Reclaim Your Taskbar: How to Add Real-Time System Stats & Media Controls
If you look at your Windows taskbar right now, it's probably mostly "dead space." Unless you have dozens of apps open, that middle or side section just sits there doing nothing. I decided to change that.
In this guide, I’m going to show you how to turn that empty space into a high-tech dashboard. I use two free, open-source, and lightweight programs to add internet speeds, system resource usage, and media controls directly to my taskbar—and one of them is an app I built myself!
1. kil0bit System Monitor: Track Your Stats
I developed kil0bit System Monitor because I wanted a way to see exactly how my PC is performing at a glance without having to open the Task Manager every five minutes.
Key Features:
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Real-time Speeds: Monitor your internet download and upload speeds.
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Hardware Usage: Track CPU, GPU, and RAM usage percentages.
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GPU Temperature: Keep an eye on your graphics card's heat during heavy tasks.
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Fully Customizable: You can change fonts, colors, and background opacity. I personally love a transparent look to match a clean desktop.
How to Install:
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Head over to the GitHub page: https://github.com/kil0bit-kb/kil0bit-system-monitor
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Download the latest release. I recommend the MSI installer, though there is a portable EXE version available too.
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Note: You might see a "Windows Protected Your PC" prompt. This is just because I haven't signed the app (it's expensive!). You can scan it with any antivirus to be safe. Just click "More Info" and then "Run Anyway."
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Once it's running, configure the stats you want to see. You can drag the widget anywhere on your taskbar. When you're happy with the placement, right-click it and select Lock Position.
2. Fluent Flyout: Elegant Media Controls
To handle my music and videos, I use Fluent Flyout. It adds a stylish media controller to the taskbar that lets you play, pause, and skip tracks with ease.
Key Features:
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Media Control: Standard Play/Pause/Skip buttons directly on the taskbar.
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Music Visualizer: It includes a tiny animated bar that reacts to whatever you're listening to.
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Detailed Flyout: Click the widget to see more info about the media playing.
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Lock Key Indicators: It even shows on-screen notifications for Caps Lock and Num Lock.
How to Install (GitHub Version):
While you can find this on the Microsoft Store, downloading it from GitHub unlocks the premium features (like the taskbar widget and visualizer) for free.
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Visit the GitHub page: https://github.com/unchihugo/FluentFlyout
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Download the installer ZIP from the releases and extract it.
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Right-click
Fluent Flyout installer.batand Run as Administrator. -
Make sure you have Developer Mode enabled in your Windows settings.
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In the PowerShell window that opens, type 'R' to run it and 'Y' to confirm.
Pro Tip: Perfect Spacing
If you use both apps like I do, they might overlap at first. Here is how I set mine up:
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Open Fluent Flyout Settings.
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Go to Taskbar Widget.
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Adjust the Widget Padding. I set mine to 211. This creates the perfect amount of space so the media controls sit right next to my kil0bit monitor without touching.
Why This Setup Rocks
Both of these apps are incredibly lightweight. Even with the visualizer and all the monitors running, they use almost 0% of your CPU and very little RAM.
Make sure to enable "Launch on Startup" for both apps so your dashboard is ready the second you log in. Give it a try and stop letting that taskbar space go to waste!
Official Links:
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kil0bit System Monitor: https://github.com/kil0bit-kb/kil0bit-system-monitor
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Fluent Flyout: https://github.com/unchihugo/FluentFlyout