Let’s check Windows 11 Start Menu Taskbar Alignment Options. We all used to have Taskbar aligned to left until Windows 11 release. In this post, you will see more details of the Windows 11 start menu layout options.
You have two start menu or taskbar alignment options in Windows 11. I like the option of Taskbar icon alignment. The taskbar icons include the start menu, search, widgets, Task View, and Microsoft store.
Latest Updated Post – Best Method To Customize Windows 11 Taskbar
There are two Windows 11 taskbar alignment behavior options – one is the left side alignment of the taskbar. The second one is the center alignment of the taskbar. You can also use the registry editor to get this Windows 11 taskbar alignment.
You can change the Taskbar alignment only when Windows 11 is activated. If the option to change the alignment is disabled in your Windows 11, it’s worth checking the Windows 11 activation status.
Read More – Learn How To Activate Windows 11 License Using The Command Line Option
How to Change Windows 11 Taskbar Alignment Options
Windows 11 start menu is similar to Windows 10X-like UI. You can change the start menu layout to center and left. You can change the task menu alignment layout from the settings app.
- Go to the Settings application
- Click on Personalization -> TaskBar Behaviours -> Taskbar alignment
Windows 11 Taskbar Center Alignment Options
Windows 11 Taskbar Center alignment options from the following option. You can open the settings application and navigate to personalization.
- You can go to Taskbar behaviors.
- Select Task Alignment -> Center.
The following is the Windows 11 start menu layout alignment with the center option. Do you like this option, or do you still go with the left-side start menu option?
The following is the Windows 11start menu layout alignment with the left option. Do you like this option, or do you still go with the center-side start menu option?
Windows 11 Taskbar Left Alignment Options
Windows 11 Taskbar LEFT alignment options from the following option. You can open the settings application and navigate to personalization.
- You can go to Taskbar behaviors.
- Select Task Allignment -> LEFT.
Registry Options to Change Windows 11 Taskbar Alignment
Let’s check Registry options to change Windows 11 taskbar alignment. Navigate through the registry path as explained below to change the Taskbar alignment to Center or Left.
NOTE! – I don’t recommend using the registry option to change Windows 11 taskbar alignment.
- Launch Registry Editor using Regedit.exe using the RUN option or Windows Terminal.
- Navigate to Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
- Right-Click on the Advanced registry folder and select -> New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value.
The TaskbarAl (l is a small letter L and it’s not capital i). Enter the name of the DWORD (32-bit) value name -> TaskbarAl as shown in the screenshot below.
There are two options for value data for TaskbarAl.
- TaskbarAl value date = 0 = Taskbar Left alignment for Windows 11.
TaskbarAl value date = 1 = Taskbar Center alignment for Windows 11 devices.
Intune Options to Deploy Windows 11 Taskbar Alignment
Let’s check the Intune Options to Deploy Windows 11 Taskbar Alignment. The following are the Windows 11 or Windows 10 CSP policies available for the Taskbar and there is no MDM CSP policy for Windows 11 taskbar alignment to Left or Center.
You need to rely on the PowerShell script to set the registry values as discussed above. You can deploy that particular PowerShell script using Intune proactive remediation option.
Read More – Intune Proactive Remediation Scripts Vs PowerShell Scripts.
ADMX_Taskbar policies
ADMX_Taskbar/DisableNotificationCenter
ADMX_Taskbar/EnableLegacyBalloonNotifications
ADMX_Taskbar/HideSCAHealth
ADMX_Taskbar/HideSCANetwork
ADMX_Taskbar/HideSCAPower
ADMX_Taskbar/HideSCAVolume
ADMX_Taskbar/NoBalloonFeatureAdvertisements
ADMX_Taskbar/NoPinningStoreToTaskbar
ADMX_Taskbar/NoPinningToDestinations
ADMX_Taskbar/NoPinningToTaskbar
ADMX_Taskbar/NoRemoteDestinations
ADMX_Taskbar/NoSystraySystemPromotion
ADMX_Taskbar/ShowWindowsStoreAppsOnTaskbar
ADMX_Taskbar/TaskbarLockAll
ADMX_Taskbar/TaskbarNoAddRemoveToolbar
ADMX_Taskbar/TaskbarNoDragToolbar
ADMX_Taskbar/TaskbarNoMultimon
ADMX_Taskbar/TaskbarNoNotification
ADMX_Taskbar/TaskbarNoPinnedList
ADMX_Taskbar/TaskbarNoRedock
ADMX_Taskbar/TaskbarNoResize
ADMX_Taskbar/TaskbarNoThumbnail
Resources
https://www.anoopcnair.com/windows-11-next-generation-windows-announcement/
Author
Anoop C Nair is Microsoft MVP! He is a Device Management Admin with more than 20 years of experience (calculation done in 2021) in IT. He is Blogger, Speaker, and Local User Group HTMD Community leader. His main focus is on Device Management technologies like SCCM 2012, Current Branch, and Intune. He writes about ConfigMgr, Windows 11, Windows 10, Azure AD, Microsoft Intune, Windows 365, AVD, etc.
My taskbar in windows 11 keeps going to the farthest right when I put it on center, why is that?
I have this problem with the dev channel … have you enabled the registry key to reduce the size of the taskbar icons by any chance https://www.anoopcnair.com/how-to-change-the-taskbar-size-in-windows-11-easiest-method/
Are there any Intune settings to mass set this to the left?
I have not seen any Intune settings. I have updated the blog with registry key details as a dirty workaround. You might need to wait until Microsoft provides a proper MDM CSP to change this alignment in Windows 11. Until that time, you need to create PowerShell script to check, create, and change the registry value explained in the post.
Hey Anoop! Just one correction. The reg key is ComputerHKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAdvanced.
Your screenshot is correct but the text above stays HKEY_CURRENT_MACHINE.
Thanks!
Hey Jay – Thank you. Fixed now.