7+ Taskbar Tweaker

7+ Taskbar Tweaker
7+ Taskbar Tweaker allows you to configure various aspects of the Windows taskbar.
Most of the configuration options it provides can’t be tweaked using the taskbar properties or the registry.
The tweaker is designed for Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

Download

exe 7tt_setup.exe (1.78 MB, changelog)
Latest version: v5.15.1
Note: The installer can be used to extract a portable version. Refer to the FAQ below for details.

Beta version
exe 7tt_setup_beta.exe (1.79 MB, changelog)
Latest beta version: v5.15.1.2
More info about beta versions.

Windows 11 Support Status

  • 7+ Taskbar Tweaker doesn’t support the Windows 11 taskbar, and probably never will. See this blog post for more details.
  • Some of the tweaks are available in Windows 11 as Windhawk mods. See here for the list of mods, and vote for missing mods that you’d like to see implemented. Read more about Windhawk here.
  • 7+ Taskbar Tweaker works on Windows 11 with the old taskbar which can be restored with third party tools. See this blog post for more details.

Demo video

Here is a video that demonstrates some of the tweaks:

Source code

https://github.com/m417z/7-Taskbar-Tweaker

FAQ

Q: Which registry keys does 7+ Taskbar Tweaker modify? I don’t need extra processes in my system.
A: The only registry keys the tweaker modifies are its own settings. There are no registry keys for the options it provides. The tweaker does that by injecting a DLL to explorer, hooking/subclassing/some other methods of the dark side.
As for extra processes, the tweaker is a native program, and is very lightweight. It shouldn’t slow down your system, and uses an extremely small amount of memory. Also, you can hide the tray icon if you want.

In case you want to remove the tweaker’s settings from the registry, look for them here:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\7 Taskbar Tweaker
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run (“7 Taskbar Tweaker” value)

P.S. if you’re a programmer, you might want to take a look at the 7+ Taskbar Tweaking Library.

Q: My antivirus complains about 7+ Taskbar Tweaker.
A: It’s a false positive. I guarantee that the tweaker binaries (and any other files on this site, unless specifically noted) are 100% clean.
Also remember that the tweaker injects into explorer and modifies its memory, which is indeed suspicious.

Q: Can I Group/Combine/Label only some of the items on the taskbar?
A: Yes, use Taskbar Inspector.

Q: May I use 7+ Taskbar Tweaker in a commercial environment?
A: Yes, feel free to use it wherever you want.

Q: Where is the portable version?
A: When installing the tweaker, choose the Portable type of install, as shown on the image below.
The portable version will be extracted to the selected folder.

Selecting the portable installation type

Note: If the tweaker is already installed on your computer, the option won’t be visible. You can launch the setup with the /portable command line switch to force a portable installation.

Q: I want to report a bug/suggest a feature! What is the best way to do it?
A: Post it on the UserEcho page.

Q: I want to translate 7+ Taskbar Tweaker to my language.
A: The archive below contains the files needed to be translated.
Please read readme.txt before proceeding.

zip 7tt_translate.zip (758.63 kB)

If you are brave enough to translate the help file, contact me for the required software and files.

Posted in Releases, Software by Michael (Ramen Software) on September 30th, 2009.
Tags:

6,605 Responses to “7+ Taskbar Tweaker”

  1. Raine says:

    I love the scrollwheel option to minimize/restore tasks. And it works wonderfully for the Aero theme. However, when using the Windows Classic theme, there’s a gap underneath taskbar buttons, and you’re forced to actually hover over the button to get the scroll to work. Would it be possible to fix this?

  2. jack says:

    Please specify on your website what latest version is. I only see a previous blog post with a version number. the actual download file needs a version number of some kind. That way i know if there is an update.

  3. Grady says:

    THANKYOU SO MUCH.

    With just a few little tweaks, instantly the taskbar is now 10x more productive than it was! This is definitely a must have application for me now.

  4. Jesus Mejia says:

    Please add an option for select multiple buttons on taskbar with CTRL pressed and right click to close them as in Windows XP.

    Por favor añadir una opcion para seleccionar multiples botones de la barra de tareas para poder cerrarlas como en Windows XP.

  5. SaHiB says:

    GREAT tool!
    I’m using it for a long time and can’t imagine a win7 without it…

    one thing: I’m able to hide the show desktop button in the taskbar. Can you implement a feature, to move (and clone) that button to a userdefined place? Or just make a second on the left?
    using win7 with a wacom tablet isn’t that fun, while having the button on the right side. I’m using a workaround with a shellCommand, that is attached to the taskbar, but a real show desktop button would be cooler 😉

    thx so far and keep goining – your doing a great job!

  6. Vince says:

    Just updated from v 3.1 – glad that I’ll be automatically kept in the loop from now on! Fabulous work that you’re doing!

    Wow, ‘control volume when mouse is over taskbar/notification area’ is a major UI improvement to windows! Bravo!!!!!

    However: it’s not working on one of my two win7 laptops. It’s ultra buggy and basically not working at all. brings up the volume thing but kind of freezes on it (can move mouse away so it’s not a crash, just the scrolling can’t seem to engage it). It’s probably because, it’s a Macbook Air (2010) Win7 with modded apple Trackpad++ drivers on the system. So I suppose you wouldn’t look into that :(. But that’s ok, your other functions still rock!

    But you may want to look into it cos lots of people use MBAs as an awesome Win7 ultrabook and many in that group would use Trackpad++ I’d say.

    Happy to help to beta testing if you want. Just contact me via the email I’ve put as my comment contact.

    much respect.
    Vince

    • So the only issue is that scrolling doesn’t affect the volume slidebar?

      • Vince says:

        Ah, after much testing I figured out that on my MBA Win7, with a third party program ‘Actual Window Manager’ I had a certain useless and obviously interfering mouse scrolling option ticked (for anyone who might ever benefit from knowing this: it’s ‘scroll inactive windows with the mouse wheel’)! so all working now :D.

        But, on a related note, I have a feature request regarding this excellent new volume control feature: it would be natural to be able to activate and turn up the volume slider if the volume is currently mute. Could there possibly be an option one can tick, ‘unmute on scroll up’? (or even better, if you were up for it, ‘unmute and set to 0’? that way the user could start smoothly and not kill their ears accidentally.)

        What do you think?

  7. Ryszard says:

    Thank you very much.

    Finally, someone has made a tool which turns 7 into a real usable OS. Microsoft watch out!

  8. v3.4.1:
    * Language updates.
    * Fix: If decombine on mouse hover is on, group combines when closing with middle click.

  9. Adaz says:

    Hi!

    The new autoupdate feature is awesome, but the unexpected popup window is disturbing.
    I suggest not to show that popup window, but change the 7TT icon in the notification area (like Chrome does with the wrench icon), so it sholud indicate that there is an update (e.g. with a small green up arrow).
    I think it’s not too difficult to implement, but everybody will be thankful 🙂

    Thank you!

    Adaz

  10. lordVj says:

    great app, i’d like to suggest a useful feature, i.e open last used window by double clicking or middle clicking the taskbar

  11. Petrov says:

    Great piece of code and free… What can I say except thank you! 🙂

  12. Jay says:

    Getting an error on startup ‘7 Taskbar Tweaker – Could not open explorer’s process’

  13. Austin says:

    Thank you, RAMMicHaeL!! This is an excellent utility! 🙂

    I’ve been searching for a TRUE group-disabling utility like this for over a year – I can’t understand why Windows 7 lacks such a useful feature that existed in Windows XP.

    The menu options are very rich, and yet they are very easy to understand. You put a lot of thought into it, so well done!

    I’ve been telling all my buddies about the “7 Taskbar Tweaker”. Yay! 🙂

  14. Sebastian says:

    Hello RaMMichael,

    Thanks for the great software. Unfortunately after updating to the newest version, an error message is shown, whenever I try to change settings in the taskbar inspector. It says “Taskbar Inspector: Something went wrong”.

    Is there a way to get older versions (3.4.0)?

    I use Win7 x64, portable installation.

    Greetings,
    Seb

  15. KoOPa says:

    i came to know about this from my elder brother and i am really pleased with it’s feature. Now then i am using this software, tweaking my windows 7 taskbar is easy and is helping me to save time (though even in seconds) efficiently.

  16. leo says:

    “Download (portable installation available)”

    Sorry fo my stupidity, but what’s mean “portable installation” in this context?
    I know portable applications (which run without installation, as ThinApp or Xenocode suites) or PortableApps installators etc…

    • It means the application doesn’t change system parameters, such as registry or system files.
      You can, e.g., copy the portable version to a USB stick, and use it on several PCs.

      • leo says:

        Thank you. But WHERE is this portable installation available from? The only downloading link at this page is http://rammichael.com/downloads/7tt_setup.exe, this is NOT a portable archive, but setup installator! I would be fine to get a USB-ready portable version instead of setup.

        • The installer has an option to extract a portable version instead of installing.

          • leo says:

            Now I see, thanks. However the phrase “portable installation” is a bit confusing for me, because “portable” could mean “something what does not need installation”.

            Don’t you will to make available a “really portable” edition for advanced users, that it a regular zip/rar/7-Zip archive to unpack it manually in any folder of user’s choice?

            Thanks!

            • Don’t you will to make available a “really portable” edition for advanced users, that it a regular zip/rar/7-Zip archive to unpack it manually in any folder of user’s choice?

              How is it better than what we have now? When you select portable installation type, the installer acts like an SFX archive.

  17. bru.net says:

    Привет, RaMMicHaeL!
    Хочу снова обратиться с предложением сделать автоскрытие панели задач по двойному щелчку на ней же.
    Это было бы очень удобно, например, в ноутбуках, где постоянный дефицит рабочего пространства на экране.
    А [Ctrl+Win+Tab] по двойному щелчку (либо средней кнопкой мыши) будет удобен тем, кто работает с большим количеством окон и любит всё делать мышкой не отвлекаясь на клавиатуру.

    Твикер бесподобен. Без него уже никак!

    • Хочу снова обратиться с предложением сделать автоскрытие панели задач по двойному щелчку на ней же.
      Это было бы очень удобно, например, в ноутбуках, где постоянный дефицит рабочего пространства на экране.

      Сделал в v3.4.3.

      • bru.net says:

        Ты лучший!!!

        А как насчет 3Dflip? Планируется или это технически не возможно сделать?

  18. Sergey says:

    Hello, thanks for great tool.
    My feautre request is to allow combine (group) list of ungrouped items by mouse hover + key press.
    Imagine 5 ungrouped Explorers, I hover on them with pressed Alt key, group automatically “merge” (become a regular group) so I can right press on it and click on “Close all windows” action. This will allow me easily close many opened windows not by closing them one by one.

    Sergey

    • allow combine (group) list of ungrouped items by mouse hover + key press.

      Have you tried the “Drag within/between groups using right mouse button” option?

      This will allow me easily close many opened windows not by closing them one by one.

      You can also do that using Taskbar Inspector.

      • Sergey says:

        “You can also do that using Taskbar Inspector.”

        No, that’s not a case. I don’t want to open Inspector, search for a group, slecect and close it. I want just hover on group to combine it, right press on it and close this group using Win controls. It’s much faster.

        • Again: Have you tried the “Drag within/between groups using right mouse button” option?

          • Sergey says:

            Yes, I tried it. It’s a good feature, but I’m using Thumbnails “Drag to reorder” to change order. I do not understand how can “Drag within/between groups using right mouse button” feature help me to quickly close non-combined group?

          • Sergey says:

            I’m still confused how to achieve my task. I just realized that I wasn’t accurate in terms usage. Let me describe my situation once again:
            – Taskbar items are always grouped
            – Items within groups are never combined
            – I want to close group in the fastest way (not by closing each containing item one by one as I currently do).
            – If I right-press on any item in group (imagine single Explorer in Explorers group) Windows shows me common Explorer menu, not “Explorers group” menu with available “Close all windows” action.

            • Imagine 5 ungrouped Explorers

              – Taskbar items are always grouped

              You seem to contradict yourself.

              Anyway, the fastest way to close an uncombined group is using Taskbar Inspector (You can double click the AppID name for fast selection of all windows).

          • Sergey says:

            “Anyway, the fastest way to close an uncombined group is using Taskbar Inspector (You can double click the AppID name for fast selection of all windows).”

            Yep, that’s a good way to close uncombined group. But I think that my suggestion with mouse hover over the group and pressed hotkey sounds more integrated into Windows UI experience and is faster to perform than Inspector way (even if I setup Inspector start-up on double click on empty taskbar space).

  19. Doug says:

    I apologize if this has already been raised in a post on a previous page. Was a former user of Taskbar Shuffle which I could not live without on XP. Just installed 3.4.1 and have found it to be magnificently robust. Some absolutely brilliant features in there. However, the one feature I wanted more than anything does not seem to work quite right. I want to keep my applications grouped by re-order them WITHIN the group using a left-mouse drag and drop. I have selected “Group by ApplicationID” and “Drag to reorder” under Thumbnails. Unfortunately, I can only drag the whole group and not re-order within the group. I have only found two ways to re-order within the group: (1) To turn off grouping (which is not desirable) or (2) To use the “Drag within/between groups using right mouse button” which is basically a one-off way to undermine grouping.

    Isn’t the application supposed to permit the dragging and dropping of items strictly held within a group if one chooses the right combination of settings? If so, I cannot seem to get it to work on Win 7 (SP1) 64-bit.

    Thanks in advance for your help.

    • Hi Doug,

      It’s not possible to drag within groups using left mouse button. When dragging with left mouse button, you drag the whole group. If you don’t like this behavior, you should probably turn off grouping.

      RaMMicHaeL.

      • Doug says:

        Thanks for the quick reply. I really do want to keep them in groups but just shuffle between them. On other forums, I’ve heard other users of Taskbar Shuffle (which is no longer supported and of which I see your tool as the superior successor) highlight this very specific feature as being essential to them. Is this something you would consider adding?

        • So what you want is something like “Drag to reorder” under Thumbnails, but with an option to drag them between groups?

          • Doug says:

            Precisely. Very simple. If you think about it, what we have now are two extremes when it comes to reordering: Either drag-and-drop an entire group OR no rules at all (drag-and-drop absolutely everything without any sense or order). This is a logical middle ground that allows you to keep some order (so your eyes know where to go for explorer folders or excel spreadsheets or word documents… and your reminders pop-ups and emails from outlook are not separate from the main outlook window) but still allowing for some reorganizing. This is essential if your work style is to keep a lot of each item open simultaneously (I have six explorer windows that are open at any time, at least one spreadsheet, sometimes 2 or 3, and usually 2-3 word documents… plus outlook emails). While it may not be how everyone works, I know there are others that do work this way and found this feature invaluable in Taskbar Shuffle. This feature is so important to me, I would pay for a license of this product if it included it!

  20. Vorthas says:

    I just installed the newest version, ticked Standard window menu on the right click tweak, but it is not bringing up the menu when I right click on a window in the task bar. I was using a really old version (1.1) which worked fine until today, so I went to see if there was an update, which there was. However it is still not working for the right click on task bar window.

  21. leo says:

    The suggestions from bru.net is very interesting, sugest +10! (it is Russian, but is easily translatable with Google translation tools). He suggested to add these options:
    1) to emulate [Ctrl+Win+Tab] action by double(left) click or single middle click
    2) auto-hide taskbar by double left click or single middle click.

  22. Andrew says:

    Hello,

    Are there any commands/args to silently install this?

    Thanks

  23. Sam says:

    Hey, I have found a bug!

    When I try to hide the label for the Firefox icon ( 35F78D87F7563D8 ) it will of course hide it. After I restart Taskbar Tweaker, it reverts this change, and the label is visible.

    Group by app Id, combine grouped items are selected.

    Did not occur in earlier version of this application (forgot which one).

  24. Ian B says:

    Thanks for writing this!

  25. v3.4.2:
    * Fix: A Taskbar Inspector bug in the 64-bit version.
    * Less disturbing update notification:

    * Volume scrolling: if system is muted, the slider shows up, but you must leave the taskbar to unmute it.

  26. oroboros says:

    I’m getting an update 3.4.3 notice, but I don’t see it posted anywhere… could you create a separate post for minor updates as well, please? It would make it a lot easier to find the latest version and the changelog.

    Great job btw!

  27. horan says:

    great tool!

    is it possible to add function like this: CHANGE the DIRECTION of start button and how other items expanding.

    the default way is start button on the left, and everything expend to right.(button top and items downwards when taskbar is on left/right edge of screen.)

    hoping to see: the start button move to left of notification area, and other items expand to left hand side. (button bottom and items upwards when taskbar is on left/right edge of screen.)

    anyway, thanks for reading!
    good work, carry on!

    • Slate Jones says:

      great tool!

      is it possible to add function like this: CHANGE the DIRECTION of start button and how other items expanding.

      the default way is start button on the left, and everything expend to right.(button top and items downwards when taskbar is on left/right edge of screen.)

      hoping to see: the start button move to left of notification area, and other items expand to left hand side. (button bottom and items upwards when taskbar is on left/right edge of screen.)

      anyway, thanks for reading!
      good work, carry on!

      I would loooove to see this also…

  28. leo says:

    I’ve found a bug: when 7 Taskbr Tweaker is active, Google Crome’s the single window is displayed as two identical tabs at Windows’ taskbar, even if there is the only tab is opened in this window. Two windows gets two tabs as well, as it should be, three windows gets three tabs and so on.
    So it seems, that all works correct way, with the only exception, that for some reason the minimum number of Google Crome tabs at Wondows taskbar is two.

  29. leo says:

    In addition to my previous post.
    If you start Google Crome (CoolNovo) with empty window (no tabs are opened), you get the only tab on Windows taskbar. Than you may open any number of tabs and windows – it does not cause any extra tabs on the taskbar.

    Furthermore, if you start Crome with the single window with one or more opened tabs and get two identical tabs on the taskbar – and than you close all opened tabs in Crome window in order to leave it empty, the extra tab at Windows taskbar disappears. After that you can open as much tabs and windows as you like: tabs number at Windows taskbar remains correct.

    The same way, if you open the second Crome window and than close it, you get the only opened window and the only tab on Windows taskbar.

  30. Paulo says:

    You could put an option to change the window title?

  31. Michael says:

    Thanks so much for this VERY useful program! These features help me be more productive.

    Much appreciation,
    Michael
    Web Developer

  32. Stamimail says:

    Where can I find the commands?
    I want to run EXE without opening the menu?

  33. Mike says:

    Where can I download the portable version?

  34. Mike says:

    Nevermind, found it. :p

  35. Stamimail says:

    In Options Menu you can use tooltip (balloons while hovering) to Explain in detail what everything does.

  36. Stamimail says:

    Bugs:

    1. The “Reserved Empty Space on TaskBar” doesn’t let me use the features of Double/Middle clicks on empty space.

    2. I can’t use features of Mouse Wheel by the Scroll bars of my Laptop ThouchPad.

    3. TaskBar Inspector not Totally Editable – I can’t drag and drop wherever I want to change the location of buttons. I think it is important to make it easy to editable all items Drag and Drop Group or Single.
    Another thing, It Would be better if by hovering on each Item we can see the Window related (the same behaviour like preview Windows) and by DoubleClick open the window. It Would be a great replacement to Alt+Tab (Many times It is more convenience).

    • I’ll look at the first one.
      The other two seem more like feature requests than bugs.

      • Stamimail says:

        The 3d is indeed, I’ve already been writing, so I took the time to ask for the third. (just copy-paste to your list…)
        But , the 2nd not seem to me as a Feature Request – The behaviour of touchpad is realy suppoed to be supported like a regular Mouse. Dont you think so?

    • 1. Try v3.4.3.

      • Stamimail says:

        1. Bug #1 – still doesn’t work!!! Concerning the Wideness – You can let the users choose the size of the width (Like “Classic Shell” let the users choose…)

        2. Bug #2 – I can now use the Scroll Bars (Thanks…) but I discoverd a big problem. The Task bar isn’t been focused by hovering. I need to click twice the Right Click to get the focus for use these features of the Mouse Wheel.

        • 1. Bug #1 – still doesn’t work!!!

          I can’t reproduce it, works fine for me.

          2. Bug #2 – I can now use the Scroll Bars (Thanks…) but I discoverd a big problem. The Task bar isn’t been focused by hovering. I need to click twice the Right Click to get the focus for use these features of the Mouse Wheel.

          I didn’t understand the issue. Do you say the scrolling options do not work until you click the taskbar?

  37. v3.4.3:
    * Simplified Chinese translation, thanks horan.
    * Option: Toggle taskbar auto-hide on double/middle clicking the taskbar’s empty space.
    * Some minor improvements and fixes.

    • Stamimail says:

      1. I meant Via the The “Reserved Empty Space on TaskBar” to pin it beside the others?
      Or by “Double Click” on the “Reserved Empty Space on TaskBar” to show desktop or task manager (according to your settings)

      2. Thank You.

  38. crack says:

    to emulate [Ctrl+Win+Tab] action by double(left) click or single middle click

    IMHO it’s a great idea! Support.

    One more request. You could extend available options number by adding commands like keyboard key + mouse action, say, MBM opens Win+Tab selection and Ctrl+MBM opens Alt+Tab selection.

  39. Stamimail says:

    Website – It is very difficult to find something on site.

    Where is the History Log.
    Where is the Bugs Report list.
    Where is the Feature Request list.

    All these suppose to be in Title.

  40. leo says:

    Could you please concern adding an option to display at the taskbar the number of opened windows in the group, as it was by default in Windows XP?
    Thank you!

  41. Diab says:

    Hello. I want to say that love the program and have been using it for years.

    Can you please make available some older versions of this program? I’ve been using v1.1 on my PC for some years without an issue. However I recently needed to reformat my laptop and installed Windows 7 Ultimate on it, and the current version 3.4.3 refuses to stay running; it says “Taskbar not found” upon computer restart.

    If you would have older versions of the 7 Taskbar Tweaker, I could try those and see if they work. I can’t use my PC’s copy because PC is 64-bit and laptop is 32-bit.

    Thank you.

    • Hi,

      Here’s v1.1, 32-bit:
      http://www.2shared.com/file/mEOo8h4-/7_Taskbar_Tweaker.html?

      See if it works. If it does, I’d like to fix it for the new versions.

      • Diab says:

        Thank you very much! That download may come in handy in the future if I encounter problems like these.

        But, I got the latest version to work. After doing countless restarts and uninstalls/reinstalls of the program, doing a defrag seemed to work. Just something about installing it after downloading windows updates and the like that it was not happy with, I guess. My fault.

        Thanks again for your trouble and the wonderful program though! I can’t use Win7 without it. Having all the programs grouped on my taskbar is annoying, and the ability to essentally have a quick launch bar with this program is great!

  42. Fatih Fırıncı says:

    Hi. Please this feature(reserve empty space on taskbar) always keep it constant. Do not change any, space width, etc.
    The fate, the volume control should not be as.
    Thanks. Best regards.

  43. Stamimail says:

    I had a problem with “cycle between taskbar items”.
    This option conflict with “DeskPins” software (TopMost…)

  44. Stamimail says:

    Feature Requests:
    1. Option to add a little red X (Close) to buttons of the Takbar (at left-top) – the same way there is to preview windows…
    2. Preview of the real window by hovering its button in Taskbar – the same way there is to preview windows (displaying the real window by pointing the preview related).

  45. Eli says:

    Is it possible to make the volume changer that appears when scrolling on the taskbar to retain focus on the current window rather than changing focus to the little window and back to the window you were on before?

  46. E says:

    When I click on a group of icons (let’s say a set of Outlook windows), and I close a window via the preview pop up, currently the preview pop up disappears. Is it possible to keep the pop up, so I can close multiple windows without having to click on the Outlook icon again and again?

  47. Stamimail says:

    The Icon in System Tray doesn’t fit with the Icon of the EXE.
    I created a shortcut of the EXE and didn’t recognized it later…

  48. Peter says:

    Hi RaMMicHaeL,

    I’m looking for a possibility to uncombine only certain programs (especially IE) while others may remain combined, as in Win7 standard.

    Would it be possible to add this feature?

    Thanks,
    Peter

  49. Josh D says:

    love this program, thanks for making it!

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