In Windows 8 or 10, you can customize the taskbar to include multiple monitors. This is a great way to work on multiple tasks at the same time and keep track of your progress on each. To do this, open the taskbar settings and select “Multiple Monitors.” Then, set up your monitors as you want them. You can have one monitor for the foreground task and one for the background task. You can also have more than one monitor if you want. If you want to use a different color for each monitor, you can do that by selecting “Customize Taskbar Colors.” Then, set up your colors as you want them.
For years, users have wondered why on earth Microsoft wouldn’t make the taskbar customizable and usable across multiple monitors. Luckily Windows 8 and 10 include a new feature that makes it much better. Here’s a quick look for those that haven’t already seen them.
The new Taskbar in Windows 8 (and Windows 10) finally spans multiple monitors, and can be customized so that the taskbar buttons on each monitor are the buttons for windows open on that monitor. You can also make both taskbars show all windows if you choose.
Tweaking the Multi-Monitor Taskbar
To access the new settings, head into Taskbar Properties by right-clicking on the Taskbar and choosing Properties. Once there, you’ll see the “Multiple displays” section at the bottom of the dialog, where you can quickly check the box to enable or disable showing the taskbar across displays.
The “Show taskbar buttons on” drop-down lets you choose where the buttons appear. For example, the screenshot at the beginning of this article was from the primary Taskbar, and this one is from the Taskbar on the second monitor:
Want to make bigger taskbar buttons on the second monitor? You can also change the “Buttons on other taskbars” setting.
It’s all very simple, and you’ve probably already come across this if you’ve spent more than a few minutes in Windows 8 or 10… but for those that haven’t, it’s great to know that Windows finally gives us a multi-monitor taskbar.
