Pin, move, and unpin shortcuts
- Open an app you use often. Right-click its taskbar icon and select Pin to taskbar.
- Drag pinned icons into your preferred order.
- Right-click an unwanted pinned icon and choose Unpin from taskbar. This does not uninstall the app.
Change the layout
Right-click a blank area of the taskbar and select Taskbar settings. Review the items and behaviors your version provides. Taskbar behaviors includes alignment options on supported Windows 11 versions.
If a screenshot or older guide shows an option you do not have, use the current controls available on your machine. Avoid registry “fixes” just to make a menu resemble an old screenshot.
Tidy the system tray without confusing the result
The small icons near the clock represent background apps and Windows features. Taskbar settings lets you choose which supported icons stay visible and which go into the overflow area.
Hiding a tray icon does not close its app, disable startup, or free memory by itself. For startup performance, inspect Settings > Apps > Startup or Task Manager’s Startup apps section. Leave security, backup, accessibility, and device utilities alone unless you understand their purpose.
Keep essential alerts
A tidy desktop is useful. Missing a backup failure or a security warning is not. Adjust notifications separately and keep important alerts visible.
Official instructions & further reading
Windows features and menus vary by version. These publisher resources explain the supported procedures.