Taskbar

The Taskbar is centered by default and simplified in Windows 11, but it looks and works much like those in previous Windows versions, and it remains a key way to launch frequently-used apps.
Defaults
The Windows 11 Taskbar is confined to the bottom edge of the screen, and though you can resize the icons it displays, the Taskbar has a fixed size. Microsoft configures the Taskbar with a default set of buttons and other controls that span the width of this interface along the bottom of the screen, below the Desktop. These include:

Widgets, a Taskbar item found at the far left (unless you change the Taskbar alignment)
Start button, to open Start
Search and Task view Taskbar items
File Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Store, Microsoft Copilot or Microsoft 365 Copilot, and Microsoft Outlook app icon shortcuts
Up to three optional shortcuts provided by your PC maker
Click to Do shortcut (Copilot+ PC only)
System tray area with status notification icons, Network, Volume, and Power quick setting icons, time/date display, and a (well-hidden) Show desktop button

Customize the Taskbar
The Taskbar is customizable, with its configuration capabilities split between two places: Taskbar settings--in the Settings app at Personalization > Taskbar--and through the Taskbar itself with certain items that support direct manipulation.

Tip: You can also access Taskbar settings by right-clicking an empty area on the Taskbar and choosing “Taskbar settings” from the small context menu that appears.
Determine which items appear in the Taskbar
You can customize almost all the items appear in the Taskbar. Oddly, some Taskbar items are configured in Taskbar settings, while others can be directly added (pinned) or removed (unpinned).
Tip: The Start button is unique in that it can’t be disabled, moved, or changed in any way.
Widgets
The Widgets item appears at the far-left side of the Taskbar and opens the Widgets board when you hover over it with the mouse cursor (by default) or click it.
Tip: If you left align the Taskbar as described below, the Widgets item appears to the left of the system tray area.
If you don't need this display, you can hide the Widgets item from the Taskbar and use its keyboard shortcut, noted below, to display the Widgets board instead. To do so, open Taskbar settings and configure the “Widgets” setting under “Taskbar Items” to “Off.”
Keyboard shortcut: Type Windows Key + W to display Widgets.

Learn more: The Widgets item can display a weather forecast, notifications, and other information. You can customize Widgets to not open on hover or to not display notifications, in which case it will only display the weather forecast. You can learn more in the Widgets chapter.
Start button
The Start button is used to open the Windows 11 Start menu, and it cannot be removed from the Taskbar or modified in any way.
Keyboard shortcut: You can also display Start by tapping the Windows key on your keyboard or...