vertical taskbar for Windows 11 mod from Windhawk entirely, you can click on the Remove button. This restores your original factory layout immediately.
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