Question Windows 11 - Can't Change The Order Of Taskbar Icons (And No "Lock Taskbar" option in right-click, nor in the taskbar personalization settings)

ascendant · Jan 25, 2025

The title pretty much explains it all. I recently updated to Windows 11, and as I expected, I regret it, for numerous reasons. My biggest issue currently though is with my taskbar. I do tons of stuff with my PC on various apps, and I like to have those apps organized in a very specific way on my taskbar so they're easy to find. Well, ever since I upgraded, I can't move my taskbar icons.

I'm tech savvy, so yea, I did all the common sense things. I tried right-clicking an empty space on the taskbar to make sure it's unlocked. The only two items that pop up when I right click it are "Task Manager" and "Taskbar Settings". So after that, I went into taskbar settings, figuring the lock feature must've been moved into there. I went through every single item on my taskbar personalization settings at least eight times now. Opened all the drop-downs, even went to other places in settings to try and find it. There is no "unlock taskbar" option in my taskbar settings either.

I scanned everything on the drive with both "DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth" and "sfc /scannow". Neither found any issues.

Can someone take a screenshot of where the "lock taskbar" option is supposed to be found in "personalization > taskbar" now? I am curious as to where it's supposed to be, and if anything else is missing too.

But most importantly, can someone give me a suggestion to fix it? I hate to do system restores, as any time I did it in the past, it messed up multiple files of mine. Oh, and before you ask, this was an upgrade, not a fresh install. I don't have enough hours in the day as it is for extremely important things, let alone spend hours and hours completely reinstalling my OS, all apps, configuring it the way I want, etc. It'd easily take me half a day, which I do not have anytime soon. So, any suggestions where I don't have to spend hours and hours or jack up my hard drive to fix this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for you time.

mikeymikec · Feb 1, 2025

Which version of Win11 do you have? On a clean install of Win11 and just updated to 24H2, I can change the order of pinned taskbar icons.

'Lock the taskbar' was a different feature entirely to what you're talking about - previous versions of Windows allowed the relocation of the entire taskbar to any side of the screen, Win11 doesn't allow that. "Lock the taskbar" was to stop the user accidentally doing it.

If you create a fresh user (e.g. from cmd prompt: net user test /add), does that new user have the same problem? Do you have any "tweak Windows" type apps installed?

ascendant · Feb 2, 2025

mikeymikec said:
Which version of Win11 do you have? On a clean install of Win11 and just updated to 24H2, I can change the order of pinned taskbar icons.

'Lock the taskbar' was a different feature entirely to what you're talking about - previous versions of Windows allowed the relocation of the entire taskbar to any side of the screen, Win11 doesn't allow that. "Lock the taskbar" was to stop the user accidentally doing it.

If you create a fresh user (e.g. from cmd prompt: net user test /add), does that new user have the same problem? Do you have any "tweak Windows" type apps installed?

Thanks for the clarification. So yes, the feature I'm talking about is changing the order of the pinned taskbar icons. I can't change the order of any of them on my primary account

I did what you suggested and created a fresh user. The fresh user was able to move the icons around on the taskbar no problem. So, it's something tied directly to my account, but I haven't the slightest clue what. I don't have any apps or mods of any kind changing how my taskbar works at all. Absolutely nothing that would alter it.

The only thing I could think of is maybe I had some Windows 10 setting on to where when I changed to Windows 11, it didn't convert that setting properly, and so it messed up the registry or some setting that you now can't access directly in Windows 11. I mean I know in Windows 10, there was the feature to keep all taskbar icons locked in the order you had them, which I did have turned on. But now, it's gone, and by default you can move them. It seems like mine got stuck on them being locked somehow, but now they removed the ability to change that setting.

Anyone know where in the registry I can find the key that handles that? I'm thinking that's most likely where my problem is

In2Photos · Feb 2, 2025

Found this thread discussing the issue

Redirecting

Some users reported changing the taskbar alignment to reset it allowed them to move the icons.

I found the solution accidentally. Simply go into PERSONALIZATION >TASKBAR BEHAVIORS > TASKBAR ALIGNMENT and then to the right there will be a drop down menu that should say "CENTER". Click on the down arrow and it will show the word "LEFT". Just click on "LEFT" and then you will be able to drag your icons to any position on the taskbar.

ascendant · Feb 2, 2025

In2Photos said:
Found this thread discussing the issue

Redirecting

Some users reported changing the taskbar alignment to reset it allowed them to move the icons.

Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately, I tried that already and it and that didn't work for me. I tried it again just for the heck of it to be sure, and nothing.

I did find a registry key called "TasbarSizeMove" that was set to 0. Changed it to 1 and reset windows to try, did nothing at all, so I just put it back since I don't know what else it might mess with. I can't see anything else in there that might effect the movement of the icons on the taskbar.

I don't know what else to do here other than eventually do a fresh install? I really can't stand Windows 11. If they hadn't stopped supporting Windows 10, I NEVER would've switched to this crap. Now, I'm wasting time (that I don't have) trying to fix something that never should've been broken to begin with.

Anyway, if there's anything else you or anyone else finds, please let me know. This OS really is trash. When they stop supporting Windows 11, I'm switching over to Linux. I'm over this

In2Photos · Feb 2, 2025

Ok. Let's try something else.

I have found it is not possible to unpin the icon then drag to the desired position if there are icons in the overflow tray. I got rid of some icons, which I probably won't use much anyway. Once all icons appeared in the taskbar, I was able to drag the one I wanted to move (which I'd unpinned), then pin it after dragging.

Another poster mentioned reducing the text size to make the icons smaller so they don't spill into the overflow tray.

deustroop · Feb 3, 2025

In2Photos said:
Ok. Let's try something else.

Another poster mentioned reducing the text size to make the icons smaller so they don't spill into the overflow tray.

When all else fails call Windows support. Press them for a solution. First tier support will run through standard solutions which will not work so then ask to be connected to 2nd tier which will likely also fail to correct the problem so off you go to third level. That expert is a coder and you will have to make an appointment to get his/her attention but stick with it.
I have two third tier solutions working on this machine.There are several identical booting disks on the machine (back ups) and a particular update was confused where to install.Third tier solved the problem by creating files which assisted the update to install on the booted OS/disk. Took 10 days to reach nirvana and I'm sure my complaint was looked at by most of the call centres from Singapore to Toronto.

ascendant · Feb 3, 2025

deustroop said:
When all else fails call Windows support. Press them for a solution. First tier support will run through standard solutions which will not work so then ask to be connected to 2nd tier which will likely also fail to correct the problem so off you go to third level. That expert is a coder and you will have to make an appointment to get his/her attention but stick with it.
I have two third tier solutions working on this machine.There are several identical booting disks on the machine (back ups) and a particular update was confused where to install.Third tier solved the problem by creating files which assisted the update to install on the booted OS/disk. Took 10 days to reach nirvana and I'm sure my complaint was looked at by most of the call centres from Singapore to Toronto.

I'm not paying those jerkoffs to help me get my OS operating how it's *supposed* to operate. I also don't have the time nor money to do that. I appreciate the suggestion, but that's not an option for me.

I'm going to have to figure something else out for now. Thank you for trying to help though

ascendant · Feb 3, 2025

In2Photos said:
Ok. Let's try something else.

Another poster mentioned reducing the text size to make the icons smaller so they don't spill into the overflow tray.

I tried literally every single thing mentioned in that thread. None helps.

I've messed with literally every single setting for personalizations. None of that has done any good. I need something in the registry itself, or a way to force the PC to reinstall the taskbar. I saw something yesterday that was *supposed* to reinstall the taskbar, but I tried it, restarted the PC, still the same issue.

To add, since it was also mentioned that it could be something I have installed conflicting with it, I tried starting up in safe mode. Same exact problem. So, it's in Windows itself. Just so odd that it created a new account fine and I can move them no problem, but my primary account doesn't, yet it detects no problems at all. So annoying.

WelshBloke · Feb 3, 2025

Daft question but your install of Windows is activated? The personalisation options don't work if you aren't.

mikeymikec · Feb 3, 2025

Another faffing around idea - in Settings > Personalisation > Themes, save your current theme then reset the theme to a one that comes with Windows? I would also then log out and back in.

Personally I think a more specific solution is needed. Apparently pinned taskbar icon info is stored in two places:

Where are the task bar icons stored on Windows 10

I've looked in %AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar as recommended by this answer for Windows 7, but I don't see a "User Pinned" folder.

superuser.com

%AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Taskband

I would be inclined to back up both locations and then nuke the contents of each (emptying the 'taskbar' folder and deleting the registry entry in 'Taskband', leave the 'folder' key structure just delete the values), then log out and back in, and see whether you can pin stuff and re-order it.

Please clarify - Windows doesn't let you change the order of the taskbar icons (and we're not talking about the tray near the clock), or Windows lets you change the order then forgets the new order the next time you log in?

ascendant · Feb 3, 2025

WelshBloke said:
Daft question but your install of Windows is activated? The personalisation options don't work if you aren't.

I don't think it's daft, lol. With all the torrents these days, very valid question imo. I just checked, and yes, it's shows it's activated, so no problem there. thanks for letting me know though, as I didn't even know about that until you mentioned it

ascendant · Feb 3, 2025

mikeymikec said:
Another faffing around idea - in Settings > Personalisation > Themes, save your current theme then reset the theme to a one that comes with Windows? I would also then log out and back in.

Personally I think a more specific solution is needed. Apparently pinned taskbar icon info is stored in two places:

Where are the task bar icons stored on Windows 10

I've looked in %AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar as recommended by this answer for Windows 7, but I don't see a "User Pinned" folder.

superuser.com

%AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Taskband

I would be inclined to back up both locations and then nuke the contents of each (emptying the 'taskbar' folder and deleting the registry entry in 'Taskband', leave the 'folder' key structure just delete the values), then log out and back in, and see whether you can pin stuff and re-order it.

Please clarify - Windows doesn't let you change the order of the taskbar icons (and we're not talking about the tray near the clock), or Windows lets you change the order then forgets the new order the next time you log in?

Thank you. I don't have time tonight, but sometime later this week I'm going to give that a shot

To clarify, it won't let me change the order of them at all. I can pin icons onto the taskbar, but once I do, wherever they are in the order, that's it. I can't move any of them at all anywhere. I can remove them as well of course, but that's all I can do - pin them and remove the pin

ascendant · Feb 7, 2025

mikeymikec said:
Another faffing around idea - in Settings > Personalisation > Themes, save your current theme then reset the theme to a one that comes with Windows? I would also then log out and back in.

Personally I think a more specific solution is needed. Apparently pinned taskbar icon info is stored in two places:

Where are the task bar icons stored on Windows 10

I've looked in %AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar as recommended by this answer for Windows 7, but I don't see a "User Pinned" folder.

superuser.com

%AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Taskband

I would be inclined to back up both locations and then nuke the contents of each (emptying the 'taskbar' folder and deleting the registry entry in 'Taskband', leave the 'folder' key structure just delete the values), then log out and back in, and see whether you can pin stuff and re-order it.

Please clarify - Windows doesn't let you change the order of the taskbar icons (and we're not talking about the tray near the clock), or Windows lets you change the order then forgets the new order the next time you log in?

Well, I gave this a shot, and it helped some!!! It's odd though, as it works, but not entirely. So, I attached a screenshot below. It's being weird. If I choose the "never" options for the combine taskbar buttons, I can move *some* of the icons, but ONLY when I have that specific app/folder/software open. Not all of them move though. Like even when I have my "clock" app open, it still won't move.

It seems like if I pin something by opening the program first, then right-clicking the taskbar and choosing "pin," I can *usually* move those icons. But, if I drag and drop a "link" to the taskbar to put it on there that way, it won't move. Like that last app on the bar there (the purple star one). I linked that from the shortcut for the app I have on the desktop. When I did it that way, it wouldn't move. I'd have to move other icons around it, but it itself wouldn't move. BUT, when I unpinned it that way, opened up the app, and then right-clicked the bar to choose "pin to taskbar" that way, then I could move it. So, seems like there's still something wrong (unless that's how it's supposed to be?), but I at least have a way I can move most of my icons. Some things I can't pin that way, but most I can, so I can at least organize like 90% of them now.

I greatly, GREATLY appreciate all the help, as I have so many taskbar icons for so many different things (not many now because I had to delete all of them to fix this), that keeping them organized makes my life SO much easier, and I feel so much better having them organized since I'm OCD, lol. Thanks so much to all you who helped. Even if your suggestions didn't work, I appreciate your effort regardless.

I probably can't do much better than this without fully re-installing. If anyone does have any other ideas based off what's going on now, please let me know though. I know it's still not working right, as I have my laptop as a basis of comparison. But, not sure if what's going on now might help narrow down where the problem is or not. I mean I did exactly what it suggested in the post I replied to in this message. But, better than what it had been!!!

mikeymikec · Feb 8, 2025

@ascendant

Is this 24H2 by any chance? I've noticed some weird stuff occurring with the taskbar on 24H2 with labels enabled, like sometimes the label isn't there even though it has an open window, click on the 'open window' icon, then the label appears.

Changing over to a new user profile would be a lot quicker than a reinstall; still not a great solution admittedly.

ascendant · Feb 9, 2025

mikeymikec said:
@ascendant

Is this 24H2 by any chance? I've noticed some weird stuff occurring with the taskbar on 24H2 with labels enabled, like sometimes the label isn't there even though it has an open window, click on the 'open window' icon, then the label appears.

Changing over to a new user profile would be a lot quicker than a reinstall; still not a great solution admittedly.

Yes, it is 24H2. Ever since I "upgraded" to Windows 11, I've had multiple issues though, even before this version. Most I've fixed or worked around already, but this one just wouldn't go away. At least I have it working enough to where I can mess with settings and get them where I want them to be. Just annoying now more than anything. If they hadn't stopped supporting/updating Windows 10, I'd have never switched to this version. I'd have skipped it like Windows 8 and Vista, lol.

As far as changing to a new user profile, NO, that would be my absolute last worst resort. I use my PC for everything - work, college, video chat/games with my kids, etc. That last screenshot of my taskbar probably made me look like a more casual PC user. I was just starting to set them up at that point. The image below shows them set up how I wanted them set up. And note not just those taskbar icons, but many of them have a list of files attached to each (word, PDFs, folders, vlc, etc.). And that's just my taskbar items. I have a ridiculous amount of stuff on my PC. Sure, I have my OS on a separate partition, but still have tons of software/apps, configurations for those items, files attached, etc. Changing to a new profile would be at least a half-day project, probably closer to 3/4 of a day. No, I'm leaving it as-is for now, so long as no new issues pop up later on. Appreciate the advice though, as if I was a more casual user, yes absolutely would've made more sense to just clean the slate like that.

ascendant · Feb 12, 2025

Well, forget that last post. The POS OS locked them all up again. Can't move any of them anymore, no matter how I change the settings. I absolutely hate Windows 11, hate Microsoft, and I'm going to start migrating away from their crap

Question Windows 11 - Can't Change The Order Of Taskbar Icons (And No "Lock Taskbar" option in right-click, nor in the taskbar personalization settings)

ascendant

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mikeymikec

Lifer

ascendant

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In2Photos

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ascendant

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In2Photos

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deustroop

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ascendant

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ascendant

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WelshBloke

Lifer

mikeymikec

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Where are the task bar icons stored on Windows 10

ascendant

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ascendant

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Where are the task bar icons stored on Windows 10

ascendant

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Where are the task bar icons stored on Windows 10

mikeymikec

Lifer

ascendant

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ascendant

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