Microsoft restores Windows 11 taskbar positioning in latest Insider update
The new Experimental channel build allows users to dock the taskbar to any screen edge, adjust icon alignment, and toggle Start menu sections, marking a significant shift in the operating system’s usability framework.
Microsoft has released a new Windows Insider Preview build that restores the ability to dock the Windows 11 taskbar to any screen edge, a feature absent since the operating system’s 2021 launch. The update addresses a long-standing functional regression from Windows 10, allowing users to configure distinct taskbar behaviours for each position, including specific icon alignment and grouping settings. This development is part of the company’s broader “commitment to Windows quality” initiative aimed at rectifying perceived shortcomings in the current version of the software.
The latest build, available in the Experimental channel, introduces a smaller taskbar option designed to increase vertical screen space on smaller monitors without requiring users to hide the interface entirely. Users can now also adjust the Start menu size manually, moving away from the dynamic sizing previously tied to display dimensions. Individual sections of the Start menu, such as pinned apps, the “all apps” list, and recommended items, can be toggled on or off independently.
Microsoft is also refining the “recommended” section, which displays apps advertised from the Microsoft Store. Users can now hide these recommendations while retaining access to jump lists and recent files in File Explorer. For those who keep the section visible, the company reports improved file relevancy that better reflects recent work activity, although the feature remains subject to further refinement.
Several features are currently unsupported in this build, including auto-hide functionality for alternate taskbar positions, the tablet-optimized taskbar with larger icons, and specific touch gestures. Microsoft has indicated that these limitations are temporary and that additional features, such as different taskbar positions per monitor for multi-monitor setups, are under evaluation for future implementation.
The Experimental channel has replaced the Canary and Dev channels in Microsoft’s latest beta programme shakeup, serving as the primary testing ground for these experimental features. While these changes are currently available to testers, more polished versions are expected to move to the Beta channel and eventually the public release of Windows 11 in the coming weeks.
