Microsoft is rolling out the ability to move the Windows 11 taskbar to any edge of the screen — top, bottom, left, or right — alongside an option to resize it for more screen space. The feature is currently in the Windows Insider program, with Start menu layout changes expected to follow shortly.
When the taskbar is repositioned, icons, text, menus, and other interface elements adapt automatically to the new location. Users can also shrink the taskbar’s height or width to reclaim screen real estate — a particularly useful tweak on widescreen monitors. According to ZDNet, Start menu changes are staged to roll out to Insiders in the near term.
The movable taskbar has been part of Windows since Windows 95, when the feature was introduced in 1995. Microsoft stripped it out at Windows 11’s launch in October 2021 as part of a broader design overhaul. The decision drew immediate and sustained criticism. For four years, the feature request sat near the top of Microsoft’s Feedback Hub, and OSNews describes its removal as arguably the single most complained-about regression from Windows 10. Microsoft’s stated rationale at launch was that the centered taskbar design was optimized for a “fresh start” experience, though the company never committed to bringing the flexibility back — until now.
The omission has been a concrete barrier for specific groups of users. Multi-monitor setups where the second screen sits above the primary benefit from a top-mounted taskbar; left or right taskbars save vertical space on portrait-oriented displays; and users who spent years building muscle memory around a non-bottom taskbar in Windows 10 found Windows 11’s rigidity frustrating. The resize option is a separate but related win — a smaller taskbar is useful on high-DPI displays where the default size takes more visual space than necessary.
Microsoft has been steadily restoring Windows 10 features that were missing from the Windows 11 launch, including the return of drag-and-drop to the taskbar in 2022 and various Start menu improvements over 2023 and 2024. The company faces added urgency: Windows 10 reached end of life in October 2025, pushing millions of holdout users to upgrade. Restoring features they relied on is part of making that transition less painful.
The movable taskbar update is rolling out now to Windows Insider Dev and Beta channel members. General availability has not been announced. Users on the Insider program can look for the update in Settings → Windows Update.
About David Okwii
David Okwii is the Editor-in-Chief of Dignited.com and a seasoned tech enthusiast whose journey began in the early 2000s. He started blogging while at university, diving deep into mobile apps, smartphone reviews, and operating systems—from testing Linux distros to tweaking Windows machines. David also explores Chromebooks, experiments with Raspberry Pi projects, and brings hands-on curiosity to every review. With vast experience in Uganda’s tech ecosystem and deep knowledge of Africa’s startup landscape, he offers informed, grounded perspectives on consumer technology. When he's not writing or tinkering, David enjoys connecting with nature and exploring the outdoors.
Discover more from Dignited
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
