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Move Windows 11 Taskbar (left, center, right) using registry (PowerShell) and Endpoint manager
How to change the Windows 11 Taskbar position to the left, center or right using registry (PowerShell) and Endpoint manager Intune
Can I move the Windows 11 taskbar to the top or vertical?
The short answer is, not very easily.
You can try modifying a binary registry value to change the taskbar alignment to the top or vertical.
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects3
There are also some third party tools to move the Windows 11 taskbar to the top or right. I wouldn't recommend using either of these options.
We'll have to wait until Microsoft adds support for different taskbar positions (other than left, center, right)
Unfortunately, according to this article from Neowin, Microsoft have said that they won't be changing this anytime soon.
Microsoft says changing taskbar location in Windows 11 is not important
https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-says-changing-taskbar-location-in-windows-11-is-not-important
Long story short, Microsoft thinks bringing back the movable taskbar is too much work for too few users. Here is how Tali Roth, Microsoft's Head of Product, explains the situation:
When it comes to something like actually being able to move the taskbar to different locations on the screen, there's a number of challenges with that. When you think about having the taskbar on the right or the left, all of a sudden the reflow and the work that all of the apps have to do to be able to understand the environment is just huge.
https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-says-changing-taskbar-location-in-windows-11-is-not-important
Long story short, Microsoft thinks bringing back the movable taskbar is too much work for too few users. Here is how Tali Roth, Microsoft's Head of Product, explains the situation:
When it comes to something like actually being able to move the taskbar to different locations on the screen, there's a number of challenges with that. When you think about having the taskbar on the right or the left, all of a sudden the reflow and the work that all of the apps have to do to be able to understand the environment is just huge.
Windows 11 taskbar positions (left, center, right)
There are no Endpoint Manager configuration profile settings available to change the Windows 11 taskbar alignment from center to left
The only way to move the taskbar to the left is by adding a registry value under the users logged in profile.
Windows 11 taskbar alignment registry settings
Taskbar alignment registry key and value
HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
Value: TaskbarAl
TaskbarAl registry values
0 is left
1 is center
2 is right
Change Taskbar alignment using PowerShell
Move Windows 11 taskbar to the left using registry (PowerShell)
# win11-taskbar-settings.ps1 New-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" -Name "TaskbarAl" -Value 0 -Force
Create Windows app (Win32) package
Create a Win32 app package that contains the PowerShell script win11-taskbar-settings.ps1
Download Microsoft Win32 Content Prep Tool
Download the Microsoft Win32 Content Prep Tool from GitHub
https://github.com/Microsoft/Microsoft-Win32-Content-Prep-Tool
IntuneWinAppUtil.exe command line options
IntuneWinAppUtil.exe command line options
-c setup folder containing all the files you want to package.
-s application setup file .exe or .msi
-o output file
Create Win32 app package using IntuneWinAppUtil.exe
Run the following command to create a Windows app (Win32) package
The PowerShell script win11-taskbar-settings.ps1 should be in the setup folder
Open Command Prompt (run as Administrator)
cd C:\Temp\Microsoft-Win32-Content-Prep-Tool-master IntuneWinAppUtil.exe -c "C:\Scripts\Windows 11\Windows 11 Taskbar settings" -s "C:\Scripts\Windows 11\Windows 11 Taskbar settings\win11-taskbar-settings.ps1" -o "C:\Scripts\Windows 11\Windows 11 Taskbar settings-Intune"
Create Intune Windows app for deployment
Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin center
Apps - Windows - Add
App type: Windows app (Win32)
App package file
Select app package file: win11-taskbar-settings.intunewin
App information
Name: Windows 11 Taskbar Settings
Description: Windows 11 Taskbar Settings
Publisher: Microsoft
Program
Install command:
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -WindowStyle Hidden -File win11-taskbar-settings.ps1
Uninstall command:
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -WindowStyle Hidden -File win11-taskbar-settings.ps1
Install behaviour: User
Device restart behaviour: No specific action
Requirements
Operating system architecture: 64-bit
Minimum operating system: Windows 10 20H2
Detection rules
Rules format: Manually configure detection rules
Add
Rule type: Registry
Key path: HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
Value name: TaskbarAl
Detection method: Integer comparison
Operator: Equals
Value: 0
Associated with a 32-bit app on 64-bit clients: Yes
Assignments
Add Windows 11 dynamic device group
End user notifications: Hide all toast notifications
Click create
Reference:
by Author
Supported configuration service provider (CSP) policies for Windows 11 taskbar
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/configuration/supported-csp-taskbar-windows
Comments 3
The script worked on Acer Nitro 5! Unfortunately there seems to be no setting to change the taskbar into a vertical position on the laptop like my older computer .
Hi Monique, unfortunately the only settings available for the TaskbarAl registry value are: left, center and right. Vertical alignment isnt an option at the moment.
Okay, will have to wait for an upgrade then!