After some harsh feedback about the quality of Windows 11, Microsoft is on a sort of apology tour. The company is promising to improve the operating system, addressing critical issues and features that annoy longtime Windows users. It started off with a way to delay Windows updates for longer than a week. Now, Microsoft is testing new settings that let users customize the placement and size of the taskbar alongside the start menu.
The fact that you couldn’t move the taskbar to the top or side of the screen has bothered Windows 11 users ever since launch. As with many frustrating aspects of Windows, there are multiple workarounds to customize the taskbar and its placement using third-party apps and registry hacks. But now, Windows users will finally have a native, reliable option for customizing the taskbar. These changes are currently rolling out over the next couple of weeks to Windows Insider members in the Experimental channel. Hopefully, they make it to a public build in the near future.
Move the taskbar anywhere you want
Credit: Microsoft
The biggest news, of course, is that the taskbar is finally detached from the bottom of the screen—at least, if you want it to be. You can now move it to the top, or to the left or right edge of the screen. When you do, the taskbar content will adapt automatically. You can also choose where you’d like to align the icons. You can place them on top or in the center when the taskbar is on the sides, or on the left or center when it is on the top or the bottom.
If you dock the taskbar to the side, there’s a new option to “Never combine” taskbar buttons and to show full labels for all windows separately. This will basically show you a vertical list of all open windows, even if they’re from the same app. Windows Insiders who already have this feature can go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors to customize the taskbar position and icon alignment.
Credit: Microsoft
If you’re using a Windows tablet, or a laptop with a small screen, there’s now an option to make the Windows taskbar smaller (icons will also scale down automatically). Go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors > Show smaller taskbar buttons and set it to Always.
What do you think so far?
Credit: Microsoft
The Start menu in Windows 11 has expanded to include not just apps, but also recommendations, shortcuts, and even updates from your connected smartphone. If all you really want is a quick way to launch apps, this can seem like too much. Microsoft is now consolidating settings for customizing the Start menu, making it easier to get to the minimal Start menu experience.
Credit: Microsoft
There are many other changes planned for the taskbar in the near future. Over the next couple of weeks, Microsoft will start adding Start menu customization features to independently show or hide sections like Pinned, Recommended, and All. There will be a separate toggle to disable the Recommended section only in the Start menu (decoupling it from the Recent Files section in the File Explorer), as well as a new size setting for the Start menu, letting you choose between a Small or Large size. Currently, the Start menu automatically adapts to your display, which can be inconsistent if you use multiple displays along with your laptop. Lastly, Microsoft is adding an option to hide your name and profile picture from the Start menu for added privacy. With all these features combined, you can create a Start menu that’s smaller, devoid of profile pictures, and only showing apps that you have pinned yourself.
