PowerToys simply gave Windows a dock, and it could substitute half my taskbar
The Windows Taskbar is my first cease each time I activate my pc. Even after it’s on, I at all times verify the time, date, and battery proportion there. It hasn’t failed me but, however I by no means realized how a lot I rely upon that strip on the backside. I’ve modified many habits after discovering Windows 11 features I’d ignored for years, however the taskbar wasn’t one in all them.
Now I take advantage of the PowerToys Dock for a few of those self same jobs. I verify the time and system stats there, open apps, and search from the top of my screen more often. But I take advantage of that strip on the backside so much lower than I anticipated.
I can get a fast have a look at what I would like
Looking on the time, date, and battery is now simpler
The very first thing the PowerToys Dock changed for me was what I normally have a look at on the taskbar. For instance, I don’t need to look down for the time, date, and battery proportion. Not that trying down was exhausting, nevertheless it simply feels extra snug.
Other helpful issues I can now look at extra simply are the CPU, reminiscence, community ship/obtain speeds, and GPU utilization. Microsoft contains these as built-in Performance Monitor bands, together with disk utilization and battery.
It’s helpful to have them there as a result of it saves me from opening Task Manager or one other window.
I rapidly observed I used to be checking the Dock as a substitute of the taskbar. It takes the knowledge I used to search for on the taskbar and places it someplace I discover simpler to verify. The further system stats are good, however I principally lookup there for a similar primary stuff I used to verify on the taskbar.
The Dock makes clicking what I would like simpler
Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, and GIMP are simpler to succeed in
The Dock has been an enormous assist for the apps I normally click on. For instance, I’ve moved apps like:
- File Explorer
- GIMP
- Claude
- Gemini
- ChatGPT
Now the Dock doesn’t simply sit there trying fairly. It offers me a few different methods to launch apps. Thanks to the lightning icon on the left, I can open the Command Palette instantly, so I don’t at all times want to succeed in for the keyboard shortcut. If one thing isn’t already there, I can use the Find apps characteristic within the Dock.
I don’t have to have all my apps pinned, solely those I take advantage of every day. Once I add these to the Dock, I take away them from the taskbar. I nonetheless use it to see what’s already open and swap between home windows, however I would like it much less for opening apps.
The Dock makes looking out simpler
Storage Sense labored, however my search didn’t discover the information
When I have to discover a setting, I normally begin with Windows Search. However, I discover myself utilizing the Command Palette after I want a particular setting. It wasn’t precisely one click on. I typed storage, discovered the Windows Settings choice, and needed to right-click earlier than I might get into the precise outcomes. From there, although, it broke issues down into:
- Storage Policy
- Storage Sense
- Computer Management
- Disk Management
I wouldn’t name this quicker than Taskbar Search. There are just a few further clicks. But I can nonetheless begin the search from the Dock as a substitute of going again to the taskbar.
I additionally tried trying to find screenshots by typing “Gemini” and “ChatGPT,” since I just lately named some information that manner. Nothing got here up after I searched that manner, so the Command Palette’s foremost search didn’t substitute Windows Search for locating these information.
Command Palette additionally has a devoted file-search mode. You can open Search information, or kind “file” adopted by an area earlier than your query. My take a look at above used the principle search.
For settings, although, it labored nicely sufficient. And that’s sufficient to make the Search button on my taskbar really feel rather less needed.
I nonetheless wanted to make use of the taskbar for some issues
Just a few issues nonetheless make me return to the taskbar
I discover the Dock helpful, however I have never utterly ditched the taskbar. I nonetheless want the taskbar to see what’s open and bounce between home windows. That’s not altering for me.
I did run into some bumps within the street since pinning some apps didn’t go as deliberate. I needed to do extra than simply click on Pin to Dock. I additionally needed to click on Edit Dock -> click on the plus button, add the app, and reserve it. That’s an excessive amount of work for my style. Half my taskbar feels about proper. I nonetheless want the remaining.
Who stated the Dock has to exchange it utterly?
I solely changed what I take advantage of most
I’m not saying the PowerToys Dock will utterly substitute the taskbar. The Dock can’t do all the things the taskbar does, so till it fixes its flaws, I’m retaining half my stuff on it. The Dock nonetheless helps after I have to verify the battery proportion, date, or time. Finding apps and trying to find settings are different duties it stole from the taskbar. Since I do these issues all through the day, I’m reaching for the taskbar so much lower than I used to.
Just as a result of I began utilizing the Dock doesn’t suggest I’m going to cease utilizing the taskbar. I’m solely going to lighten its load a bit. Who says you possibly can’t have the perfect of each worlds, proper? If you’ve by no means tried the Dock, give it an opportunity. Start with a few apps or stats you utilize on a regular basis, quite than transferring all the things over. If you begin utilizing the taskbar much less, that tells you sufficient.
