Microsoft brings back taskbar Windows 10 features
For me, the Windows 11 experience has always started with installing a custom Start menu. The lack of taskbar ungrouping and basic taskbar customization was one of the worst productivity regressions in the OS. It is still strange that Microsoft took nearly two years to bring back taskbar ungrouping and almost five years to restore Windows 10-style taskbar placement options. This has finally changed today.
Microsoft is testing new taskbar controls for Windows 11, including the option to move it away from the bottom of the screen. The change is now rolling out to Windows Insiders in the Experimental channel. So no, it’s not a global update (yet). Users can place the taskbar at the bottom, top, left, or right side of the display. Microsoft says Start, Search, tooltips, flyouts, and animations will open relative to the selected taskbar position.
The update also adds icon alignment controls for each taskbar position. On the left or right side of the screen, icons can be top-aligned or centered. On the top or bottom, they can be left-aligned or centered.
Taskbar positions, Source: Microsoft
Microsoft is also adding a smaller taskbar option. When enabled, Windows 11 uses smaller icons and a reduced taskbar height. The setting does not require a restart or sign-out and can be changed under “Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors > Show smaller taskbar buttons.”
Compact and standard taskbars, Source: Microsoft
There are some limits in the current release. Microsoft says auto-hide and the tablet-optimized taskbar are not yet supported in alternate taskbar positions. Touch gestures are still being worked on. Search boxes are also not supported in alternate positions for now, so Windows will show a search icon instead.
The same Windows Insider update also includes Start menu changes. Microsoft is adding separate toggles for Pinned, Recommended and All sections. It is also renaming Recommended to Recent, since that section mostly shows recently installed apps and recently used files.
Source: Microsoft
