Move Windows 11 Taskbar to Top or Sides

In Windows 11, you cannot natively move the taskbar to the top, left, or right side of the screen using built-in settings or registry edits. While previous versions of Windows allowed free placement along any screen edge, Microsoft redesigned the Windows 11 taskbar from scratch, locking its position exclusively to the bottom. Early registry workarounds have since been patched, leaving third-party customization software as the only remaining solution.

Native Customization Limits

Under standard Windows 11 settings, taskbar customization is restricted. You can access these options by navigating to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors.

From this menu, the only alignment options available are: * Center: Places the Start button and app icons in the middle of the bottom taskbar. * Left: Reverts the Start button and app icons to the bottom-left corner, mimicking traditional Windows layouts.

There are no options within the user interface to change the physical screen edge where the taskbar resides.

The Status of Registry Tweaks

When Windows 11 first launched, users discovered a workaround using the Windows Registry Editor via the StuckRects3 key. By modifying binary values corresponding to screen position, the taskbar could temporarily be forced to the top of the display.

However, Microsoft deprecated this capability in subsequent updates (including version 22H2 and later). Applying these registry modifications today either results in the system ignoring the change or causes Windows Explorer (explorer.exe) to repeatedly crash and restart. There is currently no functional registry edit or Group Policy setting that allows repositioning the taskbar natively.

Third-Party Software Dependency

Because all built-in methods are disabled, users who require a top- or side-docked taskbar must rely on third-party shell modification tools. Applications such as StartAllBack or ExplorerPatcher restore legacy taskbar code, enabling full repositioning capabilities along with other classic Windows features.