How to Center the Start Menu Along With Taskbar Icons in Windows 10?

By default, the icons are aligned left on the taskbar in Windows 10, quite different from the taskbar in Windows 11. Even though the Start menu and other icons are easier to access when grouped in the left-hand corner of the taskbar, there are many reasons why you would want to center them.

Fortunately, Windows 10 allows you to do so in a few simple steps. In this guide, we will walk you through the method of centering the Start menu along with taskbar icons in Windows. Let’s get right into it!

Why Center Windows 10 Taskbar Icons?

Arranging the Start menu and taskbar icons in the center is great for aesthetics, as it gives your operating system an overall neat look when you only have a few icons pinned. Furthermore, if you use macOS, having icons in the center of your taskbar will make things more consistent, thus giving you a Mac-like experience.

How To Center My Taskbar Icons?

Listed below are different ways of centering taskbar icons on your Windows. Luckily, all the methods are easy to execute and should not take much of your time!

Modify Windows Settings

The easiest way to center the taskbar icons is by modifying Windows Settings. All that you need to do is change some basic taskbar-related settings.

Here is what you need to do:

1. Right-click on your taskbar and select Taskbar settings. 

   

2. In the Taskbar settings window, turn the toggle under Lock the taskbar off. 

   

3. Now expand the dropdown menu under Taskbar location on the screen and select Bottom.
4. Next, select Always, hide labels for the Combine taskbar buttons option.
5. Once done, right-click on your taskbar again and select Toolbar > Links. 

   

6. With the Link option enabled, you should see two small bars on your taskbar. Drag the vertical line on the right to the left side of your taskbar. 

   

7. This should position the icons on the right side of your taskbar. You can now drag the vertical lines next to the icons and adjust them wherever you prefer. 
8. Finally, right-click on the taskbar and click on Lock the taskbar to save the changes. 

   

Create a Toolbar

Another way of centering the taskbar icons is by creating a new toolbar. 

Follow the steps mentioned below to do so:

1. Create a dummy folder anywhere on your hard drive. You can choose the name and location of the folder yourself. For instance, Icons named folder in the D drive.
2. Once done, right-click on the taskbar and select Toolbar > New toolbar. 

   

3. Select the folder you just created and click on Select Folder. 
4. Now repeat the 3rd and 4th steps again. You should now have two shortcuts to the newly created folder.
5. Next, right-click on the taskbar and uncheck the Lock the taskbar option. 

   

6. Drag one of the folder shortcuts to the extreme left next to the Start button and adjust the position of your taskbar icons.  
7. Then, right-click on folder shortcuts one by one and uncheck the Show Text and Show title option. 

   

8. Finally, right-click on the taskbar and click on Lock the taskbar to save the changes. 

Keep in mind that locking the taskbar will cause the icons to move slightly left because the handles are gone. In case you have trouble repositing the icons, head over to our guide on ‘Can’t move desktop icons on Windows 10‘. 

Use a Third-Party Program

In case you do not want to go through the trouble of modifying Windows Settings, you can install a free third-party program to center the taskbar icons.

TaskbarX is a free program that you can download. It centers all icons on your taskbar, including pinned icons.

Once you download the program, its icon will display on your taskbar. Simply double-click the icon and checkmark the Center Taskbar Icon option in the next window. It should center the Start menu and other icons on your taskbar.