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Windows 7

Taskbar Too Big? Shrink It!

SUMMARY: If the Windows 7 Taskbar takes up too much room at the bottom of your screen, reduce its size.

By default, Windows 7's Taskbar takes up more room at the bottom of the screen than the Taskbar in previous versions of Windows. This makes the buttons easier to see, plus they are easier to press if you are using a touch screen.

Some people may use a smaller monitor and find the Taskbar takes up too much room, and others need a little extra room for open applications and other windows. Thus, Windows 7 has an option that shrinks the taskbar size slightly for those that could use the extra pixels:

Comparing the Windows 7 Taskbar with small and large icons

1. Right-click an empty area of the taskbar and choose "Properties".

2. The "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties" multi-tabbed dialog box appears. Check "Use small icons".

Configuring Windows 7 to display smaller icons on the taskbar

3. Click "OK" on the dialog box to save your settings.

This tip was written for Windows 7 RC. Screenshots and information are subject to change between this and the official release of Windows 7.