• Home
• Taskbar
• Start Menu
• Appearance
• Desktop
• Gadgets
• Mouse
• Files + Folders
• Pictures
• Programs
• Printing
• Security
• Networking
• Maintenance

Windows 7 Taskbar and Notification area (system tray)

The taskbar is one of the most heavily redesigned feature in Windows 7 - especially if you are upgrading from Windows XP, but even coming from Windows Vista.

Overview of our Windows 7 taskbar tutorials

This series of free Windows 7 tutorials will focus on the taskbar as a whole, from moving, resizing, and customizing it, to configuring the size and behavior of its icons. In these tutorials, we will also explain how to configure the system clock, from the time format and date style, to hiding the clock altogether. Rather than create separate tutorials on changing date and time settings, we have included them in this section, since you can access these Region and Language options from the system clock itself.

One of the most common questions about the new Windows 7 taskbar is "Where is Quick Launch gone?" While it is not enabled by default in Windows 7, it is still there, and we'll show you how to show it, and even how to create your own Quick Launch by adding folder toolbars to the taskbar.

We'll also spend some time covering "Aero Peek", how to use it, customize it, and disable it: it is a new take on the "Show desktop" icon button you are familiar with from previous versions of Windows.

• Windows 7 Taskbar and Notification area (system tray)
• Show or hide the clock from the taskbar
• Show or hide the volume icon (sound speaker) from the taskbar
• Mute speakers + Adjust Volume Mixer sound level
• Show or hide icons from the taskbar
• Unpin or pin a program to the taskbar
• Move the taskbar (to top of screen, sides, or back to bottom)
• Resize the taskbar (and show date next to time!)
• Show small icons or use large icons for taskbar buttons
• Customize taskbar buttons settings
• Automatically show or hide the taskbar
• Show days of the week in the taskbar
• What is Aero Peek? Enable or disable Aero Peek
• Enable / Show Quick Launch Taskbar
• Hide the date from the taskbar
• Unlock or lock the taskbar: enable or prevent moving / resizing
• Make the taskbar look like Windows XP or Windows Vista
• Change the time on your computer (system clock)
• Change the date on your computer (system clock + taskbar calendar)
• Change your time zone (system clock date and time settings)
• Change the first day of the week (when weeks start)
• Show a second + another clock (add multiple clocks / several time zones)
• Prevent the clock from automatically adjusting time (Daylight Saving Time settings)
• Show military time (24 hours) in the system clock
• Change your Country setting (Current Location)
• Change the language on your computer
• Windows 7 Tutorial