Microsoft has just pulled out of the hat a feature that reeks of nostalgia: the return of the compact taskbar on Windows 11. So, after 3 years of being forced to the “XXL” size, our icons will finally be able to regain their small size.
Besides, remember the arrival of Windows 11 in 2021: New interface (wow!), new features (wow!)… and a taskbar that seemed to have overindulged in Tibo InShape smoothies during confinement (Yes…).
Fortunately, in the latest beta version of Windows 11 (Build 22635.4291 for short), Microsoft has discreetly slipped an option to show smaller icons in taskbar.
Finally !
When you enable this option, the taskbar icons shrink, but – be careful, this is where it gets weird – the taskbar itself keeps its original size. A bit weird, but don’t worry, it’s still in the testing phase, and Microsoft has promised to refine it before the final version.
For the more impatient among you who would like to test this right away, here is how to set it up on your PC:
- First make sure you have installed the Windows 11 Build update 22635.4291 (or later version).
- Next, download the ViVeTool from GitHub and unzip it.
- Open a command prompt in administrator mode.
- Then navigate to the folder where you extracted ViVeTool using the cd command. For example :
cd C:ViVeTool - Enter the magic command:
vivetool /enable /id:29785184 - Restart your PC.
And once your PC has restarted, go to the Settings > Personalization > Taskbar. There you should find a new option to display smaller icons.
However, don’t get too excited as this feature is still in testing, meaning it could change or even disappear before the final release.
Sources 1 and 2
