If You're Unfamiliar With The Taskbar In The Middle On Windows 11, It Can Be Shifted Back To The Left

Windows 11 taskbar, can be shifted to the left. (photo; windows 11 screenshot)

JAKARTA – One of the biggest visual changes in Windows 11 is the centralized Taskbar, and for people who really can't stand it, there's a way to move it back to the left. Microsoft doesn't hold back with its Windows 11 updates.

After launching Windows 10 in 2015 and supporting it with various additional updates since then, Windows 11 marks a monumental change forward for the operating system.

From a visual point of view, Windows 11 is a drastic step forward. It makes the OS softer and rounder than before, the Start menu looks very different, and many system apps have been given a fresh coat of paint. There are a lot of functional changes as well.

Microsoft added a new widget system, it's easier than ever to organize apps on your home screen, and there's even Android app support. Add all of this together, and Windows 11 is a substantial update in every way.

Unfortunately, not every change is seen as something positive. One of the most controversial elements of Windows 11 is the Taskbar. After years of being placed at the bottom left of the screen, Windows 11 moved it to the center.

It doesn't sound like a big deal, but with years of muscle memory expecting it to be on the left, moving the Taskbar to the center can be quite jarring. Luckily, moving it back to the left — aka the old place it thought was right — only took a few seconds.

To move the Windows 11 Taskbar, start by opening the Settings app and clicking the 'Personalization' tab in the left-hand menu. Click the 'Taskbar' button, click 'Taskbar behavior', and click the dropdown button next to 'Taskbar alignment'. Click 'Left', and the Taskbar immediately moves to the same place in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and so on.

If someone moves the Taskbar to the left but ends up wanting to be behind in the middle, simply follow the steps above and select 'Center' from the 'Taskbar Alignment' area.

It's also important to point out that left and center are the only two positions the Taskbar can use. While previous versions of Windows also allowed it to be at the top or side of the screen, this option is not present in Windows 11.

It's possible that Microsoft re-enabled that functionality with a future software update, but for now, only left and center are available.