Microsoft is taking significant strides in enhancing the user experience of Windows 11 by expanding the testing of its redesigned taskbar to the Beta Channel of the Windows Insider Program. The latest Beta Build 26220.9022, released on July 31, 2026, introduces a feature that allows selected participants to reposition the taskbar along any edge of the screen—top, left, right, or bottom. This flexibility is complemented by a more compact variant of the taskbar, which reduces both icon size and overall height, catering particularly to users with limited screen real estate.
Taskbar can be positioned along all four screen edges
Users can select their preferred taskbar position through the Settings menu under Personalization, then Taskbar, and finally Taskbar behaviors. Depending on the chosen placement, Windows intelligently adjusts associated flyouts and animations. For instance, if the taskbar is anchored at the top of the screen, the Start menu and other flyouts will open from that direction. The vertical taskbar offers options for icon alignment at either the top or center, while horizontal arrangements allow for left or center alignment. Notably, features such as displaying multiple windows of the same application separately are designed to function seamlessly across all positions, enabling a nostalgic arrangement reminiscent of older Windows versions.
Previously, the freedom to reposition the taskbar was stripped away when Windows 11 was launched, with the taskbar fixed to the bottom of the screen. Attempts to enable vertical layouts through Registry modifications were met with limited success, as essential components like the Start menu and notification area were not optimized for alternative placements. The current implementation signifies a substantial advancement, requiring Microsoft to adapt various interfaces so that menus, thumbnails, context functions, and notifications appear correctly based on the taskbar’s position. This complexity explains why certain functionalities remain under development during testing.
Microsoft has been transparent about the limitations of the alternative positions, noting that they do not yet support the full range of features available with the traditional bottom taskbar. Touch gestures for side or top-placed taskbars are still in the works, and the complete search box is currently represented only as a search icon in these alternative positions. Additionally, the integration of Ask Copilot is not yet finalized, and the auto-hide feature is not functional in these placements. Users operating 2-in-1 devices primarily through touch may find the experience less than complete at this stage.
Visual refinements and performance enhancements are also on Microsoft’s agenda. However, the compact taskbar feature is currently limited; it only supports reduced height when positioned at the top or bottom, while vertical placements on the left or right do not yet accommodate this new compact size. As a result, the capabilities of the Beta Build diverge from Microsoft’s earlier feature descriptions, which were more generalized.
Microsoft is also exploring taskbar positioning across multiple monitors, although it cannot yet guarantee that users will have the ability to select different positions for each screen. The taskbar must be repositioned through the Settings menu to prevent accidental movement, a decision that speaks to user experience considerations.
Earlier updates to Windows 11 introduced a setting for smaller taskbar buttons, but this primarily reduced icon size without significantly altering the taskbar height. The current Beta version, however, aims to address this by lowering both the icon size and the taskbar height, particularly benefiting devices with smaller displays. On compact notebooks, handhelds, and tablets, the fixed taskbar previously consumed a considerable amount of vertical space. A reduced height taskbar creates additional room for applications without necessitating changes to scaling or screen resolution. Users can find this setting under Taskbar behaviors and Taskbar size, where selecting “Small” adjusts the Start button, search, and notification area accordingly, all without requiring a restart or sign-out.
This change is particularly impactful on displays with limited vertical pixels, where a reduced taskbar height can make a significant difference compared to high-resolution desktop monitors. However, the challenge remains to ensure that icons and status indicators are still large enough for reliable selection via mouse, touchpad, or touchscreen, which likely contributes to the decision to keep the smaller taskbar as an optional feature.
The ability to freely position the taskbar was a commonly voiced concern regarding Windows 11, as previous iterations like Windows 10 allowed for such flexibility. Users with ultrawide monitors often favored a vertical taskbar, maximizing vertical space for documents or code. Ars Technica has noted that this new implementation marks a return of a long-standing feature that was lost with the advent of Windows 11, highlighting the redesign’s connection to additional settings for the Start menu and icon arrangement.
Microsoft initially announced the movable taskbar in March 2026 as part of a broader quality improvement initiative, responding to feedback from the Windows community. The recent move to the Beta Channel on July 31 expands the pool of testers, bringing the feature closer to potential release. However, Microsoft cautions that features tested in Insider builds may undergo changes, be withdrawn, or never see a general release, making it essential for users to distinguish between testing phases and general availability.
In conjunction with the taskbar enhancements, Beta Build 26220.9022 also includes renewed certificates for the Windows Insider Program, with existing Flight certificates set to expire on August 11, 2026. Participants are encouraged to transition to a current build with updated certificates to continue receiving new preview versions. On the same day, Microsoft also rolled out Experimental Build 26300.9032, Beta 26H1 Build 28020.2623, Experimental 26H1 Build 28120.2630, and Future Platforms Build 29639.1000, with the taskbar changes prominently featured in the announcement. The timeline for when these taskbar adjustments will reach stable Windows 11 systems remains uncertain, although inclusion in Windows 11 Version 26H2 is technically feasible. Microsoft has yet to confirm this definitively, as the immediate focus remains on perfecting touch operations, automatic hiding, search functionality, Copilot integration, and multi-monitor support.
