A new startup menu with a new taskbar interface has been launched with the latest Windows version. The default position of the taskbar on Windows 11 is at the center of the screen. Some of the users are enjoying this new change, but many face issues with working with this new position of the taskbar. If you are also the one who likes to work with the same classic taskbar at the left, then here’s the solution. This post will guide you on how to move Windows 11 Start Menu, Button, and Pined icons to the left side using Settings or Registry.

How to move Windows 11 Start Menu to left side

The new taskbar has a new appearance and feels along with the new look of the start-up button. It has become a bit larger than the older version, increasing its presence on the screen. However, Microsoft has placed Windows 11 Start Menu to the Center by default.

If you want to move Windows 11 Start Menu, Button and Pined icons to the left side the follow these steps:

Open the Windows 11 Settings using the Windows+I keyboard shortcut.
Select the Personalization option.
On the right side, select Taskbar behaviors
You will see Task alignment appear
Click on the drop-down menu, and select the Left option.

To get it started, open the Settings app first. For this, right-click on the Start button and select the Settings button. You can also use the Windows+I keyboard shortcut to open the Settings app directly.

Once you open the Settings app, click on the Personalization category and then on the right side, select Taskbar behaviors.

Now click on the Taskbar alignment drop-down menu.

Here you will two options that are:

Left: If you select this option, the Start Menu along with other apps, shifts to the left align of the Taskbar.
Center: This is the default location of the Start button along with the other apps you pin on the Taskbar. And if you choose this option, these apps again shifts to the center.

After making the above changes, the Start menu will switch to the left side of the taskbar as you can see in the screenshot.

Read: How to switch back to the Classic Start Menu in Windows 11.

Using Registry

You can also tweak the Windows Registry to achieve the same effect.

Open Registry Editor and navigate to the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

Create a DWORD (32-bit) and name it TaskbarAl and give it a value of 0.

The DWORD 32-bit settings for the TaskbarAl value are:

0 = Left
1 = Center

In this way, you can move the Start Menu and the pinned taskbar program icons to the left side and to the Centre on your Windows 11 PC – as it was in Windows 10. You can pin the applications of your choice in abundance and can view multiple apps at a time on the screen. Another interesting addition is the recommended area which allows you to visit the recent documents.

If interested, then there are more tips here to customize Windows 11 Start Menu.

That’s it. Hope you find this article helpful.

How to move Windows 11 Start Menu to left side

Using Registry

AnandK@TWC

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