All options of the Taskbar in a row (Windows 10)

The Taskbar is located at the bottom of the Windows computer screen. Open programs can be found in the Taskbar. So the bar is actually an overview of active programs. It also contains other components such as the Start button, a search bar, shortcuts and icons with information. You can change parts yourself. This way you can organize the Taskbar with components that you use.

Right-click on an empty space in the Taskbar, and a menu will appear. In this article we will discuss which items you will encounter in that menu and what you can do with them.

The top option of the Taskbar menu is ‘Toolbars’. For example, a toolbar adds an address bar, shortcuts, or folders to the Taskbar. How this works is explained in the tip ‘Toolbars on the Taskbar’.

If you find it annoying to click through all kinds of folders, then the search function is for you. With this bar you can quickly find files on the computer. Usually the search function is already on the Taskbar. Then you can change the icon or hide the search function.

• Right-click on an empty space in the Taskbar.
• Hover over the ‘Search’ option.
• Choose one of the three options:
  • Hidden: There is no search bar next to the Start button.
  • Show search icon: A magnifying glass icon will appear next to the Home button. Click here to enter a search query.
  • Show search box: There will be a search box next to the Start button. Here you can directly type to look up something on the PC.

  

The Task View shows you at a glance which programs you used in the last week. It’s kind of a timeline. Set up Task View like this:

• Right-click on an empty space in the Taskbar.
• click on Show task view button.
• Click the ‘Task View’ icon .
• In this menu you can see which programs you used per day. Scroll down to go further back in time.
• Click the Task View button again to close the item.

Do you always want to have a contact at hand? Then try the option ‘Show people on the taskbar’. This option allows you to add a contact and quickly send them a message. Contacts can be imported via Outlook, Google, Yahoo and iCloud, among others. It works like this:

• Right-click on an empty space in the Taskbar.
• click on Show people on the taskbar.
• Click on the ‘People’ icon .
• You can now add a person via another app, such as the People app or via Skype.

You can also pin a person to the Taskbar. This way you quickly have the contact information at hand. Learn more about the People app in the “The People app in Windows 10” article.

The next three options are especially suitable for a touchscreen. For example, a laptop with a touchscreen, such as the Microsoft Surface. It’s about the options:

• Show Windows Ink workspace button: Draw with Windows Ink on a digital whiteboard. It is a large white area, which you draw on by touching the screen with your finger or a pen specially designed for touch screens.
• Show on-screen keyboard button: Press this button quickly touch the on-screen keyboard. For example, you can type a message by touching the screen, for example if you are using a laptop in tablet mode.
• Show Touchpad Button: Press this button quickly touch the touchpad. This is a digital variant of a touchpad that can be found on laptops. The button is only visible on a touchscreen device, such as the Microsoft Surface.

Want to quickly get an overview of all open windows?

• Right-click on the Taskbar.
• Some options for windows appear. Click on the option you want to use:
  • Cascade windows: all windows are cascaded into view. The most recent program or file is on top. Behind it are the titles of previously opened programs.
  • Show windows stacked: The windows are displayed individually, one above the other.
  • Show windows side by side: The windows are shown individually, side by side.
  • Show desktop: quickly go to the Desktop.

The next option is ‘Task Manager’. Allows you to close crashed programs. Read more about this in the article ‘Using Windows Task Manager’.

The penultimate option is about the position of the Taskbar. Clicking ‘Lock Taskbar’ will keep the Taskbar in place. The Taskbar is automatically located at the bottom of the screen. Would you rather have the Taskbar in a different position? That’s how it works:

• Right-click on an empty space in the Taskbar.
• click on Lock taskbar if there is a check mark in front of it.
• Click with the left mouse button on an empty spot in the Taskbar and keep the mouse pressed.
• Drag the Taskbar to the desired position: top, bottom, left or right and release.

Finally, there is the option ‘Taskbar settings’. This opens a new menu. Here you can also set some options for the Taskbar. The slider icons enable and disable certain options. For example, whether the Taskbar is always visible or only when you move the mouse towards the bottom of the screen. Or whether there are large or small icons on the Taskbar. Customize the Taskbar to your liking.