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Taskbar how-to

A taskbar with two or more rows in Windows 11

In Windows 95 to 10 you could drag the top of the taskbar to make it two or three rows high, which kept long window titles readable when many programs were open. Windows 11's taskbar has no such option. RetroBar brings it back.

Checked against RetroBar 1.22.122Updated Tested on real Windows2 min read
On this page 5 sections
  1. How to set it up with RetroBar
  2. More than five rows
  3. On the left or right
  4. In every theme
  5. Questions

Short answer

Can the Windows 11 taskbar have two rows?

Not with Windows' own settings: Microsoft documents no multiple-row option for Windows 11, only a smaller taskbar size. With RetroBar you can: right-click its taskbar › Properties › Taskbar › Number of rows, or unlock the taskbar and drag its top edge up.

RetroBar's Windows 95-98 taskbar with Number of rows set to 3.
Real screenshot · RetroBar 1.22.122 · Windows Server 2025 build 26100.33650RetroBar's Windows 95-98 taskbar with Number of rows set to 3.

How to set it up with RetroBar

  1. Install RetroBar

    Follow the install guide. RetroBar replaces the Windows taskbar while it runs.

  2. Choose the number of rows

    Right-click RetroBar's taskbar › Properties. On the Taskbar tab, set Number of rows. The list goes up to 5.

  3. Or drag it

    Right-click › untick Lock the Taskbar, then drag the taskbar's top edge up (or its bottom edge down when it is at the top of the screen). Each step adds a row. Lock it again afterwards.

In our screenshot, with four windows open, the task buttons still fit in the first row, and the Quick Launch icons spread over the extra rows. The other rows fill up as you open more windows, so each button keeps room for its title.

More than five rows

The list in Properties stops at the value of RowLimit, which is 5 by default. To allow more, exit RetroBar and change "RowLimit" in %LOCALAPPDATA%\RetroBar\settings.json, or let our Settings Builder write the file for you.

On the left or right

A taskbar on the side of the screen does not get rows; it gets wider instead: drag its inner edge or set Taskbar width in Properties. See moving the taskbar.

In every theme

All 19 RetroBar themes support several rows. Here are the XP and Vista looks:

Windows XP Blue, 3 rows.
Real screenshot · RetroBar 1.22.122 · Windows Server 2025 build 26100.33650Windows XP Blue, 3 rows.
Windows Vista Aero, 3 rows.
Real screenshot · RetroBar 1.22.122 · Windows Server 2025 build 26100.33650Windows Vista Aero, 3 rows.

Questions

Will Windows 11 get a multi-row taskbar?

Microsoft has not announced one. Its 2026 taskbar changes added positions on every edge and a smaller taskbar size, not rows.

Does the Windows 11 'smaller taskbar' help?

It makes the icons and the bar smaller so more fit, but it stays one row of icons without window titles.

Keep going

Move the taskbarTop, left or right, with Windows or RetroBar.Settings referenceEvery setting, what it does, and its settings.json key.Windows 11Hiding the Windows 11 taskbar, tray icons and the 2026 changes.

Found something out of date or wrong? Tell us at hello@retrobar.dev and we will fix it.