PowerToys adds Command Palette Dock with top and side placement for Windows 11

• PowerToys 0.98 introduces a Command Palette Dock that stays pinned to the screen edge at all times.
• The Dock is divided into Start, Center, and End sections for commands, custom actions, and utilities.
• It uses the AppBar API, which means it reserves screen space and behaves as part of the desktop layout.
• Unlike the Taskbar, the Dock is action-focused, not designed for managing running apps.

PowerToys now lets you dock the Command Palette at the top or the side of the screen, as the Taskbar should on Windows 11.

The new feature is included in PowerToys version 0.98.0 and is currently available as a preview.

What the Command Palette Dock actually is

At its core, the Dock is a persistent toolbar anchored to the edge of the screen that remains visible at all times. It’s not something you summon like the traditional Command Palette.

The Dock isn’t just a row of icons. It’s divided into three functional regions that reflect intent. For example, a Start section for primary commands and launchers, including defaults like Home and WinGet. A Center section that you build yourself with additional commands, and an End section designed for utilities such as performance monitoring and date or time widgets.

How does it behave differently from anything on Windows 11

The Dock in PoweToys is powered by the Windows AppBar API, which means it reserves screen space. Apps do not overlap with it. It becomes part of the desktop layout, not just an overlay.

That decision is critical. Unlike widgets or floating panels, this makes the Dock feel closer to a system-level component. However, it also introduces trade-offs. You cannot resize or drag it around, and it does not auto-hide. Once enabled, it’s a fixed presence.

Visually, Microsoft is giving users far more control than usual. You can switch between transparent and acrylic materials, apply accent colors, or even use a custom image background with blur and brightness controls.

So, is this Microsoft’s answer to the Taskbar problem?

This is where the editorial angle becomes unavoidable. Users still cannot move the Taskbar on Windows 11, and that absence continues to frustrate a segment of power users. The Dock’s ability to sit at the top of the screen makes it feel, on the surface, like a workaround.

However, the behavior tells a different story. The Taskbar is passive. It shows running apps and system status. The Dock is active and is built for execution, customization, and extensibility. One manages windows. The other triggers actions.

To answer that more directly, the Command Palette Dock is not a replacement for the Taskbar shortcomings. Microsoft has already indicated that support for changing the Taskbar position is planned for future updates of Windows 11, which means this feature is not intended to fill that gap.

How to get the Command Palette Dock

First, you’d have to install the latest version of PowerToys, or update to the latest version from the “General” page.

Then, from PowerToys > System Tools > Command Palette, turn on the “Command Palette” toggle switch, and then click on “Settings.”

On the Settings page, click on “Dock,” and turn on the “Enable Dock” toggle switch. Choose the position, including top, bottom, left, or right.

You can also change the color mode and material effect, including the background.

Pureinfotech takes

The Command Palette Dock in PowerToys isn’t a fix for the Taskbar limitations on Windows 11, and it’s not trying to be. Instead, it introduces a different way to interact with the desktop, one that focuses on executing actions rather than managing apps.

While it won’t satisfy users still waiting to move the Taskbar, it signals a broader shift in how Windows is evolving. The Dock is less about replacing what’s missing and more about redefining what that space on the screen can do.