TaskbarX
TaskbarX is a Windows utility for positioning taskbar icons and changing the taskbar’s appearance.
What TaskbarX is
TaskbarX is a Windows utility for positioning taskbar icons and changing the taskbar’s appearance. Icons can sit at the exact center or be shifted left or right to a chosen position, with adjustable spacing and size. Users can select fade, slide, or other easing animations, or turn animation off. Background options include transparent, blur, opaque, and accent styles with adjustable color. It supports unlimited taskbars with separate settings for each monitor, including vertical taskbars. TaskbarX is portable: it needs no installer, makes no registry edits, and uses no background services. The portable build is free and has the same features as the Microsoft Store version; the Store listing offers automatic updates for an optional small paid donation, with no exact amount listed. The site says Windows 10 is fully supported, while Windows 11 icon centering works through build 22621.1265 but not on modern builds. The latest stable version listed is 1.7.8.0, and the GitHub repository is archived and read-only.
Good
- Centers or offsets taskbar icons
- Adjustable animation and background options
- Independent settings for unlimited taskbars
- Portable build needs no installer
- Free and open source under MIT
Watch out
- Windows 11 centering fails on modern builds
- GitHub repository is archived and read-only
- Store version's optional donation amount is unspecified
Who it suits
TaskbarX suits Windows users who want to customize icon placement, spacing, animations, and taskbar backgrounds. Its per-monitor settings may suit people using multiple monitors.
Verdict
TaskbarX offers detailed taskbar positioning and styling, including independent controls for multiple monitors. Check the Windows version limitation before relying on icon centering, and download only from its linked GitHub releases or Microsoft Store.
Plans and prices
From TaskbarX's own pricing page, checked 15 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free portable build | Free | Windows utility · portable ZIP · all features |
| TaskbarX portable build | Free | Free · portable ZIP · same features as Microsoft Store version |
| Microsoft Store version | $1.09, paid once | Same features as free build · automatic updates · easier installation · $1.09 |
| TaskbarX Microsoft Store version | — | Adds automatic updates · features identical to free portable build · Optional small paid donation; exact amount not stated |
The facts
Each one read from TaskbarX's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Animations
- It includes 42 animation choices, including an instant no-animation option.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Center alignment
- The utility keeps taskbar icons centered when icons are added or removed.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Command-line API
- The README documents command-line switches for stopping the app, selecting styles, setting offsets, choosing animations, controlling refresh rates and hiding taskbar elements.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Current release
- The official site lists version 1.7.8.0 as the latest stable release.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Custom start button
- The feature list includes hiding the Start button and using a custom Start button.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Distribution
- The app is portable, requires no installer, makes no registry edits and uses no background services.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Documentation depth
- Public documentation consists mainly of the README feature list, Windows compatibility notes, command-line reference and download links.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Icon positioning
- Icons can be moved to the exact center or nudged left or right to a chosen position.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Icon spacing
- Users can adjust spacing between icons and resize them.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Implementation language
- Softorage identifies the software as written in Visual Basic .NET.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Initial development date
- Softorage lists the initial release as May 6, 2018.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Installation
- Installation consists of extracting the ZIP, running TaskbarX.exe, opening the Configurator and optionally enabling startup.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Installation and support
- The site provides an installation guide, FAQ, troubleshooting guide and contact page.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Licence
- TaskbarX is released under the MIT licence.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Licensing
- TaskbarX is free and open source under the MIT license.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Limit: display redraws
- An AlternativeTo reviewer reported icons randomly returning left, opaque or black taskbar redraws, and needing manual refreshes.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: startup flicker
- Windows Central reported occasional startup hiccups where icons briefly jumped between their normal and centered positions.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Multi-monitor
- TaskbarX supports unlimited taskbars with independent settings per monitor, including vertical taskbars.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Multi-monitor support
- The README says unlimited monitors and unlimited taskbars are supported.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Portable operation
- The official site describes a roughly 2.3 MB portable package with no installer, registry edits or background services.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Position offsets
- Users can adjust the icon position relative to the taskbar center or between taskbar regions.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Praise: resource use
- Windows Central described TaskbarX as lightweight with minimal CPU and RAM usage.checked 15 Oct 2026
The company
- Founded
- 2018checked 28 Sep 2026
- Maker
- The project identifies Chris Andriessen as its developer.checked 15 Oct 2026
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