How to make Window 7 TaskBar thinner when on side of screen

I was searching around in the sevenforums for whatever and found a link to something I've been wanting to do for over a year, but could never find a way to do it. I wanted to make my taskbar, on the side of my screen, thinner. I do not like autohide, but I want it to be as thin as possible.

Then, I found this video:
How to make the Windows 7 Taskbar thin when on the side - YouTube

The 2nd version takes a little bit of tweaking, but it works fantastically. Download the files. Relocate "toggleTaskBarAutoHide.exe" to System32. It just runs the command to toggle the taskbar between autohide off/on. Then all you have to do is run the .bat for the taskbar to be hidden (autohide -off) or showing (autohide -on).

You can create a shortcut for the .bat you prefer and drop it into your %Users\"you"\AppData\Microsoft\Windows\StartMenu\Programs\Startup

The shortcut will need to be given administrator privileges. Right click > properties > Advanced > run as administrator.

Now, I have an SSD and I found that the batch file was running before the necessary boot processes had completed. So, it wasn't working. I instead created a Task in Task Schedule to run it at startup, but to delay for 11seconds. I also set it to run with the highest privileges, since I wasn't running the shortcut in the startup anymore.

Here's the difference:

 

Very nice man, I gave up trying to do this, will give it a shot I guess it should work with TB in the standard position. +1 rep

 

Oh that's nice.

 

Yeah, isn't it?

 

Wasn't this feature in win95?


little experiment....
right click on task-bar
check "use small icons"

 

If you do a search online, you'll find that "small icons" is not the solution to the problem. People who want the thinner taskbar, for the most part, have already selected for small icons.

This is a matter of selecting small icons and then attempting to resize the taskbar to be narrower. It was limited to being wider than the start orb area. There are TONS of forum threads about this exact complaint that many people have. I hope you don't truly think that the solution is as simple as small icons.

Have you rebooted yet?

 

I see now.... How windows manages to **** something they got right back in 1995 I don't know...

 

It is matter of The Balance in the World. If Microsoft creates something good, it must lose smth good too. Hmm... Somewhy it doesn't work with all bad Microsoft creates.

I personally have solution as simple as couple clicks. JUST MOVE IT TO RIGHT SIDE!

All you need is to get used to it. It will take a week or 2 max to stop clicking Start button instead of Close app/window button.
Besides it is actually very good for our F-series laptop where NumPad takes all the place on the right so we need to type working on the left side of laptop.

 

James D - please resize your images, remove them, or attach them as thumbnails.

This thread, and solution, is NOT about "getting used to it". Some of us don't like that the task bar is so wide on the side. Also, the problem occurs for both left and right sides - not just the left. I, personally, do not want my taskbar on the right side. That is the side my eyes scan first. I'd rather it have more useful information. Hence, my elaborate rainmeter setup.

 

Better now?

I know that your thread is good and it took time and other to find it out and write.

I am just saying that it is for people who is against losing precious space on the left. Especially if they have NumPad on the right. So I gave another solution. I know you understand this just don't like that I did not praise you first

 

It has nothing to do with you not praising me first. Geesh!

Many people have the taskbar on the right. And... many of those people would like it to be smaller. That's what this thread is about. It doesn't matter if the free space gained is on the left or the right.

 

Well in my case I am fine with this size.
But yeah, its useful.

 

I autohide the taskbar. After all, I'm so use to hitting the start button and typing aliases.

 

I like having a wider taskbar so that I can read the name of windows right on the button for each one, however, can I just say that your wallpaper is AMAZING? What is that, the Citadel from Mass Effect, rendered better than it ever was in the game?

 

Oh, I've never liked having text on the buttons. I'm an "icon only" kinda guy. So, the narrower the bar, the better. I admit that it took a bit of getting used to though. I had to be a bit more specific with my mousing. I'm all better now.

Thanks!!! I found it on the Win7 Desktop thread. Here is the link on wallbase.cc
city futuristic Mass Effect citadel Mass Effect 2 - Wallpaper (#430988) / Wallbase.cc

It's the Citadel from ME2.

 

cuts off date and the "M" in AM or PM

 

Thanks for pointing that out. I don't use the taskbar clock, so I didn't notice it. If I were to use the clock, it would be in 24-hr format anyway.

 

Doesn't work for HP mini. It oftenly refreshes to wide bar when I click on it. Happens randomly

EDIT Also every time system boots all my folders and icons except on the most left side always move left on 1 step

 

I personally like a thinner taskbar. But I hardly use it on the side. Only once in a while.

 

I saw that wallpaper... I was like pleeeasseee let there be a link to it yessss!!!

 

thanks a lot for this tip! it's actually great. The only problem I am having is that the icons disappear and if I have a lot of windows open I have to guess which one is it. Anybody with this problem?

 

Yeah, it does throw your icons all over the place. Use software like IconRestorer to bring things back to place.

 

sorry I wasn't clear. The icons on the TASKBAR! Say I open 2/3 folders, then I go over them on the taskbar, the thumbnail disappears. The only way to restore them is to open and close the start menu.

 

Hmmm... no clue. I've never had that problem. My taskbar icons are always there and when I hover the mouse, the preview thumbs always appear, too.

 

I have the same problem, the taskbar icons are just squares with no thumbnails in it. Can't tell which is Firefox or word etc.. Else I love the extra space on my tiny 11,6"

 

Did you guys select to use Small Icons in the taskbar properties? Screenshots?

 

yes it is selected. Let me show you a screenshot.

Why would this happen? I am on 1920x1080 if that matters.

 

Wow! Never seen that before and really don't have any idea what could be causing it.

 

That's what I have as well, empty icon squares.

 

I am wondering if someone has solved this problem with the icons disappearing. It's driving me crazy!!!

 

MetroUI ... ahem...

 

To solve the icons disappearing choose "Always combine, hide labels" option for "Taskbar buttons" in taskbar properties.

 

Here is an update. I found another program. It lets you choose the exact size of taskbar you want disabling that thickness limit. Pros of this program is that you don't have to use small icons in Taskbar to make it thinner (additional 25% thinner).
How to configure it ?
Install 7+ Taskbar Tweaker and run it. You can close the dialog that is displayed.
In the 7+ Taskbar Tweaker Advanced options (right-click the 7+ Taskbar Tweaker's system tray icon, select Advanced Options) just set the value of no_width_limit to 1 and click OK.

Make sure that Taskbar is not locked and drag the edge of the task-bar to make it thinner.
If you want to make it even thinner then use Small icons which I don't prefer on 17" FHD panel.

Grats go to Sandip Chitale and the creator of this program RaMMichael.