Windows 11 introduced many changes and improvements to Microsoft’s operating system. It brought a fresh, modern design that feels more visually appealing and added several features users had been eagerly awaiting.
However, with these updates, Windows 11 also removed certain features present in Windows 10. One of the most frustrating changes for users was the inability to adjust the taskbar icons’ size. The icons were set to large by default, with no resizing option.
Some tech-savvy users later discovered a workaround by modifying the system registry to reduce the taskbar size. However, this solution wasn’t ideal and often led to issues with the appearance. Thankfully, a well-known leaker has hinted that Microsoft may be working on bringing back the ability to resize taskbar icons natively.
Microsoft would be working on adding the possibility of making the taskbar smaller.
One of the standout features of Windows has always been its high level of customization, allowing users to change wallpapers, apply themes, and tweak the interface in many ways. However, when Microsoft removed the option to resize the taskbar in Windows 11, many users were disappointed.
Now, a few years after the release of Windows 11, it seems Microsoft may be reconsidering this decision. According to information shared by the leaker @PhantomOfEarth on X (formerly Twitter), the ability to resize the taskbar could be made available in future updates.
Windows 11 will be getting the option to show smaller taskbar buttons! Currently, only taskbar buttons themselves are made smaller – the taskbar itself can’t be made smaller, this is still early though. (disabled by default, Beta 22635.4291)
vivetool /enable /id:29785184 pic.twitter.com/ZXmwhLleLF
— phantomofearth 🎃 (@phantomofearth) September 30, 2024
According to Neowin, the leaker @PhantomOfEarth shared on X that they discovered certain feature identifiers in Windows 11 build 22635.4291, hinting at the return of the “Show smaller taskbar icons” option in the Settings menu.
However, the leaker noted that this option isn’t currently functional—activating it doesn’t change the taskbar size. Likely, Microsoft is refining this feature, and users can expect it to work properly in future builds.
How do you try the option to make the taskbar smaller in Windows 11?
As mentioned earlier, the “Show smaller taskbar icons” feature isn’t functional yet in the current build, but if you’re eager to test it out, you can try enabling it yourself. Remember that these experimental features can be unstable or may not work as expected, so proceed at your own risk. Here’s how you can try it:
- Download ViVeTool from its GitHub repository.
- Extract the downloaded files to a folder that’s easy to access.
- Open the **Windows Command Prompt** with administrator permissions.
- Navigate to the folder where you extracted ViVeTool using the `CD` command.
- For example: `CD C:\Vive`
- Enter the following command:
`vivetool /enable /id:29785184,48433719` - Then, press Enter.
- Restart your computer.
Once your system restarts, go to Settings > Personalization, and under Taskbar, you should see the option to “Show smaller taskbar icons.”
Remember, this feature might not work as intended since it’s in development.
