This wikiHow teaches you how to zoom in or out on the taskbar icon in Windows 7. The workbar icon is the icon on the bar at the bottom of your computer screen. You can safely adjust the properties of the workbar icons and set the screen resolution from the Control Panel. If you want to use your own preferred icon size, you can use the Registry Editor. However, the Registry Editor program is best used by more experienced users because using the wrong program can permanently damage the computer.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using Small Size Icons
Step 1. Open the Start menu
Click the Windows logo on a blue background in the lower-left corner of the screen.
Step 2. Click Control Panel
This tab is on the right side of the Start menu.
If you don't see the option " Control Panel ”, type " control panel " into the Start menu and click " Control Panel ” once displayed at the top of the Start window.
Step 3. Click Task Bar and Start Menu
This option is at the bottom of the Control Panel page. After that, the “Taskbar” window will be opened.
If you don't see this option, click the "View by" drop-down box in the upper-right corner of the window, then click “ Large Icons ”.
Step 4. Click the Taskbar tab
It's in the upper-left corner of the window.
Step 5. Select the type of workbar button
Click the "Taskbar buttons" drop-down box, then click one of the following options:
- ” Always combine, hide labels ” – This option compresses the workbar buttons into boxes showing program icons, without their labels. Multiple windows of the same program can be inserted into a single button of the workbar.
- ” Combine when taskbar is full ” – This option displays each rectangular workbar button with its label until the bar is completely filled. At this stage, the buttons will be combined into a single box with the configuration described earlier.
- ” Never combine ” – With this option, the buttons on the workbar will still be displayed in a rectangle with their labels, regardless of the number of buttons present.
Step 6. Check the box " Use small icons"
This box is at the top of the page. Once marked, the icons on the Windows 7 workbar will be minimized.
If this box is checked, the computer will already display a small icon on the workbar
Step 7. Click Apply, and select OK.
After that, the changes will be saved and the screen display will be updated. Once updated, the workbar icons will appear smaller (or larger) than before.
Method 2 of 3: Adjusting the Screen Resolution
Step 1. Open the Start menu
Click the Windows logo on a blue background in the lower-left corner of the screen.
Step 2. Click Control Panel
This tab is on the right side of the Start menu.
If you don't see the option " Control Panel ”, type " control panel " into the Start menu and click " Control Panel ” once displayed at the top of the Start window.
Step 3. Click Display
It's at the top of the Control Panel page. After that, the “Display” window will be opened.
If you don't see this option, click the "View by" drop-down box in the upper-right corner of the window, then click “ Large Icons ”.
Step 4. Click Adjust resolution
This link is in the top-right corner of the page.
Step 5. Click the “Resolution” drop-down box
This box is in the middle of the page. After that, a drop-down menu with all applicable screen resolution options will be displayed.
Step 6. Increase or decrease the screen resolution
Click and drag the slider upwards to increase the resolution and reduce the icon, or drag downwards to decrease the resolution and enlarge the icon.
Step 7. Click Apply
Step 8. Click Keep changes when prompted
Step 9. Click Make text and other items larger or smaller
This link is in the middle of the page. After that, you will be taken to the “Appearance and Personalization” menu.
Step 10. Select a size option
Click the circle button to the left of one of the following options:
- ” Smaller - 100% ”
- ” Medium - 125% ”
- ” Larger - 150% ” (not all computers are equipped with this option)
Step 11. Click Apply
It's in the lower-right corner of the page.
Step 12. Click Log off now when prompted
After that, you will be logged out of your account. If you log back into your account, all icons will appear larger or smaller, depending on the option you selected.
Method 3 of 3: Setting Your Own Size for Icons
Step 1. Open the Start menu
Click the Windows logo in the lower-left corner of the screen.
Step 2. Type run into the Start menu
After that, the computer will look for the Run program.
Step 3. Click Run
The program with the flying envelope icon is at the top of the Start window.
Step 4. Type regedit into the Run window, then click OK
After that, the Registry Editor program will be opened.
You may need to click “ Yes ” when prompted before continuing.
Step 5. Open the WindowMetrics folder
To open it:
- Double click the option " HKEY_CURRENT_USER " It's in the upper-left corner of the Registry Editor program window.
- Double click" Control Panel ”.
- Double click" Desktop ”.
- Click " WindowMetrics ”.
Step 6. Double-click MinWidth
This entry is on the right side of the Registry Editor window. After double-clicking it, a new window will open.
If you don't see the entry " MinWidth ”, follow these steps first: click “ Edit ", choose " New ", click " String Value ”, type MinWidth, and press Enter.
Step 7. Enter the new icon width
Type a new width for the icon that appears, then press Enter. The default width/size of a regular icon is 52, and the smallest size you can enter is 32. Any value smaller makes the icon unable to display properly.
You can enter a value greater than 52. However, if the size is too large, the icon can cause problems on the workbar
Step 8. Restart the computer
Open menu Start ”, click, and click “ Restart ” to restart the computer.
Step 9. Paste the icon again
Windows stores icon images in its cache when an application is pasted in the workbar. Therefore, you will need to re-paste the icons so that the new sizes can be applied. Right-click each icon pasted on the workbar and select "Unpin". You can re-paste the program icon by right-clicking the icon in the Start menu and selecting “ Pin to Taskbar ”.
