Tuesday, July 7, 2026
Windows 11

Hands-on: Windows 11’s new resizable taskbar lands for Insiders

2 min read Editorial

Microsoft has officially unlocked the ability to resize the taskbar in Windows 11, bringing a level of customization that many users have requested since the OS launched. The feature is currently available for testers enrolled in the Windows Insider Program.

How to resize your taskbar

To take advantage of this change, you need to be running one of the latest Insider builds where the toggle has been enabled. Once active, the process is straightforward and mirrors the behavior seen in previous versions of Windows.

  • Right-click on an empty area of your desktop and select Personalization.
  • Navigate to the Taskbar settings menu.
  • Look for the option labeled Resizable taskbar or similar wording depending on your specific build channel.
  • Toggle it on, then drag the edge of the taskbar up or down with your mouse to adjust its height.
Mouse cursor hovering over the edge of a digital taskbar on a monitor, illustrating the drag-to-resize action with subtl
Users can now simply click and drag the taskbar edge to increase or decrease its height in supported Insider builds.

What changes visually?

The most immediate difference is vertical space. By default, the Windows 11 taskbar remains compact to maximize screen real estate for apps and content. However, increasing the height allows icons to scale up proportionally.

Advertisement

This can be particularly useful if you find the standard icon size too small to read quickly or if you prefer a more prominent visual anchor at the bottom of your display. The Start button, system tray icons, and pinned applications all expand together, maintaining their relative spacing.

What this means for you

For everyday users who have felt restricted by the fixed taskbar dimensions in Windows 11, this update offers a welcome degree of personalization. It bridges the gap between the modern aesthetic Microsoft introduced and the functional flexibility many power users rely on.

If you are not currently an Insider, expect this feature to roll out more broadly as it stabilizes through the preview channels. Until then, third-party tools remain the only way to achieve similar results on stable releases, though native support is always safer and cleaner.

Source: Neowin

Over to you: Do you prefer the compact default look of Windows 11, or will you be resizing your taskbar for larger icons?

Advertisement
Share:
Editorial
Written by
Editorial

Windows & Microsoft news editor at 9to5Windows. Covering everything from Windows 11 builds to enterprise updates.

Advertisement