Customize the Windows 11 interface by moving the taskbar and start menu to the top of the screen by changing a Registry Editor value.
One of the big new things Microsoft brought out when Windows 11 was released was the change to the operating system’s taskbar. Once aligned to the left of the screen with the Start menu, both are now centered by default.
Fortunately for those who do not like to change their habits, Microsoft has provided an option in the settings of its OS to put the Start menu and the taskbar back at the bottom left of the screen, as in Windows 10. Unfortunately, the Redmond company has ignored the possibility of migrating these elements at the top of the screen in Windows 11, while this modification is quite possible under Windows 10.
Nevertheless, all is not lost. Windows 11 having inherited the code from Windows 10, a small modification in the registry editor makes up for this lack. Be careful however, the Windows Registry Editor being a tool as complex as it is powerful, it is preferable to create a restore point before any modification. So in the event of a problem, you will only have to restore your machine using this restore point to put everything back in order.
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1. Create a restore point
Use the Windows + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run window and then in the Open field, type systempropertiesprotection.exe. Then validate by pressing the Enter key on the keyboard or click on the OK button.
In the System Properties window that opens, go to the System Protection tab, then click the Create button displayed at the bottom.
A new window opens. Enter a name for the restore point to be created and click Create to start creating the restore point.
If your PC were to have malfunctions, you will only have to reopen this System Properties window then click on System Restore to restore your machine to the restore point you have just created.
2. Open Registry Editor
To open the Windows Registry Editor, use the keyboard shortcut Windows + R, then in the Run window that appears, type regedit and confirm by pressing the Enter key or clicking OK.
3. Access the key
In the Windows Registry Editor address bar, copy and paste the following path:
ComputerHKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerStuckRects3
4. Change the key
Now double click on the Settings key. A window titled Edit Binary Value should open.
On the second line, named 00000008, locate the fifth value, normally named 03, place the mouse cursor just after it, and replace the value with 01 then click on the OK button. You can now close Registry Editor.
5. Restart Windows Explorer
Now use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+SHIFT+Esc to open Windows Task Manager.
In the Processes tab, locate the Windows Processes section, then right-click on the Windows Explorer process.
Finally, click on Restart to restart Windows Explorer. If everything went as planned, the Windows 11 taskbar and Start menu should have migrated to the top of your screen.