{"id":146803,"date":"2021-01-04T09:40:28","date_gmt":"2021-01-04T06:40:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/why-your-windows-taskbar-should-always-be-on-the-left-side\/"},"modified":"2021-01-04T09:40:28","modified_gmt":"2021-01-04T06:40:28","slug":"why-your-windows-taskbar-should-always-be-on-the-left-side","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-your-windows-taskbar-should-always-be-on-the-left-side\/","title":{"rendered":"#Why Your Windows Taskbar Should Always Be on the Left Side"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2dfb51774de\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2dfb51774de\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-your-windows-taskbar-should-always-be-on-the-left-side\/#The_Origins_of_the_Horizontal_Taskbar\" >The Origins of the Horizontal Taskbar<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-your-windows-taskbar-should-always-be-on-the-left-side\/#Side_Taskbars_Use_Less_Screen_Space_The_Math\" >Side Taskbars Use Less Screen Space: The Math<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-your-windows-taskbar-should-always-be-on-the-left-side\/#Screen_Space_Aside_Vertical_Taskbars_Are_Just_Better\" >Screen Space Aside, Vertical Taskbars Are Just Better<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-your-windows-taskbar-should-always-be-on-the-left-side\/#Why_the_Left_Side\" >Why the Left Side?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-your-windows-taskbar-should-always-be-on-the-left-side\/#Not_Just_for_Windows\" >Not Just for Windows<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-your-windows-taskbar-should-always-be-on-the-left-side\/#Give_It_a_Try\" >Give It a Try<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><strong>&#8220;#Why Your Windows Taskbar Should Always Be on the Left Side&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<div>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-706322\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/xwindows-taskbar-left-1.png.pagespeed.gp+jp+jw+pj+ws+js+rj+rp+rw+ri+cp+md.ic.hSGUuEY4kJ.png\" alt=\"windows taskbar on the left side\" width=\"650\" height=\"300\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Windows has featured a taskbar at the bottom of the screen since the beginning. That position made sense back in the day, but on modern computers, it doesn\u2019t. I\u2019m here to tell you the taskbar should be on the left.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Origins_of_the_Horizontal_Taskbar\"><\/span>The Origins of the Horizontal Taskbar<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>To understand why the taskbar should be on the left side\u2014or right side\u2014we should first take a look at where it started. Windows 1.0 included a taskbar at the bottom of the screen, but it was only for showing minimized <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>lications. The taskbar we know today first showed up in Windows 95.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>Windows 95 Turns 25: When Windows Went Mainstream<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Windows 95 was actually the first version that supported moving the taskbar as well, but it wasn\u2019t really needed at that time. Up until around 2003, computer monitors primarily used a 4:3 aspect ratio, which meant that there was almost as much vertical space as horizontal space.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_706325\" style=\"width: 642px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-706325\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/windows-95.gif.pagespeed.ce.tPYvbAAX_L.gif\" alt=\"windows 95 taskbar comparison\" width=\"642\" height=\"482\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Windows 95<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Since the vertical and horizontal sizes were similar, the taskbar spanning across the bottom didn\u2019t cut into screen real estate very much, so it was fine back then. But what does all of this have to do with modern Windows 10 PCs?<\/p>\n<p>There are a couple of different trends happening with monitors and computer displays today. 16:9 was the standard for a while\u2014and it still is the most popular\u2014but things are evolving. Desktop monitors are getting wider, with 21:9 \u201cultra-wide\u201d becoming more common. In laptop computers, 3:2 is slowly starting to appear more often.<\/p>\n<p>The question of why you should put the taskbar on the side can be answered in two ways: mathematically and practically.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Side_Taskbars_Use_Less_Screen_Space_The_Math\"><\/span>Side Taskbars Use Less Screen Space: The Math<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If we look at this from a mathematical standpoint, the question is really this: How can we get the most screen space <em>minus<\/em> the taskbar?<\/p>\n<p>Common sense suggests that any display wider than the standard 16:9 aspect ratio is better suited for a side (vertical) taskbar. However, 3:2 displays, which are similar to the 4:3 displays we talked about earlier, may work best with bottom (horizontal) taskbars.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s take a look at how much of the total screen area is taken up by the taskbar in both positions. First, the popular combo of 1080p and 16:9; here\u2019s how many pixels the taskbar takes up in each orientation, and how much of a percentage of the screen that is.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Side Taskbar<\/strong>: 1,080 x 62 = 66,960 (3.2%)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bottom Taskbar<\/strong>: 1,920 x 40 = 76,800 (3.7%)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>By a slim margin, the side taskbar wins out. It uses less of your screen than a bottom taskbar.<\/p>\n<p>That means that any wider of a display will be even more of an advantage for the side taskbar. Here\u2019s an ultra-wide 21:9 display.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Side Taskbar:<\/strong> 1,080 x 62 = 66,960 (2.4%)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bottom Taskbar:<\/strong> 2,560 x 40 = 102,400 (3.7%)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" alignnone wp-image-706271 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/21to9.gif.pagespeed.ce.bMfT-oX9bP.gif\" alt=\"ultra wide taskbar comparison\" width=\"652\" height=\"276\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Since the taskbar is spanning all the way across the 2,556 pixels horizontally, it\u2019s taking up more of the total screen area. Now, let\u2019s take a look at the same thing on a 3:2 display.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Side Taskbar<\/strong>: 1,440 x 77 = 110,880 (3.6%)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bottom Taskbar<\/strong>: 2,160 x 32 = 69,120 (2.2%)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" alignnone wp-image-706272 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/3to2.gif.pagespeed.ce.kxHGo7-XLe.gif\" alt=\"3:2 taskbar comparison\" width=\"652\" height=\"435\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>In this case, we can see that the taskbar on the bottom is the best choice to maximize screen real estate.<\/p>\n<p>So the numbers clearly back up the fact that putting the taskbar on the side will give you the most screen area on widescreen displays. But here\u2019s where I don\u2019t think the math tells the whole story. I believe you should use a side taskbar on 3:2 displays, too.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Screen_Space_Aside_Vertical_Taskbars_Are_Just_Better\"><\/span>Screen Space Aside, Vertical Taskbars Are Just Better<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The numbers above show that on a 3:2 display, putting the taskbar on the bottom takes up the least amount of screen space. However, the numbers aren\u2019t taking into account how people actually use their computers.<\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s the thing that most of us do on our computers every day? Browse the web. How are most websites formatted? For vertical scrolling. Allow me to explain.<\/p>\n<p>The How-To Geek homepage is formatted like many websites on the internet. There\u2019s blank space on both sides, and the content runs down the middle of the page. You can cut into that horizontal width and not affect much, but if you cut into the vertical space, you\u2019re blocking some of the content.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" alignnone wp-image-706296 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/HTG-side-bottom.gif.pagespeed.ce.Y46VeI3aGp.gif\" alt=\"16:9 taskbar comparison\" width=\"652\" height=\"368\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>As you can see, the side taskbar shows the most content vertically. The page can span from the top of the browser tab to the very bottom of the screen. On the other hand, having the taskbar at the bottom limits that vertical space and gives you no extra content on the side.<\/p>\n<p>The same thing will be true if you\u2019re using a 3:2 display. The only difference is that you\u2019ll see even more content vertically and less blank space on the sides. That\u2019s a win\/win in my book. If you\u2019re looking for the best web browsing experience, the side taskbar is the obvious choice.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_the_Left_Side\"><\/span>Why the Left Side?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Okay, I think I\u2019ve laid out a pretty good argument for why you should put the taskbar on the side, but why the left side specifically? Admittedly, this doesn\u2019t matter as much. The important thing is to put it on <em>any<\/em> side. I do think the left makes the most sense, though.<\/p>\n<p>A lot of the things that you might do on a computer are left-aligned. An Excel spreadsheet starts in the upper left, for example. It\u2019s common for websites to have their logos and toolbars left-aligned as well. Stepping away from computers, smartphone apps almost always have their sidebar menus on the left.<\/p>\n<p>We seem to naturally be drawn to the left side as a starting point. English is written left-to-right, after all. It just feels right to have the taskbar on that side, too. My mouse is naturally drawn to that side when I need to launch an app or open the Start Menu.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Not_Just_for_Windows\"><\/span>Not Just for Windows<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_706308\" style=\"width: 652px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-706308\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/xmac-dock.png.pagespeed.gp+jp+jw+pj+ws+js+rj+rp+rw+ri+cp+md.ic.gLmcmIe8VQ.png\" alt=\"sidebar dock on Mac\" width=\"652\" height=\"408\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sidebar dock on Mac OS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I\u2019ve been talking a lot about Windows and have shown the Windows taskbar in examples (It is in the title, after all.), but you should know that every major desktop operating system can do this.<\/p>\n<p>The Mac OS \u201cdock\u201d can be moved to the left or right side. Chromebooks can also put the \u201cshelf\u201d on the left or right side. The Ubuntu Linux distribution already has its \u201cdock\u201d on the left side by default.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Give_It_a_Try\"><\/span>Give It a Try<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>So give a vertical taskbar a chance. I think you\u2019ll like it. Even if it seems a little strange at first, you might find that you prefer it over that traditional bottom taskbar.<\/p>\n<p>To move your taskbar around on Windows 10, all you have to do is right-click the taskbar and uncheck \u201cLock the taskbar.\u201d You can then click and drag any empty area on your taskbar to move it around on your screen.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>How to Get a Vertical Taskbar on Windows 10<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n setTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s) } (window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n   fbq('init', '335401813750447');\n   fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/706245\/why-your-windows-taskbar-should-always-be-on-the-left-side\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;#Why Your Windows Taskbar Should Always Be on the Left Side&#8221; Windows has featured a taskbar at the bottom of the screen since the beginning. That position made sense back in the day, but on modern computers, it doesn\u2019t. I\u2019m here to tell you the taskbar should be on the left. The Origins of the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":146804,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/thumbcache\/2\/200\/9392ae3c2cbed1e42ca07de1ef7794d8\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/windows-taskbar-left-1.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-146803","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146803","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=146803"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146803\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/146804"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=146803"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=146803"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=146803"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}