All articles tagged with #taskbar
Windows 11’s 25H2 preview (build 26300.8493) brings back taskbar repositioning on any screen edge and a 'show smaller taskbar' resize option, but the experience isn’t as flexible as Windows 10: you must adjust settings instead of dragging the bar, auto-hide is still buggy, vertical layouts show quirks like a shortened year and no seconds, and multi‑row taskbars remain missing.
Microsoft's May 2026 Update for Windows 11 (KB5089549) patches reliability issues in explorer.exe that caused taskbar freezes, unresponsive right-clicks, sign-in delays, and non-responsive Task View, and also improves startup-app launch timing and system-tray performance; changes may not show up for all devices immediately.
Microsoft’s May 2026 Windows 11 Insider builds roll out 13 practical, quality‑of‑life changes that fix long‑standing friction and steer the OS through 2026: Taskbar repositioning returns; Run dialog gets a modern look; File Explorer and Search get local‑first improvements; Widgets become quieter and more adaptive; touchpad gestures, NPU‑aware Task Manager, Voice Typing on the touch keyboard, and a Windows Update overhaul add user control; K‑12 Pro Education upgrades are free; and Shared Audio enables two devices to listen to the same audio.
Microsoft is rolling out an Insider Preview (Build 26300.8493) that reinstates a resizable taskbar and configurable Start menu on Windows 11, letting users move the taskbar to the top or sides, enable smaller icons, and tailor Start menu content and size, while maintaining a list of recently installed apps; the company also teases a modern Run dialog and broader performance and UX improvements.
Microsoft is rolling out full Windows 11 taskbar and Start Menu customization to Windows Insider participants in the Experimental channel, allowing the Taskbar to be moved to top, bottom, left, or right with per-position alignment and smaller icons, plus a revamped Start Menu with adjustable sizes and toggleable sections (Pinned, Recent, All) and privacy options. Start’s file recommendations are now separated from File Explorer’s recent items, and the Recent area is renamed from Recommended. The updates are set to reach 24H2/25H2/26H1 users in coming weeks.
Microsoft says personalization is in Windows’ DNA and will roll out a wave of Windows 11 customization features this year, starting with a movable, smaller taskbar for Windows Insider testers (with a public rollout after bug fixes) and a highly configurable Start menu that can change size, hide sections (All apps, Recommended/Recent, Pinned), rename Suggested items to Recent, and show recently installed apps. Additional changes, such as a future taskbar resize, are planned throughout the year as Microsoft seeks to win back Windows users by focusing on fundamentals and customization.
Microsoft’s Windows 11 Insider Build 26300.8493 in the Experimental channel adds back a movable Taskbar that can be placed on any screen edge (bottom, top, left, or right) and introduces a smaller taskbar option for more screen space. The update also includes Widgets badge color updates, tweaks to the Windows Search Box, and general UI refinements. Some features remain in progress (auto-hidden taskbar, touch gestures for alternate Taskbar locations), with improvements documented in the changelog and user feedback requested via the Insider program. Settings for these changes live under Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar Behaviors.
Microsoft will hide the MSN News feed in Windows 11 Widgets by default and make the widgets experience quieter by default: hover-to-open will be disabled, the panel will open to widgets instead of MSN, and taskbar alerts will be limited until you engage with Widgets, as part of ongoing Windows 11 improvements rolling out in 2026.
Microsoft confirms Windows 11 will add optional AI agents to the taskbar, including Microsoft 365 Researcher that can access OneDrive and Microsoft 365 files; third-party agents will be supported later via the Model Context Protocol, with an optional @-tag search called Ask Copilot, and the feature will not be auto-enabled or forced.
Microsoft says Windows 11 will gain a Windows 10–style compact taskbar with new sizing options and a movable bar, addressing long-standing requests for better taskbar customization. The current Windows 11 taskbar lacks height tweaks and true repositioning, though a 'small taskbar buttons' toggle exists; insiders may soon see a return to a Windows 10–like experience, alongside broader monthly updates that promise fixes such as a faster Start menu, reduced memory usage, and the ability to pause updates.
Microsoft confirms Windows 11 will add a movable Taskbar (bottom, top, left, or right) and a smaller, resizable height, with these options configurable in Settings rather than through a draggable debug menu; flyouts will adapt to the Taskbar’s position, and the changes are prioritized for the current release cycle to boost Windows 11’s customization options.
Microsoft is signaling a Windows 11 rethink: the Taskbar will be movable to any screen edge, the Windows Update system will offer more user control (including options to skip or pause updates), and Copilot will be recalibrated to focus on genuinely useful integrations rather than pervasive presence across the OS, all aimed at addressing user feedback and reducing intrusiveness.
Microsoft promises a Windows 11 course correction after backlash and meme-level criticism, outlining changes like more taskbar customization (including top/left/right placements), a narrower role for Copilot in core apps, greater control over updates (longer update pauses, skip during setup, and restart/shutdown without updates), faster File Explorer performance, and overall UX improvements. The changes will roll out to the Windows 11 Insider Program in March–April 2026, with broader adoption depending on feedback, as part of a broader plan to improve Windows quality.
Microsoft is adding a movable Windows 11 taskbar that can be repositioned to the top or sides, with a smaller taskbar option planned for later this year; the feature will first roll out to Windows Insiders before reaching all users as part of ongoing UI and performance improvements.
Microsoft is testing a Windows 11 feature that adds a taskbar button to launch a network speed test via Bing (backed by Ookla). The tool is available to Windows 11 Insiders in the Release Preview channel and shows download/upload speeds and latency after testing. While convenient, it currently redirects to Bing rather than running entirely in-system, and some users may prefer a fully integrated, in‑OS speed test like Ookla’s Speedtest before a broader release.