Want to change taskbar to vertical in Windows 11? Check out Windhawk, new third-party mod

People have been longing for a way to change taskbar to vertical in Windows 11 since Microsoft does not currently offer a way for you to change it natively. In fact, many third-party solutions, like the popular Start menu changer StartAllBack, have been circulating.

And now, another solution has arrived. Windhawk, a popular third-party mod for Windows programs (not just the Start menu), has released an update that lets you have a vertical taskbar on Windows 11.

The only downside for now, though, is that the clock hasn’t been properly rotated, meaning that it doesn’t read well vertically just yet. The modder says it’s a work in progress, as well as the capability to put the taskbar on the top.

You can download it on Windhawk’s website here, go to Mods in the upper right menu, and then find and install the “Vertical Taskbar for Windows 11” mod.

According to the creator, what makes Windhawk stand out from StartAllBack is that Windhawk’s approach involves minimal intervention, with each mod only doing what it is designed for while maintaining the original look and feel of the interface.

Microsoft removed the vertical taskbar, a popular feature from the good ol’ Windows 10 days, the company deemed it unimportant so it did not include the feature on the new UI framework from Windows Core OS. Besides, the taskbar design in Windows 11 made moving it complex and resource-intensive, or in other words, it’s just too much work for a feature that’s not even widely used.

Well, at least according to them, because folks have actually been begging Microsoft to let them move the taskbar in Windows 11 for years.

Ouch.