Forums, Reddit, and Feedback Hub exploded. "My 1366×768 laptop lost 10% of usable screen height." "Why does a productivity OS waste pixels?" Microsoft’s initial response: small taskbar is not coming back due to "modern design principles" and touch optimization.
Microsoft added a "Taskbar alignment" setting (center/left) and colorful weather widgets — but the one setting that actually recovers pixels remains absent. Meanwhile, macOS and ChromeOS both allow thinner dock/taskbar options. windows 11 small taskbar
For users who want to force the entire taskbar—not just the icons—to a smaller size, the "TaskbarSi" registry edit remains a popular workaround. Always back up your registry before making changes. Forums, Reddit, and Feedback Hub exploded