If you use Windows 11 with a tablet device, starting with Windows 11 build 25197, users can use the newly redesigned taskbar to make them feel more confident and comfortable using their device as a tablet. The taskbar will automatically transition to this optimized version when you disconnect or fold back the keyboard on your 2-in-1 device. This feature will not work with laptops and desktop PCs and works only if the device is in tablet mode. If you have a tablet divide and want to use the new tablet-optimized taskbar, use the steps below to do that with Windows 11.
Turn on or off the tablet-optimized taskbar with Windows 11 from Settings
As described above, starting with Windows 11 build 25197, users can use the newly redesigned taskbar to make them feel more confident and comfortable using their device as a tablet. Here’s how to enable or disable with Windows 11 First, open the Windows Settings app. You can do that by clicking on the Start menu and selecting Settings. Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut (Windows key + I) to launch the Settings app. When the Settings app opens, click the Personalization button on the left. On the right, click on the Taskbar tile to expand. On the Personalization -> Taskbar settings pane, click the Taskbar behaviors to expand. On the expanded Taskbar behaviors settings pane, select and check the box on the tile that reads “Optimize taskbar for touch interactions when this device is used as a tablet” to enable. To disable it, simply uncheck the box. You can close the Settings app.
Turn on or off the tablet-optimized taskbar via the Windows registry editor
Alternatively, users can turn on or off the taskbar optimized for tablet devices via the Windows registry editor. Here’s how to enable or disable it in Windows 11. To do that, first, open the Windows Registry, and navigate to the folder key path as listed below. If you don’t see the Advanced folder key, right-click on the Explorer key, then create the subkey (Advanced) folders. On the right pane of the Advanced folder key, right-click and select New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value. Type a new key named ExpandableTaskbar. Double-click the new value name (ExpandableTaskbar) and enter the Value data of 1 to turn on the tablet-optimized taskbar in Windows 11. A Value data of 0 will turn off the tablet-optimized taskbar in Windows 11. That should do it! Reference: https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/09/08/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-25197/ Conclusion: This post showed you how to enable or disable the tablet-optimized taskbar in Windows 11. If you find any error above or have something to add, please use the comment form below.
