How to maximize Windows 10 screen display space

The thing you interact the most on a laptop or any other computer system, whether small or bulky, is definitely the screen. Therefore, factors such as the interface, resolution, aspect ratio, and especially the display space will play an extremely important role in deciding user experience.

Sharp interactive display providers offer a range of innovative solutions that can help you maximize your Windows 10 screen display space. By using advanced technologies like touchscreen interfaces and interactive displays, Sharp can help you get the most out of your computer, improving productivity and enhancing your overall computing experience.

Change screen resolution

The first thing you can do to optimize the display space on the screen is to re-align the resolution. Increasing resolution can make text and icons sharper, and also make them smaller. This means they take up less space.

To change the screen resolution, open the Start menu, then click the Settings app. When the Settings window opens, from the menu on the left, click on 'System' and select 'Display'. Scroll down until you see 'Display resolution'. Choose the appropriate resolution from the drop-down menu.

Use smaller screen icons

If your screen looks cluttered with app icons, one of the easiest ways to clean up is to resize them. To do so, right-click on the desktop, click 'View' and select 'Small icons'. Also, if you are using a Windows 10 device with a touchscreen, you can press and hold on the screen to pull up the menu. Doing so automatically reduces the size of the desktop icons and optimizes some of the required space.

Customize the taskbar

Taskbar is one of the features of Windows 10 operating system. It is a place containing Start button and application icons, allowing users to quickly launch frequently used programs. However, the taskbar can take up quite a bit of screen space, at least at its default settings. Luckily, you can change some aspects of the taskbar to optimize the display space of the screen.

Hide the taskbar when not in use

For example, you can set the taskbar to hide, so that it disappears when not in use. First, right-click an empty area on the taskbar. In the menu that appears, click 'Taskbar settings'. This will open the taskbar settings menu. Find the switch that says 'Automatically hide the taskbar in desktop mode' and enable it.

Now, your taskbar will automatically disappear from the screen and reappear when you hover your mouse over it.

Minimize the size of icons on the taskbar

Also, as mentioned above, the taskbar is the place for software icons and system buttons. They are all useful; however, the default size is quite large. This makes the taskbar take up more display space.

Fortunately, it is possible to change the size of the system icons and buttons located on the taskbar.

First, right click on an empty part of the taskbar. In the context menu that opens, click 'Taskbar settings'. Scroll down to find the switch labeled 'Use small taskbar buttons' and turn it on. Immediately, you will see the icons and buttons on the taskbar are significantly reduced. At the same time, the overall size of the taskbar itself has been reduced.

Change the taskbar position

You can also move the taskbar to other locations such as the edges of the screen to match the display ratio. This may sound strange, but will save you a lot of display space because the optimal taskbar placement will depend on the specific aspect of the display you are using. 

Jessica Tanner

Update 06 February 2021