Windows 10 is a very customizable system, if you know what you want and where to find it. In fact, there are many sections in which it is not necessary to install any third-party tool to change the appearance of what we see on the desktop, and we talk about more than just changing the wallpaper.
We have already done some very complete guides on how to customize Windows 10, but this time we are going to focus on only one aspect: the taskbar. This includes the icons we anchor, the search drawer, and the area with indicators and notification icons.
The behavior and appearance of the taskbar of Windows 10 can be changed quite from the same system options, the annoying thing is that many of those options are scattered in different sections and perhaps you have gone completely unnoticed.
Change what is displayed in the taskbar
In Windows 10, by default what we see in order from left to right is: the start button, the search drawer and Cortana, the task view button, and the icons of anchored applications. On the far right we find the notifications button, the date and time, language button, network, sound, battery and indicators of other Windows and third-party apps. Everything can be modified.
The search drawer
If you right click on the taskbar and select the option Cortana you can choose between three different options. Show the search drawer, show only a Cortana icon, or simply completely hide the function of your Superbar.
You can also hide the task view button , you just have to right click on the bar and uncheck the option just below Cortana. If you have a touch screen device you may want to try adding the touch screen or Windows Ink workspace buttons.
Change icons in the taskbar
To customize the icon of an application that you have anchored to the superbar, you must first change the shortcut icon. For this you need to edit the one that is on your desktop.
You just have to right click on the one you want to modify, then in the window that appears select Change icon … and search your disk for any file whose extension is .ICO.
The PNG, JPG, SVG, etc. files do not work. But, you can always use a tool to convert them, we recommend iConvert Icons. If you do not have icons at hand, you can visit our recommendation of themes and icons for Windows 10.
Once you have changed the icon on the desktop, you can drag it to the taskbar. Remember that if you are changing an icon that is already anchored , you must remove it from the superbar and anchor it again after modifying the icon on the desktop, so that the change takes effect.
Change notification area icons
If you right click on the bar and then choose the option Configuration of the taskbar you will go to a section of the system configuration from which you can choose which icons will be displayed in the area to the right of the bar.
This is quite useful to keep this area clean, especially if you have installed too many applications that show icons here and do not always need your attention.
Make scroll until you find the section Notification area and then click Select the icons that appear on the taskbar. From there you can choose between all the indicators that have been added to Windows 10 by third-party apps, as well as system indicators.
This option allows you to hide them, but not to disable them. That is, if you click on the up arrow next to the icons in the notification area, you will find them all grouped:
To deactivate system icons and remove them completely from the notification area, you must choose the option that appears below the previous one: Activate or deactivate system icons.
From there you can activate or deactivate the clock, volume, network, energy, input indicator, location, activity center, touch keyboard, Windows Ink workspace, and touch panel icons.
Behavior of the taskbar
The taskbar of Windows 10 can also change place, size, and you can also make it behave in a certain way when grouping windows, or when you pass the mouse pointer over it.
In the same taskbar configuration section, you can choose to use small taskbar buttons to get a little more screen space, or if you like the most delicate things.
This also automatically deletes the search bar and sets it up by just the Cortana icon.
If you click on the taskbar and you make sure that the Lock all taskbars option is unchecked , you can drag the bar to the right, left or top of the desktop.
In addition to that you can increase or reduce its size by simply stretching the bar when you see the mouse pointer change to that of a two-pronged felcha.
If you want the taskbar to remain hidden unless you pass the mouse pointer right where it is, you can activate the option to automatically hide the taskbar in desktop mode.
And, if you want instead of icons in the superbar, buttons with labels appear in the style of Windows XP, you just have to select the option Never under the option Combine the buttons in the taskbar.
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