Microsoft has reinstated a feature in Windows 11 that a great number of people were anticipating: in the newest beta builds of the operating system, the taskbar can once again be relocated to any edge of the display—whether that’s the top, bottom, left, or right. This capability, which Windows 10 users already possess, has only just arrived in Windows 11, and currently, it’s not present in the general public release.
For a significant portion of the user base, this represents one of the most eagerly awaited features. Following the initial launch of Windows 11, Microsoft effectively removed certain familiar taskbar settings, leading to years of complaints from users about the excessively restricted interface.
Now, the company seems to be reversing some of those decisions. In addition to flexible taskbar positioning, a compact mode has also been introduced. This mode features a reduced taskbar height and smaller icons, making it particularly beneficial for those using laptops or smaller displays where conserving vertical screen real estate is crucial.
Furthermore, Microsoft has refined the interface’s behavior to adapt to the taskbar’s new location. For instance, if the taskbar is positioned at the top, the Start menu and search functionality will also launch from the top. When the panel is oriented vertically, the icons can be aligned either centrally or to the top edge.
As an added enhancement, the company has improved the “Never combine” mode, which is heavily utilized by those managing multiple windows concurrently. With this mode active alongside a vertical taskbar, window labels are now displayed separately, leading to a noticeably more convenient workflow.
Currently, all these enhancements are exclusively available to participants in the Windows Insider program. However, the direction is quite clear: Microsoft is progressively restoring a more familiar and customizable taskbar experience to Windows 11, moving away from the rigidly constrained version that defined the system’s initial release.
About the Author
