The Windows Taskbar is my first stop every time I turn on my computer. Even after it’s on, I always check the time, date, and battery percentage there. It hasn’t failed me yet, but I never realized how much I depend on that strip at the bottom. I’ve changed many habits after finding Windows 11 features I’d ignored for years, but the taskbar wasn’t one of them.

Now I use the PowerToys Dock for some of those same jobs. I check the time and system stats there, open apps, and search from the top of my screen more often. But I use that strip at the bottom a lot less than I expected.

I can get a quick look at what I need

Looking at the time, date, and battery is now easier

The first thing the PowerToys Dock replaced for me was what I usually look at on the taskbar. For example, I don’t have to look down for the time, date, and battery percentage. Not that looking down was hard, but it just feels more comfortable.

Other useful things I can now glance at more easily are the CPU, memory, network send/receive speeds, and GPU usage. Microsoft includes those as built-in Performance Monitor bands, along with disk usage and battery.

It’s useful to have them there because it saves me from opening Task Manager or another window.

I quickly noticed I was checking the Dock instead of the taskbar. It takes the information I used to look for on the taskbar and puts it somewhere I find easier to check. The extra system stats are nice, but I mostly look up there for the same basic stuff I used to check on the taskbar.

The Dock makes clicking what I need easier

Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, and GIMP are easier to reach

The Dock has been a big help for the apps I usually click. For example, I’ve moved apps like:

• WhatsApp
• File Explorer
• GIMP
• Claude
• Gemini
• ChatGPT

Now the Dock doesn’t just sit there looking pretty. It gives me a couple of other ways to launch apps. Thanks to the lightning icon on the left, I can open the Command Palette directly, so I don’t always need to reach for the keyboard shortcut. If something isn’t already there, I can use the Find apps feature in the Dock.

I don’t need to have all my apps pinned, only the ones I use daily. Once I add those to the Dock, I remove them from the taskbar. I still use it to see what’s already open and switch between windows, but I need it less for opening apps.

The Dock makes searching easier

Storage Sense worked, but my search didn’t find the files

When I need to find a setting, I usually start with Windows Search. However, I find myself using the Command Palette when I need a specific setting. It wasn’t exactly one click. I typed storage, found the Windows Settings option, and had to right-click before I could get into the actual results. From there, though, it broke things down into:

• Storage Policy
• Storage Sense
• Computer Management
• Disk Management

I wouldn’t call this faster than Taskbar Search. There are a few extra clicks. But I can still start the search from the Dock instead of going back to the taskbar.

I also tried searching for screenshots by typing “Gemini” and “ChatGPT,” since I recently named some files that way. Nothing came up when I searched that way, so the Command Palette’s main search didn’t replace Windows Search for finding those files.

For settings, though, it worked well enough. And that’s enough to make the Search button on my taskbar feel a little less necessary.

I still needed to use the taskbar for some things

A few things still make me go back to the taskbar

I find the Dock useful, but I haven’t completely ditched the taskbar. I still need the taskbar to see what’s open and bounce between windows. That’s not changing for me.

I did run into some bumps in the road since pinning some apps didn’t go as planned. I had to do more than just click Pin to Dock. I also had to click Edit Dock -> click the plus button, add the app, and save it. That’s too much work for my taste. Half my taskbar feels about right. I still need the rest.

Who said the Dock has to replace it completely?

I only replaced what I use most

I’m not saying the PowerToys Dock will completely replace the taskbar. The Dock can’t do everything the taskbar does, so until it fixes its flaws, I’m keeping half my stuff on it. The Dock still helps when I need to check the battery percentage, date, or time. Finding apps and searching for settings are other tasks it stole from the taskbar. Since I do those things throughout the day, I’m reaching for the taskbar a lot less than I used to.

Just because I started using the Dock doesn’t mean I’m going to stop using the taskbar. I’m only going to lighten its load a bit. Who says you can’t have the best of both worlds, right? If you’ve never tried the Dock, give it a chance. Start with a couple of apps or stats you use all the time, rather than moving everything over. If you start using the taskbar less, that tells you enough.