Customize the Size of the Windows 7 Taskbar Icons

Method 1Taskbar and Start Menu Method

1. Access the Taskbar and Start Menu. This particular menu will allow you to customize your taskbar features and resize the icons.
2. Click on the Start menu, or Windows logo, from within your taskbar.
3. Select "Control Panel," then select "Appearance and Personalization." On some Windows 7 computers, this option may also read as "Appearance."
4. Click on "Taskbar and Start Menu." This will open a Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box on your screen.
5. Change the size of the taskbar icons.
6. Place a checkmark next to "Use small icons" within the Taskbar Appearance section to make your taskbar icons appear smaller.
7. Click directly on the checkmark if one is already present to enlarge the size of your taskbar icons.
8. Save your taskbar icon customization settings. Your new taskbar settings will go into effect immediately.
9. Click on the "Apply" button to save your changes, then click "OK" to exit from the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties menu.

Method 2 Windows 7 Registry Method

1.       Access the Windows 7 registry. The registry will allow you to modify your computer's configuration settings, such as the taskbar settings outlined in this procedure.

2.       Click on the Start menu, then type "regedit.exe" into the search box located at the bottom of the Start menu.

3.       Right-click on "regedit.exe" when it appears in the search results, then select "Run as administrator." The registry will open on your screen.

4.       Create a new string value. This procedure will allow you to specify an exact size for your icons in regards to width only. The height of your icons can only be manipulated using the Taskbar and Start Menu sizing method.

5.       Locate the registry key of "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics" in the list presented, then click on that particular key to highlight it.

6.       Right-click in the pane to the right of the registry key, point to "New," then select "String Value."

7.       Designate the properties of your new string value.

8.       Enter "MinWidth" when prompted for a string value name, followed by an equals symbol, and the numeric pixel value in quotations. For example, if you want to specify 32 as the width, type: "MinWidth"="32."

9.       Enter a numeric pixel value of at least 32 if the height of your taskbar icons are set to small.

10.   Enter a numeric pixel value of at least 56 if you are using the standard height for your taskbar icons.

11.   Save your customization settings for the taskbar icons.

12.   Restart, shut down, or log off your computer completely to allow the Windows 7 registry to take your taskbar icon customization settings into effect.