A Classic Windows Feature Makes Its Comeback
After years of complaints, the Windows 11 taskbar is finally movable again—at least for testers. In new Experimental builds, Windows Insiders can move the taskbar to the top, bottom, left, or right edge of the screen, restoring flexibility that existed in earlier versions like Windows 10. When Windows 11 launched in October 2021, the taskbar was locked to the bottom with no official override, pushing many power users toward third-party tools. Microsoft’s own designers are framing the change as a win for productivity and accessibility. A vertical taskbar can help developers and creators reclaim vertical screen space, while placing it at the top may suit people who find that area easier to reach. It’s also a signal that Microsoft is listening more closely to long-standing customization requests instead of forcing a one-size-fits-all desktop layout.
How Taskbar Customization Works in the Experimental Build
Once the new Windows Insiders feature hits your PC, moving the taskbar in Windows 11 is straightforward. Right-click the taskbar, open Taskbar settings, and head to Taskbar behaviors. A new Taskbar position dropdown lets you choose Bottom, Top, Left, or Right. The taskbar instantly jumps to the selected edge, and icons and flyouts adapt to that orientation. Alignment is flexible too. On top or bottom taskbars, you can switch the Start button between centered and left-aligned. On left or right taskbars, you can pick top-aligned or centered. Microsoft is also expanding taskbar options such as showing window titles by disabling taskbar button combining, and a refined “Show smaller taskbar buttons” mode that shrinks both icons and the bar itself without requiring a restart. These upgrades bring Windows 11 closer to the granular taskbar customization many users expected from day one.
Early Limitations and Features Still in Development
Despite the newfound freedom to move the taskbar, the current implementation has clear limits. Auto-hide and tablet-optimized taskbar modes do not yet work when the bar is at the top, left, or right. Touch gestures for those positions are also incomplete, so anyone relying on swipe interactions will encounter rough edges. Search behaves differently as well. When the taskbar is not at the bottom, the search experience falls back to an icon, since search boxes aren’t supported in alternate positions yet. Microsoft is also evaluating—but hasn’t shipped—per-monitor taskbar placement and drag-and-drop repositioning when the bar is docked to another edge. Some alignment quirks, especially with the taskbar on the left side, are known issues that the company plans to fix before pushing the feature toward the stable channel. In short, this is an exciting preview, but not yet a complete replacement for third-party taskbar tools.
Start Menu Overhaul: More Control, Fewer Annoyances
Taskbar changes are arriving alongside a more configurable Start menu. Microsoft is introducing section-level toggles so users can independently show or hide the Pinned apps grid, the Recommended feed, or the All apps list. Another tweak will let you disable file recommendations in Start without affecting recent files in File Explorer or Jump Lists, decoupling what had previously been a single switch. The Start menu will also gain manual size options—Small or Large—so its footprint stays consistent regardless of display. For privacy-conscious users sharing their screen, a new option hides your name and profile picture from the Start interface. Microsoft is renaming the controversial Recommended section to Recent and promises more relevant recent files rather than ad-like app suggestions. Collectively, these Start menu and taskbar customization upgrades show a renewed focus on fundamentals and user trust, aiming to win back enthusiasts who felt sidelined by earlier Windows 11 design decisions.
How to Join the Experimental Channel and What to Expect Next
To try the movable Windows 11 taskbar and Start menu upgrades right now, you must enroll in the Windows Insider Program and opt into the Experimental channel. After updating to the latest Experimental build, the features may still take time to appear due to staged rollouts; some testers report having the build without yet seeing the new Taskbar position option. Start menu changes are also rolling out gradually over the coming weeks. From here, Microsoft plans to stabilize the features before promoting them to the Beta channel and, eventually, to general release. That process can span several months or longer, depending on how quickly bugs are resolved and feedback is addressed. For users who have relied on third-party taskbar replacements since Windows 11’s launch, these official tools may finally provide a compelling native alternative—as long as Microsoft follows through on per-monitor support, richer touch interactions, and polished behavior in every taskbar position.