By moving the taskbar to the side, you reclaim vertical height. Web pages, coding environments, and Word documents gain valuable pixels, allowing you to read more lines of text without scrolling.

If you use "Small Icons" on a bottom taskbar, they are roughly 16x16 or 32x32 pixels. On a vertical taskbar, icons usually sit on top of text labels. If you choose to hide labels and only show icons, the vertical bar can feel very wide and intrusive if not configured correctly.

If you use an Ultrawide monitor (21:9 or 32:9), the vertical taskbar is almost essential. You have so much horizontal space that a vertical strip on the left or right is barely noticeable, whereas a bottom bar creates a claustrophobic letterbox effect.

: For those using large screens, keeping the Start button and open apps on the left or right can feel more natural than reaching for the bottom center. How to Move It: Windows 10 vs. Windows 11 The process depends entirely on which OS you are running: OS Version Instructions Windows 10 Native Toggle

The "side taskbar" debate centers on a fundamental shift from traditional desktop aesthetics toward modern workflow efficiency. Moving the taskbar to the left or right of the screen is often viewed as a "power user" move, optimized for widescreen monitors where vertical screen real estate is significantly more valuable than horizontal space . The Argument for Verticality The primary case for a side taskbar is mathematical and ergonomic: Maximizing Vertical Real Estate