The Best Tools to Redo the Windows Taskbar

[howardhwen]

Whether you miss the classic Windows taskbar or want a complete makeover, these tools restore old favorites, unlock deeper customization, and bring macOS-style docks and retro designs to Windows.

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The Best Tools to Redo the Windows Taskbar

 

[OortCloud]

It's crazy that such a huge company with so many resources can repeatedly do such an awful job of their UI and UX and then a few small, often even one-man-bands can come along and do it so much better. Other than looking for ways to fleece us all what do MS actually do these days with Windows? I can't really think of a single impactful change for the good in the OS in years.

 

[BabyFaceLee]

I use StartAllBack and True Launch Bar and have done for years.

 

[mrSister]

OpenShell is all that's needed.

 

[fadingfool]

Object dock and translucentTB are the two I use. Thankfully Microsoft finally saw sense and allowed the taskbar to be moved in win11.

 

[Art C]

The best tool to redo the windows taskbar is a complete switch to Linux and KDE Plasma.

 

[Tyler Dur Den]

If all of these third party apps can bring about this functionality, then why doesn't Microsoft offer these options natively? For example provide functionality that emulates Windows 95, 98, XP, 2000 Pro, and windows 7.

 

[RaXelliX]

It's crazy that such a huge company with so many resources can repeatedly do such an awful job of their UI and UX and then a few small, often even one-man-bands can come along and do it so much better. Other than looking for ways to fleece us all what do MS actually do these days with Windows? I can't really think of a single impactful change for the good in the OS in years.

If all of these third party apps can bring about this functionality, then why doesn't Microsoft offer these options natively? For example provide functionality that emulates Windows 95, 98, XP, 2000 Pro, and windows 7.

Because the bigger the company, the slower it becomes. It's a paradox, but it's true every time. If a company grows too big then most of it's time is being spent on management, meetings and getting approvals from ten different department heads to even put something into work, much less ship it.

Windows should have been spun off as a subsidiary a long time ago. Make them smaller, more agile and nimble. The reason why one guy in his garage can beat a multi-billion dollar conglomeration in speed is exactly this. He doesn't need to go trough ten layers of middle management and spend half his work time in useless meetings to meet a consumer antagonistic corporate agenda.

 

[GeoffreyA]

Open-Shell. Apart the lack of Quick Launch, I find 11's Taskbar to work quite well.

 

[antiproduct]

Had to get StartAllBack after Windows 11 removed the option to move the task bar. Didn't want that burning in on my OLED monitor. Really stupid move, Microsoft. I guess they brought that ability back finally, but I'll stay with what I have.