Taskbar - Use Small or Large Icons

How to Use Small or Large Icons on the Windows 7 Taskbar​

   Information

This will show you how to set the Windows 7 taskbar to display with either small or large icons.

   Tip

Microsoft has made available a hotfix that will resolve a problem where the taskbar customizations are lost and reset to defaults when automatic logon is enabled in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. More details are available at FIX: The Taskbar is reset to the default settings when you use the "Automatically Log On" feature in Windows 7 and in Windows Server 2008 R2.

EXAMPLE: Taskbar with Large Icons
NOTE: This is the default setting.

EXAMPLE: Taskbar with Small Icons

OPTION ONE

Through Taskbar Properties

1. Right click on a empty space on the taskbar and click on Properties.

2. To Use Small Icons on the Taskbar
A) Check the Use small icons box. (see screenshot below step 3A)

B) Go to step 4.
3. To Use Large Icons on the Taskbar
A) Uncheck the Use small icons box. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: This is the default setting.

4. Click on OK. (See screenshot above)

OPTION TWO

Using a REG file Download

1. To Use Small Icons on the Taskbar
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Small_Icons_for_Taskbar.reg

Download


B) Go to step 3.
2. To Use Large Icons on the Taskbar
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
NOTE: This is the default setting.
Large_Icons_for_Taskbar.reg

Download


3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the desktop.

4. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.

5. Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.

6. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.

7. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

OPTION THREE

Manually in Registry Editor

1. Open the Start Menu, then type regedit in the search box and press Enter.

2. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.

3. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

4. In the right pane of Advanced, right click on TaskbarSmallIcons and click on Modify. (see screenshot above)

5. To Use Large Icons on the Taskbar
A) Type 0 (number zero), and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: This is the default setting.

B) Go to step 7.
6. To Use Small Icons on the Taskbar
A) Type 1, and click on OK. (see screenshot above)
7. Close regedit.

8. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Pin or Unpin a Folder to the Windows 7 Taskbar
• How to Pin or Unpin a Program to the Windows 7 Taskbar
• How to Enable or Disable Windows 7 Taskbar Button Grouping
• How to Allow or Prevent Taskbar Button Grouping in Windows 7
• How to Use Small or Large Icons in the Windows 7 Start Menu
• How to Enable or Disable QuickLaunch in Windows 7
• How to Lock or Unlock the Windows 7 Taskbar
• How to Move the Windows 7 Taskbar Location on the Desktop
• How to Show or Hide the Windows 7 Taskbar with Auto-hide
• How to Change the Windows 7 Taskbar Icon Width Size
• How to Pin or Unpin a Drive to the Windows 7 Taskbar
• How to Create a Taskbar Properties Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Resize the Taskbar in Vista and Windows 7
• How to "Pin to Taskbar" Transparent Invisible Icons for Programs in Windows 7

 

[rwideman]

I dislike large icons but wish to view the date. Any way to that?

 

[Dinesh]

I dislike large icons but wish to view the date. Any way to that?

I guess the date can be seen in both large and small icons.
What exactly do you want?

 

[Airbot]

I guess the date can be seen in both large and small icons.
What exactly do you want?

No, it can't. If you use large icons which is the big taskbar it will show the date under the clock all the time, if you use small icons which is the small taskbar, it will only show the clock. But you can mouse over the time and it will show the date.


He wants to use small taskbar but have the clock show as well as the date without mousing over the clock. I don't think you can have both. You can use a date/time gadget.

 

[Ballistyx]

No, it can't. If you use large icons which is the big taskbar it will show the date under the clock all the time, if you use small icons which is the small taskbar, it will only show the clock. But you can mouse over the time and it will show the date.


He wants to use small taskbar but have the clock show as well as the date without mousing over the clock. I don't think you can have both. You can use a date/time gadget.

I have both the time and date with small icons??

Screenshots here

 

[Airbot]

Well yes, but your taskbar is still big. It's not like this, which is what he probably is using. But I guess we'll find out from him or not if he doesn't care about the size of the taskbar, and just the icons.

 

[Ballistyx]

Well yes, but your taskbar is still big. It's not like this, which is what he probably is using. But I guess we'll find out from him or not if he doesn't care about the size of the taskbar, and just the icons.

View attachment 22203

I know its not as small as yours that is only cos the time and date pushes it up more but still using small icons

in your other post you were saying that you cant use small icons and still show both time and date.. unless im mistaken?

 

[Airbot]

I took the assumption he wants to use the small taskbar and not the big one. You can't get the date and time to both show on the small taskbar, can you? Maybe I should of gave a better explanation in my original post. But like I said, we'll find out if he doesn't care his taskbar is big and just wants small icons, regardless of the size of the taskbar.

 

[Ballistyx]

I took the assumption he wants to use the small taskbar and not the big one. You can't get the date and time to both show on the small taskbar, can you? Maybe I should of gave a better explanation in my original post. But like I said, we'll find out if he doesn't care his taskbar is big and just wants small icons, regardless of the size of the taskbar.

Your right

Small task = small icons (time only)
big task = small icons (or big) with both time and date

 

[AhmedCo]

nice 1..
I too don't like the large icons here !

 

[nscnpc]

Hello Everyone,

I just found this link in google search...mt be it will help you for the date and time with small icons...

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3529-date-format-change.html

 

[JamesR404]

Big bar + date

If you want the date, you can make your taskbar larger - then it will show the date, even if you have small icons.

Like attached:


I do prefer the task bar on the right hand though ever since I'm used to having a netbook.

 

[patyjoe]

I'm using windows 7 ultimate 32 bit with ie9. I've tried all of the tips for increasing the icon size on the taskbar but none of them work. Do you have any other suggestions on how to make them larger?

 

[Brink]

Hello Paty, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Could you post a screenshot of your taskbar with the icons you want to increase the size of outlined just to help make sure these are the same icons that the tutorial are referring to?

If they are not, then we may be able to suggest something else that may work instead.

 

[thetechie]

To toggle the size of the toolbar within the user's account, you could create a batch file from this:

reg query HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced /v TaskbarSmallIcons | find "0x0"
 
If %ERRORLEVEL% == 0 goto turnon
IF %ERRORLEVEL% == 1 goto turnoff
goto end
 
:turnon
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v TaskbarSmallIcons /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
 
goto end
 
:turnoff
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v TaskbarSmallIcons /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
 
goto end
 
:end
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
start explorer.exe

To make the size of the toolbar smaller for a user from a separate administrator account use this:

reg.exe load HKLM\TempHive "C:\Documents and Settings\User\NTUSER.DAT"
 
reg add "HKLM\TempHive\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced" /v TaskbarSmallIcons /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
 
reg.exe unload HKLM\TempHive

Just change "User" to whatever the name of the user (or user folder name) is. I'm not sure about the clock issue.