Taskbar Icons

How to Replace the Vista Taskbar Buttons with Icons​

   Information

This will show you how to have taskbar buttons for open windows to display with icons instead.

   Note

The taskbar button thumbnail previewswill still display if you have the Windows Aero color scheme selected.

   Warning

If the taskbar is moved vertically to either side of the display, then the icons will not work and only buttons are available instead. The icons will only only work with the taskbar at the top or bottom of the display instead.

EXAMPLE: Taskbar with Buttons
NOTE: This is the default taskbar.

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EXAMPLE: Taskbar with Icons

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OPTION ONE

Using a REG File Download

1. To Have Taskbar Icons​

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A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.​

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Taskbar_with_Icons.reg​

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B) Go to step 3.​

2. To Restore Taskbar Buttons​

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A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.​

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Taskbar_with_Buttons.reg​

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

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

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5. Click on Run, Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.​

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

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

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OPTION TWO

Manually in Registry Editor

1. Open the Start Menu.​

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2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.​

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3. Click on Continue in the UAC prompt.​

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4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)​

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HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowsMetrics​

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5. To Have Taskbar Icons​

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A) In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click on New and String Value. (See screenshot above)​

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B) Type MinWidth and press Enter. (See screenshot below)​

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C) Right click on MinWidth and click on Modify. (See screenshot below)​

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D) Type -255 and click on OK. (See screenshot below)​

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E) The registry will now look like this. (See screenshot below)​

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F) Go to step 7.​

6. To Restore Taskbar Buttons​

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A) In the right pane, right click on MinWidth and click on Delete. (See screenshot above)​

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B) Click on Yes to confirm deletion.​

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7. Close regedit.​

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8. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply the changes.​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Show or Hide Folder Full Path in the Vista Taskbar Buttons
• How to Turn Group Similar Taskbar Buttons On or Off in Vista
• How to Turn Open Window Thumbnail Previews On or Off for the Taskbar in Vista

 

[Graphixboy]

Is there away that this will also work when you have the task bar at the side?

 

[Brink]

Hello Graphixboy, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Is this screenshot with the tutorial applied?

 

[Graphixboy]

Thanks for the welcome, and yes I did edit the reg and it works find if the task bar is at the bottom.

 

[Brink]

Umm. I'll have a play with it tonight to see what I can find on it. I'll post back my findings for you.

 

[Brink]

I have looked and hunted, but I cannot find the registry entry responsible for this option for the vertical taskbar.

I'll keep hunting and will update the tutorial if I can find it.

 

[Graphixboy]

Thanks Brink...

I never had such quick resonponses from a forum before...

Lets hope you can find the solution.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Ross Hewitt]

Hello, around about April 1st The taskbar buttons disappeared so when I minimise a window the only way I can find it is by using the 3d-flip icon. I tried your method in regedit listed above - no joy. I tried the fix for making icons appear - no joy. Tried switching back to buttons (-255 MinWidth in regedit) but still not luck, Each time restarting computer. I have scanned computer with windows defender and AVG free and not found anything. Also did a system restore yesterday but unfortunately wasnt able to select a date before the 4 th April. Any ideas , its driving me nuts? Regards Ross

 

[Brink]

Hello Ross, and welcome to Vista Forums.

You might see if running a sfc /scannow command may be able to fix it for you.

If not, then see if creating a new administrator account to see if the taskbar buttons work in it. If yes, then you can save your settings by copying the contents in the old user account's C:\Users\(user name) folders into the new account's corresponding C:\Users\(user name) folders. If everything copies over ok and checks out, then you can delete the old user account.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Ross Hewitt]

The scf / scannow didnt reveal anything so created a new user account and that has solved the problem. Many thanks, Ross

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Ross.