Windows taskbar Archives

Winsage

April 12, 2025

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5551 (Dev Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5551 (KB5055617) has been released to the Dev Channel. The Dev Channel has advanced to the 26200 series builds, and the option to switch to the Beta Channel is no longer available. This build is based on Windows 11, version 24H2, and shares features with the 26120 series in the Beta Channel. New features include enhanced Windows Search on Copilot+ PCs, allowing users to search for settings using phrases. Narrator now provides detailed image descriptions powered by AI for improved accessibility on Copilot+ PCs. Improvements are being rolled out for widgets, including the ability to read content directly from the MSN feed. Fixes include resolving crashes in Settings, File Explorer, and issues with app icons in the taskbar. Known issues include problems with Windows Recovery Environment and certain apps failing to launch post-update. The Dev Channel updates are based on Windows 11, version 24H2, and features may evolve or be removed based on feedback. Users can enable a toggle to receive updates more quickly.

Winsage

April 11, 2025

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3863 (Beta Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3863 (KB5055613) has been released to the Beta Channel for Windows 11, version 24H2. This update includes new features such as natural language search functionality in the Windows search box for Copilot+ PCs, allowing users to find settings easily. Additionally, the Narrator feature has been enhanced to provide detailed descriptions of images for accessibility. Other updates include improvements to widgets, fixes for issues in Settings, File Explorer, Taskbar, Desktop Icons, Input, and Graphics. Known issues include non-functionality of Quick Assist for non-administrator users and problems with the Windows Recovery Environment. Users can provide feedback through the Feedback Hub.

Winsage

April 3, 2025

Microsoft starts testing Windows 11 taskbar icon scaling

Microsoft is testing a taskbar icon scaling feature for Windows 11 that automatically reduces the size of taskbar icons to accommodate more applications. This feature is being rolled out gradually to Windows Insiders in the Beta (Build 26120.3671) and Dev (Build 26200.5518) channels as part of the 24H2 version. Users can customize the scaling settings with three options: when the taskbar is full (default), never, or always. Additionally, Microsoft has introduced a test remediation package for Windows Insiders that enables the use of the Quick Machine Recovery tool, which will be installed automatically when test mode is activated. Users can check the installation status in Settings > Windows Update > Update history. Microsoft is also testing a basic search history feature for its AI-powered Recall functionality, which will expand to AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs starting in December.

Winsage

March 29, 2025

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5516 (Dev Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5516 (KB5054687) has been released to the Dev Channel. The Dev Channel has transitioned to the 26200 series builds, closing the opportunity to switch to the Beta Channel. The 26200 series is based on Windows 11, version 24H2. Enhancements to Windows Search for AMD and Intel®-powered Copilot+ PCs include semantic indexing for more intuitive searches, allowing users to find documents, photos, and settings using natural language. Users can manage indexed locations in Settings and the feature supports multiple languages and document formats. The improved Windows Search can also locate cloud-stored photos, with users needing to sign into OneDrive for access. A new feature called speech recap has been introduced in Narrator, allowing users to track what has been spoken and providing quick access to the last 500 strings spoken. A streamlined UI for unexpected restarts is being previewed. The Copilot can now be launched with Win + C, and users can personalize their experience through Settings. Click to Do is available from the Start menu and supports intelligent text actions in multiple languages. The Windows share window now includes a visual preview for shared links and image editing capabilities. Several fixes have been made to improve performance and address issues in Taskbar, File Explorer, Login and Lock, Windowing, and Settings. Known issues include problems with Recall and File Explorer crashes for some users. Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel receive updates based on Windows 11, version 24H2, and feature rollouts are monitored for feedback.

Winsage

March 25, 2025

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3585 (Beta Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3585 (KB5053644) has been released to the Beta Channel for Windows Insiders on Windows 11, version 24H2. The build introduces improved Windows Search for AMD and Intel®-powered Copilot+ PCs, featuring local semantic search that allows users to find documents, photos, and settings using natural language. Users can search for local files and cloud-stored photos by describing their content. This feature is available for personal OneDrive accounts and will support third-party cloud services in the future. Fixes include enhanced performance for extracting zipped files in File Explorer, adjustments to the web sign-in icon, and resolution of issues causing slow closure of File Explorer. Known issues include difficulties with Recall and crashes in Settings and File Explorer for some users. A reboot may be necessary to activate the improved Windows Search features.

Winsage

March 21, 2025

7 ways to customize the Windows taskbar for maximum productivity

The Windows 11 taskbar can be customized for better functionality and personalization through various adjustments. Users can disable unnecessary icons by accessing Taskbar settings, which allows for more space to pin preferred applications. Disabling taskbar grouping can enhance navigation by displaying individual windows instead of grouping them under a single icon. The Windhawk application offers customization options for taskbar labels, including adjusting width, text size, and padding. Volume control can be made easier with Windhawk's Taskbar Volume Control mod, allowing users to adjust sound levels by scrolling over the taskbar. The Middle click to close on the taskbar mod lets users close applications directly from the taskbar instead of opening new instances. Users can reposition the taskbar to any edge of the screen using Windhawk or ExplorerPatcher. Finally, Start11 allows users to pin folder menus to the taskbar, transforming it into a file navigation tool.

Winsage

March 6, 2025

Hands-on: uBar is the macOS taskbar for those who can’t let go of Windows

uBar is an application designed for Mac users transitioning from Windows, providing a customizable taskbar experience that allows for better management of applications and windows compared to the traditional macOS dock. It presents each window separately, offers extensive customization options, includes a Windows-style Start menu for easy access to folders and applications, and features additional elements like a clock and volume indicator. However, users have reported issues such as the Finder app appearing on the taskbar despite settings to hide inactive applications, misaligned menu options when right-clicking, and closed windows remaining visible on the taskbar. A free trial is available for users interested in exploring uBar's capabilities.

Winsage

February 27, 2025

Microsoft battles more bugs in Windows 11 24H2 with new round of patches

Microsoft released an optional update, KB5052093, for Windows 11 24H2 to address persistent bugs. Users may need to manually download and install this update as it is being rolled out gradually. The update includes fixes for File Explorer, improving performance with media files, context menu response for cloud files, and the reliability of the address bar. It resolves issues with color displays in the Start menu, hard drive misidentification in Task Manager, Guest account sign-ins, custom mouse pointer colors after UAC prompts, and audio bugs related to volume spikes and USB devices. Connectivity issues with Remote Desktop and display rendering problems have been fixed, along with improvements to drag-and-drop functionality and an error message in the Settings screen. New features include file sharing from the Taskbar jump list, simultaneous camera access for multiple applications, enhancements to Windows Narrator for easier navigation, and a more user-friendly Windows Spotlight. A referral card for PC Game Pass may also appear for eligible users. The update can be checked via Settings under Windows Update, and the official version will be released on March 11.

Winsage

February 26, 2025

Optional Windows 11 24H2 update brings fixes and more advertising

The optional KB5052093 update for Windows 11 24H2 introduces new camera options that allow users to use their cameras across multiple applications simultaneously, accessible through Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Cameras. A new "basic camera" mode has also been added for troubleshooting. Enhancements to the taskbar enable file sharing from a drop-down menu when right-clicking on an app, and File Explorer improvements include the ability to snooze or disable "Start backup" reminders, better performance with media files, consistent thumbnails for cloud files, and a fix for misdirected URLs. Microsoft has begun integrating advertisements for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass into the Windows 11 interface, appearing for users logged in with a Microsoft account linked to Game Pass. Additionally, the update resolves issues such as volume maxing out from standby mode and misidentification of HDDs as SSDs in Task Manager. The update is optional and must be manually installed.

Winsage

February 3, 2025

My favorite Windows 11 File Explorer alternative just got its biggest update in years

Windows 11's third-party application "Files" has been updated to version 3.9, introducing several enhancements: - The Update Files button has a new design with a vibrant icon for easier updates. - Icons and thumbnails are now DPI aware for clarity on all display types, and a Tags Widget allows for easy tagging by dragging files onto tags. - Users can rotate JPEG-XR images and set them as desktop or lock screen backgrounds directly from the application. - A new setting allows automatic focus on newly created tabs. - The Properties Window has been improved to browse for .icl files and modify the ‘compress contents’ attribute. - Individual launch protocols for each branch of Files have been implemented. - Performance improvements include immediate loading of breadcrumb flyouts and reduced load times for thumbnails. - Drag-and-drop functionality has been refined, allowing background operation when dragging items to other applications. - Files now supports .gz archives as the default for compressed files, with updates to 7zip dependencies. - Users can toggle columns in Details View settings, with changes reflecting across all tabs. - The Home Page has been streamlined for a cleaner appearance. - Keyboard navigation enhancements allow opening breadcrumb flyouts with Space and Enter keys. - The Windows Taskbar no longer displays the number of open tabs. - Support for Lucid Link v3 has been added for cloud drive capabilities. Fixes in version 3.9 include resolving crashes, improving keyboard navigation, fixing issues with drag-and-drop support, and addressing various problems with cloud drives, columns view, and tags.