Microsoft explores adding a top menu bar on Windows 11 through PowerToys

• Microsoft is experimenting with a new Command Palette Dock feature in PowerToys for Windows 11.
• The dock is a persistent, edge-mounted menu bar that can be placed on any side of the screen.
• It provides one-click access to PowerToys extensions, such as system monitoring and media controls.
• It partially addresses long-standing complaints about Windows 11’s Taskbar being locked to the bottom.

Microsoft is experimenting with a new PowerToys feature that introduces a persistent, edge-docked menu bar on Windows 11, offering power users an alternative way to access tools and system information without relying solely on the operating system’s static Taskbar.

The feature, known as the Command Palette Dock, is an optional interface element that works alongside PowerToys’ existing Command Palette launcher. While it does not replace the Taskbar, it directly overlaps with one of the platform’s most criticized limitations, which is not being able to place the Taskbar at the top or sides of the screen.

A persistent dock that lives outside the Windows shell

According to Microsoft’s official description, the Command Palette Dock provides persistent, quick access to selected Command Palette extensions. Once enabled from PowerToys settings, the dock can be pinned to the top, bottom, left, or right edge of the display and remain visible at all times.

You can pin their favorite PowerToys extensions for one-click access, allowing them to monitor system resources, control media playback, or trigger tools without opening Command Palette or launching separate apps such as Task Manager. When an extension is activated from the dock, it opens in a flyout using the same interface as the Command Palette launcher.

If the dock is not useful, it can be disabled entirely, leaving Command Palette to function exactly as it does today.

Why this matters in the context of Windows 11’s Taskbar

Since Windows 11 launched, Microsoft has removed the ability to change the Taskbar position on the desktop, a feature that existed for decades in previous versions. The Taskbar is now locked to the bottom of the screen and offers limited customization compared to Windows 10.

That decision has been especially unpopular among power users and anyone using vertical or multi-monitor setups. Despite ongoing feedback, Microsoft has shown little interest in restoring full Taskbar relocation at the operating system level.

The Command Palette Dock does not change that reality. However, it introduces an option that can live at the top or sides of the screen, effectively serving as a parallel surface for shortcuts and system awareness.

In practice, this places the feature somewhere between the fixed Windows 11 Taskbar and the fully flexible panels found in Linux and macOS desktop environments.

Designed for customization, not replacement

Microsoft is careful to position the dock as complementary rather than being on the way. The dock supports three distinct regions for pinned extensions, including start, center, and end. You can freely drag, reorder, and move extensions between these regions using an edit mode.

Visual customization is also supported, including background treatment, styling, and theme behavior that matches the main Command Palette interface.

A deliberate experiment, not a taskbar reversal

The Command Palette Dock is still in an early proposal stage and has not been committed to a public release. Microsoft is actively asking for feedback on whether users would find the feature useful and which scenarios would benefit most from a docked experience.

For now, the dock looks less like a fix and more like a compromise, one that gives power users a flexible interface while the Taskbar remains exactly where it is.

What are your thoughts about this new feature? Let me know in the comments.