7+ Taskbar Tweaker vs RetroBar

7+ Taskbar Tweaker is a free Windows utility for changing taskbar behavior beyond options normally exposed by taskbar properties or the registry. It provides dozens of customization choices, and Taskbar Inspector can group, combine, or label some taskbar items. The software is designed for Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10. The maker says it does not support the Windows 11 taskbar, although it can work on Windows 11 version 23H2 and older when third-party tools restore the old taskbar. Its installer can extract a portable copy to a selected folder. The utility injects a DLL into Explorer and modifies it directly; registry changes are limited to its own settings. Antivirus detections may be false positives because this behavior can appear suspicious. It has no ads or bundled installers, may be used commercially, and optional donations are supported.

RetroBar is a free Windows taskbar replacement that recreates Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, XP, or Vista styles. It includes a notification area with balloon notifications, a task list supporting UWP apps and drag reordering, and a Quick Launch toolbar. Users can choose built-in themes, install custom themes, and adjust layout and appearance. The taskbar can sit on any screen edge, span multiple rows, and appear on multiple monitors. Additional options include a modern Start button, optional clock, auto-hide, Vista-style window thumbnails, and an input-language and keyboard-layout switcher. RetroBar supports Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows 11, and requires Microsoft .NET Desktop Runtime. It comes as an installer or portable version. The installer can obtain the runtime when needed, but it is unsigned and Windows Defender may require confirmation.