Windows 11 Taskbar: Move to Any Edge Finally Returns

After more than five years of user complaints, Microsoft has confirmed it will restore the ability to move the Windows 11 taskbar to any edge of the screen. The move reverses a controversial design decision made with the operating system’s initial release in 2021, which locked the taskbar to the bottom of the display.

The change, first reported by The Verge, comes as Microsoft prepares a significant spring update for Windows 11. Users will be able to dock the Start Menu and application shortcuts to the top, left, or right side of their workspace. Microsoft also plans to introduce new, fluid animations for each of these configurations, according to the report.

The decision to reinstate the feature demonstrates a shift in Microsoft’s approach to user feedback, according to industry observers. The removal of the taskbar’s flexibility was a frequent source of frustration for many, particularly those accustomed to vertical layouts on ultrawide monitors. As noted in a report by Spider’s Web, the ability to move the taskbar was a feature “that never should have disappeared.”

The update will offer users options to position the taskbar on the bottom (the default), top, left, or right side of the screen. According to Microsoft’s support documentation, the Windows taskbar is designed to facilitate launching applications, switching between open windows, and accessing system functions like notifications and the Start Menu. Customization options allow users to streamline multitasking and improve access to essential tools.

Beyond repositioning, Microsoft is also enabling users to adjust the size of the taskbar itself. Currently, Windows 11 offers the option to use “smaller taskbar buttons,” but this only alters the size of the icons. The upcoming update will allow users to change the height of the taskbar, offering a more substantial reduction in screen space usage, a feature previously available in Windows 10.

Pavan Davuluri, Vice President responsible for Windows development at Microsoft, recently published a statement outlining the company’s commitment to improving Windows quality. This commitment follows a period of user criticism regarding unwanted advertisements, notifications, and bugs within key applications. Imagazine.pl reported that Davuluri’s statement signals a broader effort to address user concerns and improve the overall Windows 11 experience.

The changes are currently available in early builds of Windows 11 and are expected to roll out to the public in the coming months. Microsoft has not yet announced a specific release date for the spring update. The ability to change the taskbar position will be accessible through the Settings app, under the Personalization section, and via new shortcuts in the taskbar’s context menu.