Microsoft has begun rolling out a long-requested feature that allows Windows 11 users to move the taskbar to different sides of the screen, reversing one of the operating system’s most criticised design decisions.
The feature is currently available to participants in the Windows Insider programme through the new Windows 11 Insider Experimental (26H1) Preview Build 28120.2387.
With the update, users can position the taskbar at the top, bottom, left or right of the display, restoring functionality that was available in earlier versions of Windows but removed when Windows 11 launched.
According to Microsoft’s release notes, users can change the taskbar position by navigating to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar Behaviors, where they can select their preferred location.
Microsoft said tooltips, flyouts and animations will continue to originate from the taskbar regardless of its position, while most existing customisation options, including small taskbar icons and the “never combine taskbar icons” setting, will work across all placements.
However, the company noted that support for touch gestures, the Search box and Ask Copilot in alternative taskbar positions is still under development. Features such as the auto-hidden taskbar and the touch-optimised taskbar are also not yet supported outside the default position.
Smaller taskbar option introduced
Alongside the taskbar positioning feature, Microsoft has added a new option allowing users to reduce the size of the taskbar.
The feature is designed to provide additional screen space, particularly on smaller devices, by displaying smaller icons and reducing the taskbar’s height.
Users can enable the feature by going to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar Behaviors > Show smaller taskbar buttons and selecting Always.
Microsoft said it is also working on further improvements to taskbar settings to make resizing and customisation easier in future builds.
The new features remain limited to Windows Insider testers for now, with Microsoft yet to announce when they will become available in the stable version of Windows 11.