# Windows 11 where is the search box that was in the lower left corner? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 24, 2025, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-11-where-is-the-search-box-that-was-in-the-lower-left-corner/1022426 "2025-08-24T01:23:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2025, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-11-where-is-the-search-box-that-was-in-the-lower-left-corner/1022426/1 "2025-08-24T01:23:45Z")
I had to buy a new computer which has Win11, I was using Win 10. Where is the search box on the task bar where you could search for things like Control Panel, etc. I used to right click and get the shutdown menu. What happened to that? How do I put the computer to sleep? ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2025, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-11-where-is-the-search-box-that-was-in-the-lower-left-corner/1022426/2 "2025-08-24T01:46:33Z")
To add a search box to the Windows 11 taskbar, follow these steps: 1. Right-click on the taskbar and select **Taskbar settings**. Alternatively, open the **Settings** app, go to **Personalization** , and then select **Taskbar**. 2. In the Taskbar settings, find the section called **Taskbar items**. 3. Locate the **Search** option. There will be a dropdown menu next to it with several choices: 4. Choose **Search box** from the dropdown. 5. The search box will now appear on your taskbar. 6. Close the Settings app when done. This will enable a full search box directly on your Windows 11 taskbar for easy searching of apps, files, settings, and web content. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2025, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-11-where-is-the-search-box-that-was-in-the-lower-left-corner/1022426/3 "2025-08-24T02:00:12Z")
Got it, thanks. It was actually there already but in the center of the task bar, not the far left. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2025, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-11-where-is-the-search-box-that-was-in-the-lower-left-corner/1022426/4 "2025-08-24T15:15:57Z")
Is it a laptop? You can usually just close the screen to put it to screen. Or if desktop, you can configure the power button to put it to sleep instead. [Shut down, sleep, or hibernate your PC - Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/shut-down-sleep-or-hibernate-your-pc-2941d165-7d0a-a5e8-c5ad-8c972e8e6eff) ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2025, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-11-where-is-the-search-box-that-was-in-the-lower-left-corner/1022426/5 "2025-08-24T17:34:35Z")
There’s a setting to make the taskbar left justified instead of centered, if you prefer the old way. I don’t remember exactly where it is but it’s pretty easy to find. That’s one of the first things I did after upgrading to Win 11 was to leftify the taskbar. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2025, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-11-where-is-the-search-box-that-was-in-the-lower-left-corner/1022426/6 "2025-08-24T17:41:54Z")
Me too. Right-click the taskbar. Select “Taskbar settings” from the popup menu. The bottom entry in the list of settings (just above the “related settings” section) is an item titled “taskbar behaviors”, with “taskbar alignment” being the first words of the description just below. Expand that and the topmost setting is the one you want. ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2025, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-11-where-is-the-search-box-that-was-in-the-lower-left-corner/1022426/7 "2025-08-25T16:17:30Z")
I had finally got used to the center menu / search bar before having to move it back to the left. I got a new samsung monitor with an on-screen display that insists popping up to cover the menu everytime the screen wakes up. Yes the monitor has options to turn off the OSD and to change its position, neither of which do anything. Our main contract has strong privacy regulations, plus I sign into the bank account and several other vulnerable points. I need the screen to lock down in a timely manor. So …back to the left. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2025, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-11-where-is-the-search-box-that-was-in-the-lower-left-corner/1022426/8 "2025-08-25T16:32:12Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Right-click the taskbar. Select “Taskbar settings” from the popup menu. The bottom entry in the list of settings (just above the “related settings” section) is an item titled “taskbar behaviors”, with “taskbar alignment” being the first words of the description just below. Expand that and the topmost setting is the one you want. LSLGuy for the win! Amazing how just a little setting makes the computer feel familiar again. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2025, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-11-where-is-the-search-box-that-was-in-the-lower-left-corner/1022426/9 "2025-08-25T20:00:15Z")
Also if I’m not mistaken you can just click Start and start typing, it will bring up a search blank as you type. This applies to Windows 10 too. Shortcut is Control-Esc. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-11-where-is-the-search-box-that-was-in-the-lower-left-corner/1022426/10 "2025-08-26T12:28:07Z")
Yep, that still works in Windows 11. It also brings up app matches in the Microsoft Store. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2025, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-11-where-is-the-search-box-that-was-in-the-lower-left-corner/1022426/11 "2025-08-27T23:03:35Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > There’s a setting to make the taskbar left justified instead of centered, if you prefer the old way. Why, why, oh why do programmers change stuff like this? For decades, a billion people have gotten used to clicking on standard menus, and everybody was happy. Why change things? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2025, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-11-where-is-the-search-box-that-was-in-the-lower-left-corner/1022426/12 "2025-08-27T23:44:33Z")
Because Apple put theirs in the middle, and they define what is cool and desirable and what isn’t. Focus groups said they wanted their PCs to more resemble their Macs & iPhones, and here we are. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2025, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-11-where-is-the-search-box-that-was-in-the-lower-left-corner/1022426/13 "2025-08-28T00:16:27Z")
Yeah, I guess they wanted to make it look like the dock, but they completely missed that Apple’s version of the Start menu just…appears with the correct gesture or button press. I ended up leaving my Start menu centered, since it’s such a sad shadow of its former self; it’s hard to describe, but it looks odd popping up from the left side when it’s so small. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2025, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-11-where-is-the-search-box-that-was-in-the-lower-left-corner/1022426/14 "2025-08-28T00:18:29Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Because Apple put theirs in the middle, and they define what is cool and desirable and what isn’t. Then there’s the strange folks like me… I love my Mac, but hate the Dock and all its wasted space on the sides. I wish I could get a Windows-style taskbar back ☹ Hmm, seems like there’s aftermarket apps for that: [Taskbar For macOS – lawand.io](https://lawand.io/taskbar/) Might have to give it a try! I also really miss the ability to just push the Windows key and start typing the name of an app to launch it — much faster than the mouse. macOS has the Spotlight search feature, but it’s much slower and jankier. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2025, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-11-where-is-the-search-box-that-was-in-the-lower-left-corner/1022426/15 "2025-08-28T00:21:54Z")
For the last 20 years I’ve had my Windows taskbar on the left edge, not the bottom edge. I am not liking the fact its now stuck on the bottom. Nevertheless as a matter of personal policy I refuse to run 3rd party apps to badly replace the real shell. That just creates more upgrade and compatibility headaches. Adapting muscle memory to reach for the bottom, not the side isn’t that hard and once adapted is permanent. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2025, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-11-where-is-the-search-box-that-was-in-the-lower-left-corner/1022426/16 "2025-08-31T12:16:43Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > For the last 20 years I’ve had my Windows taskbar on the left edge, not the bottom edge. I am not liking the fact its now stuck on the bottom. A key reason I’ve been avoiding Windows 11. Monitors have gone from 4:3 to 16:9 and websites (and apps) love to cram bars at the top and bottom of the screen leaving less height available for content. It makes all kinds of sense to have the taskbar to the side, but the geniuses at MS have taken that possibility away… ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2025, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-11-where-is-the-search-box-that-was-in-the-lower-left-corner/1022426/17 "2025-09-03T08:51:56Z")
While LSLGuy may not wish to run extra software to fix this, said software does exist, and using it on Windows 11 will increasingly become the better choice after October of this year (and especially October of next year). The same software will let you make the Start Menu itself more usable. That is, if you want to stick with Windows. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2025, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-11-where-is-the-search-box-that-was-in-the-lower-left-corner/1022426/18 "2025-09-03T12:01:04Z")
Aware of that but my understanding is that the software tends to get broken regularly by updates and I’d rather not have the hassle ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2025, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-11-where-is-the-search-box-that-was-in-the-lower-left-corner/1022426/19 "2025-09-03T12:56:49Z")
I actually had to look into this, and it seems like it was just one time, and only with a feature update. They came out with a fix fairly quickly. So as long as you wait a reasonable amount of time to do the feature update (6 months or more), you shouldn’t run into that problem. I mean, you can get the ESU so that you can stay on Windows 10 and avoid it. You can do so for free, though you have to sign up as a Windows Insider and use a Microsoft account, or get 1000 Microsoft ports. (Both of the latter require you to use OneDrive for backup.) Or you can pay $30. But I wouldn’t go without updates for long when you can use a third party tool and get updates. StartAllBack, as I understand it, is the one least likely to break. It costs $5, but it was worth it to fix that buggy taskbar in Windows 11 for my client. I just took the costs out of the labor. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2025, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-11-where-is-the-search-box-that-was-in-the-lower-left-corner/1022426/20 "2025-09-03T13:37:39Z")
Never mind. I misunderstood. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-11-where-is-the-search-box-that-was-in-the-lower-left-corner/1022426.md?page=2)