Windows 11 is finally getting movable Taskbar support as part of Windows K2

• Microsoft is testing Taskbar positioning on Windows 11 Experimental builds as part of the Windows K2 initiative.
• Users can move the Taskbar to the top, bottom, left, or right side of the screen again.
• Vertical Taskbar layouts support labeled app buttons and improved multitasking on widescreen monitors.
• Some features remain unfinished, including auto-hide, touch gestures, and tablet-optimized Taskbar support in alternate positions.

Microsoft is bringing back one of the most requested features on Windows 11 as part of the ongoing Windows K2 initiative. Starting with the latest preview of the operating system through the Experimental channel, users can once again move the Taskbar to any side of the screen, including the top, left, and right edges.

A missing feature is finally coming back

For years, moving the Taskbar was a basic part of the experience. On Windows 10, users could quickly drag the Taskbar to different edges of the display. That flexibility disappeared when Microsoft rebuilt the desktop interface for Windows 11.

The disappearance of this feature quickly became one of the loudest complaints from power users, developers, and longtime users. Microsoft restored smaller features over time, like Taskbar labels and ungrouped app icons, but Taskbar positioning stayed off the table.

Now that is changing as users can now place the Taskbar at the top, bottom, left, or right side of the screen.

The system also adjusts interface elements based on the layout. If the Taskbar sits at the top, the Start menu and Search interface open downward from the top edge.

Vertical layouts also support labeled app buttons, which makes multitasking easier when several windows are open.

Why Microsoft is bringing this back now

The timing says a lot about where the operating system is heading. Microsoft spent the first years of Windows 11 simplifying the desktop around touch devices, centered layouts, and cleaner visuals. The company removed many legacy customization features in the process. Some users accepted the cleaner design. Others felt Windows 11 became less practical for real work.

This update looks like the software giant acknowledging that productivity still matters more than visual consistency for many users.

For example, vertical Taskbars are especially useful on modern widescreen monitors. Developers can see more lines of code. Writers get more room for documents. Users managing multiple tasks can identify open apps more quickly because each window appears with a label rather than stacked icons.

Accessibility also plays a role. Some users find the top or sides of the display easier to reach, especially on large monitors or unconventional workstation setups.

The bigger story here is that Microsoft appears more willing to revisit older Windows ideas instead of treating them as outdated baggage.

New Taskbar feels built for modern displays

The original Taskbar introduced on Windows 11 often felt designed around laptops and touch-first hardware. That approach worked fine on smaller screens, but desktop users lost the flexibility they had relied on for years.

This version feels more aware of how people actually use computers in 2026.

A vertical Taskbar paired with “Never combine” settings turns the desktop into something closer to a productivity dashboard. Each app window appears separately with visible labels, which makes it easier to jump between browser tabs, chats, editing tools, and terminals.

It also helps ultrawide monitor users reclaim vertical space. Modern displays are wider than ever, which means the bottom edge is usually the most crowded part of the interface. Moving the Taskbar to the side frees more room for content without changing display scaling.

Change Taskbar position on Windows 11

Microsoft is currently testing the feature in Experimental builds, so it’s not yet available on the stable channel.

Related

How to enable new Taskbar positioning and resizing settings on Windows 11

Once available, users will be able to change the location of the Taskbar by opening the Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors. From there, the new “Taskbar position” option lets users select the edge of the screen where the Taskbar should appear.

The system also includes alignment controls for icons depending on the position. For example, icons can stay centered or aligned differently when the Taskbar moves vertically.

It is still unfinished

Microsoft says the feature is still under development, and several pieces are incomplete in the current preview builds.

Auto-hide does not fully work in alternate positions yet. The tablet-optimized Taskbar is also unsupported outside the bottom layout. Search boxes currently collapse into a Search icon when the Taskbar moves away from the bottom edge.

Touch gestures are still being refined as well.

The company is also exploring per-monitor Taskbar positions and drag-and-drop improvements, although those additions are not ready yet.

Even with those limitations, this feels like one of the clearest signs that Microsoft is easing away from the rigid design philosophy that defined early Windows 11 releases.

For many longtime users, the ability to change the Taskbar position again is not just another preview feature. It’s the company restoring a level of control that should have never disappeared in the first place.

Finally, the company is also updating the “Show smaller taskbar buttons” setting to make the Taskbar smaller. In the past, this setting only made the buttons smaller while keeping the Taskbar the same size. However, that’s no longer the case.