Summary
Summary
- Windows 11 is bringing back major desktop customization options, including the ability to move the taskbar to any side of the screen.
- Microsoft is adding a smaller taskbar option and new Start menu size settings, along with more control over its Pinned, Recent, and All sections.
- The changes are now rolling out to Windows Insiders in the Release Preview channel, suggesting a broader public release could follow in the coming weeks. As Windows 11 is approaching its fifth birthday, Microsoft is bringing back some of the missing features that were available in previous versions. The company has moved a major batch of Start menu and Taskbar changes into the Release Preview channel, and they are expected to be available for everyone within the next few weeks. According to Microsoft’s August 14 release notes, Windows 11 will finally allow you to place the taskbar on any of the four sides of the screen. Moreover, you can shrink the taskbar itself when it is positioned at the top or bottom, while the Start menu gets separate size options and much more control over what appears inside it. Microsoft is finally giving your desktop back to you The Windows 11 desktop is yours again When Windows 11 launched in October 2021, Microsoft gave the desktop a major visual overhaul. Yet, it also took away some of the customization features that Windows users had grown accustomed to. One example was the Taskbar, which could no longer be moved to the top or sides of the screen. This received plenty of backlash from users, and rightfully so. Moving the Taskbar had been a feature in Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10. Microsoft’s sudden decision to remove this small but useful feature in Windows 11 gave rise to to ExplorerPatcher and similar third-party tools that bring back customization to Windows 11. The upcoming update is supposed to reverse a good chunk of that. In addition to moving the taskbar, you can choose a smaller version that reduces both its height and icon size. Moreover, the Start menu can be set to Small, Large, or Automatic, and Microsoft is adding individual toggles for the Pinned, Recent, and All sections. You will also be able to hide your name and profile picture from the Start menu. There is no firm public release date yet. However, Release Preview is the Windows Insider channel Microsoft uses to test upcoming Windows releases, quality updates, and key features before they reach the wider public. With these changes now appearing there, they could begin reaching regular Windows 11 PCs in the coming weeks. As with other gradually rolled-out Windows features, availability may vary by device. If you’d like to get new Windows features sooner, head to Settings > Windows Update and turn on Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available. Microsoft says PCs with this option enabled are prioritized for the latest non-security and feature updates when they become available for the device. Alternatively, just like every update, you can use Vivetools to get these Windows 11 features early.