Windows 11’s taskbar is designed with centered icons to match modern aesthetics and trends. However, the icon size may not suit every user’s preferences or screen resolutions.
In this article, we’ll explain the different ways to change the taskbar icon size in Windows 11 and provide beneficial information to help you better manage icon sizes. After all, adjusting the taskbar icon size enhances usability and visual comfort.
Methods for changing the taskbar icon size in Windows 11
There are several ways to change the taskbar icon size in Windows 11, ranging from simple GUI-based approaches to more advanced scripting techniques. Below are methods that best suit individual users and enterprise-level deployments.
Use the table below to choose the method that aligns with your skills and deployment strategy.
📌 Prerequisites:
- Windows 11
📌 Recommended deployment strategies:
| Click to Choose a Method | 💻 Best for Individual Users | 💻💻💻 Best for Enterprises |
| Method 1: Configure in Settings | ✓ | |
| Method 2: Using Registry Editor | ✓ | |
| Method 3: With Command Prompt | ✓ | |
| Method 4: Via PowerShell | ✓ | |
| Method 5: Merging a REG file | ✓ | ✓ |
Method 1: Configure in Settings
The most straightforward method is to configure the taskbar icon size in Settings. You only need a few clicks to set up your preferred size.
📌 Use Case: Individual users looking to resize the taskbar icons on their devices
- Press Windows key + I.
- Click Personalization, then Taskbar.
- Press Taskbar behaviors.
- Click the drop-down next to Show smaller taskbar buttons and choose between Always, Never, or When taskbar is full.
💡 Tip: You can also change the icon alignment by pressing the drop-down menu next to “Taskbar alignment.”
Method 2: Using the Registry Editor
Configuring the taskbar icon size using the Registry Editor is more advanced and customizable than the Settings navigation. It’s useful for users who want precise control or need to apply changes that are unavailable in the standard Settings UI.
📌 Use Case: IT administrators who need to modify taskbar icon size with more flexibility or apply changes across multiple profiles
📌 Prerequisite: Administrator privileges
- Press Windows key + R, type regedit, then press Enter.
- Navigate to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
- Check if there’s an IconSizePreference DWORD file. If there is, proceed to step five. If there isn’t, create one by following step four.
- Right-click on the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it TaskbarSi.
- Double-click the DWORD file and set its value to:
- 0 = small icons
- 1 = medium icons (default)
- 2 = large icons
- Press OK.
- Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
⚠️ Warning: Modifying the registry can have unintended consequences. Proceed with caution and back up the registry beforehand. (For more info, check out: Things to look out for)
💡 Tip: You can copy and paste then enter the path into the address bar instead of manually clicking the folders.
Method 3: With Command Prompt
You can also automate the taskbar icon size change using Command Prompt. This method is best if you want to apply changes across different endpoints or for including in deployment scripts.
📌 Use Case: IT administrators looking to automate and deploy taskbar settings
📌 Prerequisite: Administrator privileges
- Press the Windows key, type cmd, then click Run as administrator.
- Copy and paste the following command into the prompt, then press Enter (replace <value> with 0 for small, 1 for medium, or 2 for large icons):
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v TaskbarSi /t REG_DWORD /d <value> /f
- Restart the computer or Windows Explorer.
Method 4: Via PowerShell
PowerShell allows you to change the taskbar icon size by modifying the registry with a single command. This is useful in automation scenarios, such as Group Policy scripts.
📌 Use Case: IT administrators who need a scriptable way to customize the taskbar across individual or multiple user environments
📌 Prerequisite: Administrator privileges
- Press the Windows key, type PowerShell, then click Run as administrator.
- Copy and paste the following command into the prompt, then press Enter (replace <value> with 0 for small, 1 for medium, or 2 for large icons):
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" -Name TaskbarSi -Value <value>
- Restart the computer or Windows Explorer.
⚠️ Warning: Test the script on a separate device before deploying it to multiple endpoints. Scripting errors could lead to system-wide issues. (For more info, refer to: Things to look out for)
Method 5: Merging a REG file
Creating and merging a REG file lets administrators distribute taskbar icon size changes across different devices without using command-line tools. This method is practical for both individual users and IT administrators.
📌 Use Cases: Individual users looking to create a DIY toggle to change the settings on a whim or IT administrators looking to deploy uniformity across multiple devices
- Press the Windows key, type Notepad, then press Enter.
- Copy and paste the following (separate files) and save them as the written filename:
- Always “Show smaller taskbar buttons”
- Filename: Always_show_smaller_taskbar_buttons.reg
- Always “Show smaller taskbar buttons”
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"IconSizePreference"=dword:00000000
- Never “Show smaller taskbar buttons”
- Filename: Never_show_smaller_taskbar_buttons.reg
- Never “Show smaller taskbar buttons”
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"IconSizePreference"=dword:00000001
- Only “Show smaller taskbar buttons” when taskbar is full
- Filename: Show_smaller_taskbar_buttons_When_taskbar_is_full.reg
- Only “Show smaller taskbar buttons” when taskbar is full
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"IconSizePreference"=dword:00000002
- Double-click the REG file to merge it.
- Click Run, Yes, and/or OK to approve the merge.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure you use the designated filename to save the text as a REG file. (For details, refer to: Things to look out for)
⚠️ Things to look out for
| Risks | Potential Consequences | Reversals |
| Incorrect registry key/value | Taskbar icons remain unchanged, or the system becomes unstable | Back up the registry before applying changes, and double-check the registry path and value before editing and deploying. |
| Incorrect REG file name | No effect or error upon merge | Ensure you save files with .reg extensions and test them in a sandboxed or virtual environment. |
| Syntax errors | PowerShell or Command Prompt commands fail | Validate commands before execution. |
Additional notes on taskbar size customization
It is crucial to understand how changing the taskbar icon size can affect the overall interface and its limitations. The following information could prove useful when resizing the taskbar icon size.
Visual impact
Changing the taskbar icon size also affects the taskbar height, which could impact the amount of vertical screen space available.
- Small icons: The taskbar becomes slimmer along with the icons.
- Medium icons: Default look and size, giving a more balanced visual
- Large icons: Makes the taskbar more prominent, consuming more screen space than usual
Limitations on newer Windows 11 builds
Some users have reported that the TaskbarSi registry setting doesn’t work as expected in newer Windows 11 builds. As a result, changing the registry setting might not resize the icons, or they revert to the default setting after a reboot. This means registry-based methods may not be reliable on newer Windows 11 builds.
Third-party tools
If Windows settings and registry edits aren’t working, consider using third-party tools like ExplorerPatcher and Windhawk. While powerful, these tools aren’t supported by Microsoft, so it’s better to test them on sandbox devices before deployment.
Troubleshooting common problems
If changing the taskbar icon sizes doesn’t produce the expected results, the following issues could be the cause. Below are common problems and ways to resolve them.
Changes not taking effect
If you edited the registry, verify that you created a DWORD file. Also, ensure that the value is set to 0, 1, or 2. If those two are verified, restart your computer or Windows Explorer instead.
Group Policy not applying
Devices in an enterprise environment could have Group Policy settings that interfere with or override taskbar customization. To combat this, run a gpupdate /force in Command Prompt to force a policy update. Restart the system to verify if the policy is implemented.
💡Tip: Check the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) to verify if taskbar or personalization policies are enforced.
Enhance user experience by adjusting taskbar icon size
Utilize the methods above to adjust the taskbar icon size in Windows 11 for a better user experience and to accommodate display preferences. The methods are relatively easy, as administrators and individual users can customize the taskbar to suit their needs.
Command-line tools like PowerShell and Command Prompt give scriptable options for system management, while registry and Group Policy methods provide more control suited for enterprise environments.
Related article:
- How to Show All Open Windows on the Taskbar for All Desktops in Windows 11
- How to Enable or Disable System Icons on Taskbar in Windows 10
- How to Enable or Disable the Battery Percentage Display on the Taskbar in Windows 11
- How to Pin a File, Folder, App or Website to the Taskbar in Windows
- How to Enable or Disable Widgets Feature in Windows 11
