Setting up the taskbar in Windows

The taskbar in Windows OS is a component of a PC monitor in the form of strips. It occupies any place with the edge of the desktop - most often the bottom. The taskbar is needed to display icons of active and inactive components, various statuses, times and dates, as well as access to PC functions. This component is on all versions of Windows - the manufacturer does not deviate from the usual taskbar and improves it.

So, with the release of the seventh version of Windows, the taskbar has become more functional. She received several new adjustment options, advanced design options and other benefits. Comparing the element of Windows 7 with previous versions, you can see that it has become more convenient for interaction. However, for proper adjustment before operation, you need to know about the new features and changes that have affected the old ones.

The first thing that the user notices when interacting with Windows 7 is the external differences in the taskbar compared to a component in Vista, XP or OS version 8. Personalization adjustments are also different - there are more options for the appearance of the element and the size of the icons, new colors and a transparent mode, the principle of interaction has slightly changed. Manufacturers took the best components from previous versions of the OS and combined them in the seventh.

The strip consists of three conditional parts - the “Start” button, as well as two areas to the right - to interact with the windows and the tray. "Start" is needed in order to:

  • Activate components;
  • Manage the state of the PC (shutdown, switch to standby mode);
  • Run frequently operated and fixed components;
  • Search for files, folders and applications;
  • adjust PC settings.

In the middle part of the taskbar, icons of all activated and fixed components take their place. By making a left mouse click on them, the user can quickly launch what he needs now. Fixed icons are needed to make it easier to activate components - including during interaction with others.

The third conditional area located on the other side of the “Start” button is the tray. It takes the place of language adjustment, volume control, clock and calendar, as well as status indicators of the various components of the functions. Among them - an internet connection, antivirus, removable media, and more. By clicking on the small triangle, the user can look at hidden icons - those that do not fit in the tray - and bring them to the main area. In the lower right corner of the taskbar (with the standard configuration), an area takes place that minimizes all active components and sends the user to the main menu.

How to adjust the taskbar in Windows 7

All three areas of the taskbar can be adjusted. There are various functions, configuration options and design, to make it easier for the user to interact with the OS.

How to open "properties"

In order to activate the taskbar adjustment, right-click in any free area. In the drop-down menu, select "properties".

Making the taskbar

The user has three options for the taskbar design. They can be turned on and off regardless of each other and help to better regulate the monitor component for operation.

“Lock Taskbar” is a function that is associated with the space occupied by an element. If it is activated, the menu bar will be fixed. It will not be possible to change its position or size. Usually a tick at this point is the default. You can remove it in order to move the component or stretch it in height or width (depending on the place that the strip occupies). After you have removed or checked, the changes need to be saved by clicking “apply”. The properties window can be closed. During the execution of cases it is desirable to keep the element fixed - so there is no risk that you stretch or move it by accident.

“Automatically hide taskbar” is an option that removes a component from the monitor when working with components. The bar appears at the moment when the user hovers the mouse over it - at its location. This option in some cases is the answer to the question about the missing monitor element. Activating auto hide helps to more efficiently exploit the space on the main menu or in components.

“Use small icons” is a parameter that is recommended if the set of activated components is shown on the taskbar of your PC. Having set the function, you can use the monitor component more productively - it will accommodate more icons.

The position of the taskbar on the monitor

This feature helps to move the component to any edge of the monitor — top, bottom, left, or right. After changing the position, click “apply” and “OK”.

Another way to move a component is to drag the strip itself. First of all, you need to detach the component - uncheck the corresponding checkbox in the first paragraph of the “properties” window. Transfer the element, then fix it again, so that you do not accidentally change the position.

Taskbar buttons

Thanks to this item, users who activate many files can adjust their display. Here you can also change the activation parameters.

“Always group, hide labels” - selecting this option helps to merge activated components by their categories. They will be grouped in one cell, and the names will be hidden - this saves a lot of space on the taskbar. If you activate several folders, browser windows or files (for example, photos) at the same time, the icons will be combined by type. The effect makes the elements on the taskbar even more compact if the Aero theme is on.

“Group when filling the taskbar” - this option helps to show the activated components in full size as long as there is enough space on the strip itself. As soon as a new window is activated, which does not fit on the taskbar, all icons will decrease in size. However, they retain their names, so this mode is informative when interacting. The grouping of icons will occur only if the reduced ones no longer fit on the taskbar.

“Do not group” is an option that is most often the default. If it is active, all the icons on the taskbar are shown separately - they are not grouped by type in one tab. Even if you have 15 windows of the same type activated, each of them will be shown separately. Icons that do not fit in the middle of the taskbar, fall into a special space. Click the arrow link to the right of the activated windows to view them.

Taskbar notification area

This is a parameter that also takes place in the "properties" window. Following the “configure” link, select which status should be displayed in the tray. It also helps to solve the problem with missing buttons. For example, if you want to restore the language or volume icon, select the corresponding item in the drop-down menu for adjusting a specific function.

Aero peek

Aero Peek is a feature that helps you preview your desktop in advance. If this option is enabled, you can hover the mouse in the lower right corner (with the standard configuration of the taskbar). All windows will become transparent, and you can view the main menu. This is convenient in order to see the readings of the gadget, for example - loading the OS or Internet speed. When you click on an area, all activated components will be minimized - you will be taken to the main menu. So you can quickly hide all the windows, while not closing them.

Adjusting the Start Menu

It is available in the second tab of the "taskbar properties" window. Click "customize" to specify in detail the place that this or that icon in the "Start" menu takes. In this window, you can adjust the number of components that fall into the recently activated compartment.

Power button action

Clicking on the drop-down menu, which takes place on the right of the inscription. You can set the action of the power button ("power") on the PC. Its click can be responsible for the usual shutdown or immersion of the PC to sleep, restart it and other functions that are available on the Start menu. Select an option and click “apply” and “OK”.

Confidentiality

The category includes 2 options that are independent of each other. Activation first helps to save and show the list of components that have recently been activated in the Start menu. The second option is responsible for saving and displaying items activated directly in the Start menu or on the taskbar.

Toolbars

This feature is not new for Windows 7 OS. Adjustment takes place in the third tab of the “properties” window. With it, you can add new tools to the taskbar - standard and personal. In the menu, select the icon you want to add:

  • Address - adds a search address bar, through which you can access one of the directories on a PC or a website on the Internet. The second is preferable, since the file on the PC is much easier to find by typing the name in the search bar in the Start menu.
  • Links - adds a URL to the sites you need in quick access in Internet Explorer. The function is useless if you go through another browser.
  • Tablet PC Input Panel - creates a link, a click of which helps to quickly use the Tablet PC input window.
  • Desktop - adds a panel of shortcuts with all the tools of the main monitor.
  • Create a toolbar. The most convenient option, as it helps to add your own shortcuts. When you select a parameter, a window appears in which you can select a folder for quick access.
  • Language bar is an option, if you select which, a regular bar will take a separate place.

How to change the color of the taskbar

To change the color and tint of the taskbar:

  1. Right click on the free space of the main menu;
  2. Select the item “personalization” in the dropdown menu;
  3. Click on the "window color" at the bottom of the activated menu (in the Maximum version of Windows 7, the name of the current color is indicated above the link);
  4. In the taskbar color adjustment window you will see 16 hue options — click on it to make a change;
  5. The hue (intensity) of the color can be set using the slider - drag it to the right to make the taskbar darker and vice versa (the Maximum version also has the most subtle adjustment that includes 3 sliders);
  6. Click "save changes", close the windows.

How to make the taskbar transparent

In order to make the strip transparent in the Maximum version of Windows 7, it is enough to put the Aero theme, and then select the option itself:

  1. Activate the "personalization" menu;
  2. Select the "window color" link;
  3. In the menu, check the box next to “enable transparency”;
  4. Move the slider, which is responsible for the intensity, to the left - this will remove the color saturation of the component and make the taskbar transparent;
  5. Save the changes.

If the algorithm did not work, make sure that the Aero theme is on your PC, and the item allowing transparency is activated in the color adjustment menu.

How to make a transparent taskbar in Home Base and Initial versions of Windows 7

Unfortunately, in other versions of the OS except Maximum, this function is not built in. You will have to download the TransBar component. It interacts including with Windows XP and helps regulate the appearance of the taskbar. To download the component, download and activate the TBsetup.exe file. Click “next” until “run transbar” option appears in the window - select it and click “finish”. The component is activated, and you can start working.

In the TransBar application, several options need to be noted:

  • “Enabled” - helps to move the color intensity slider and set transparency;
  • “Auto apply” - the function is intended to follow the taskbar changes right during the adjustment;
  • “Run at Windows startup” - is responsible for automatically applying the specified adjustments when the OS is activated.

Move the slider to adjust the transparency of the taskbar. It is not recommended to make the value below 50% - it will be so difficult to see the icons on the strip. After adjustment, click “apply”, then “OK”.

How to fix and detach the icon on the taskbar

On the taskbar, you can place icons of components that are currently inactive. This is for quick access. For example, it will be convenient to fix a text editor or calculator, so that each time you do not activate them through the main menu or the Start menu, you can launch components in one click, being in any window. To fix the icon, activate it, then right-click on the tab. Select “fix program”.

To detach the icon, select “remove program” in the same menu. This can be done with windows that are currently inactive.

What to do if the volume icon on the taskbar disappears

Many users of Windows 7 are facing this. The reason is bugs in the OS version. In order to solve the problem, you can resort to one of 4 ways.

Reboot Explorer:

  1. Activate the task manager (by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete and clicking the corresponding button in the menu or by right-clicking on the taskbar);
  2. In the “Processes” tab, find and select “explorer.exe”, then end this process;
  3. In the "file" menu, click "new task" - in the activated window type "explorer.exe" without quotes and click "OK".

In this case, all activated components on the taskbar are not closed.

Icon adjustments:

  1. Click on the arrow in the tray, and then on the "configure" in the window;
  2. Check if the “show icon and notifications” option is selected for the volume control;
  3. If the check mark is checked and the icon does not appear, click on “turn on or off the icons”;
  4. Click "on" in front of "volume", then "OK".

Editing Local Group Policy:

  1. In the Start menu, find and activate gpedit.msc (without quotes);
  2. Go to “configuration”, then “administrative templates” and “Start menu and taskbar”;
  3. Click “hide volume control icon”;
  4. Disable the item, click "apply" and "OK";
  5. Reboot the PC.

If none of the methods helped, try the most difficult:

  1. In the Start menu, locate and type "regedit.exe" (without quotes);
  2. Follow the path HKEY_CURRENT_USER - Software - Classes - LocalSettings - Software - Microsoft - Windows - CurrentVersion - TrayNotify;
  3. Delete the “IconStreams” and “PastIconsStream” entries;
  4. Restart Explorer as described in the first method;
  5. Reboot the PC.

In case the icon does not appear or continues to disappear, update the sound card driver. The cause of the problem may also be a third-party application to adjust the volume level. Confirm the adjustment of the sound so that it occurs through the tray of the taskbar (the icon provided by Windows).

Total

The taskbar in Windows 7 is a more functional and useful element of the monitor than in previous versions. However, it has its own characteristics when adjusting and operating, as well as bugs.