In a recent discussion sparked by former Microsoft engineer Dave Plummer showcasing his new 5K Dell UltraSharp monitor, the origins of the Windows 95 taskbar were brought into question. A user’s observation about the left-aligned taskbar led to a familiar myth: that it was inspired by Steve Jobs’ NeXT Dock. However, former Microsoft VP Joe Belfiore stepped in to clarify this misconception, attributing the taskbar’s design to a different source entirely.
The NeXT Dock, introduced in 1988 as a key feature of NeXTSTEP—an operating system developed by NeXT, the company founded by Jobs after his departure from Apple—served as a dedicated on-screen area for application icons. This feature eventually evolved into the macOS Dock we know today. Yet, according to Belfiore, the taskbar’s lineage is rooted in Microsoft’s own history.
Ex-Microsoft executives confirm the NeXT Dock did not lead to the Taskbar
As the conversation unfolded, another user speculated whether the Windows 95 taskbar was influenced by RISC OS, referencing a connection between an Acorn engineer and the NeXT Dock. This prompted further engagement from industry veterans, including Brad Silverberg, a former Senior VP at Microsoft, who asserted that the taskbar was an original creation of the Windows team.
Silverberg emphasized, “The NeXT dock was pretty different than the Win 95 Taskbar. Win 95 developed the Taskbar on its own and didn’t take it from NeXT.” Belfiore echoed this sentiment, stating, “The NeXT dock did NOT lead to the taskbar. Two things did.” With a career at Microsoft spanning over three decades, including pivotal roles in the development of Windows 95, Belfiore’s insights carry significant weight.
Belfiore identified the first influence as Cairo, a Microsoft project from 1991 to 1996 that aimed to provide users with “information at your fingertips.” Although Cairo never launched as a standalone operating system, its interface concepts were integrated into Windows 95. The “always visible, bottom-of-the-screen tray” from Cairo was designed to facilitate file movement between applications, a precursor to the taskbar.
Moreover, Belfiore highlighted the necessity for the taskbar to address a specific usability issue from Windows 3.1, where users frequently lost track of minimized windows. He explained, “In Win95 we needed a place for MINIMIZED WINDOWS, a carryover from Win3.1.” The taskbar was initially intended to restore these windows rather than serve as a launching pad for new applications, a function that evolved later with Windows 7.
Taskbar is still getting new features that it lost along the way
Fast forward to 2021, when Windows 11 debuted with a centered taskbar that users found restrictive. In response to feedback, Microsoft committed to enhancing the taskbar’s functionality, including the return of movable taskbars—a feature that had been absent for years. This change, announced in March, reflects Microsoft’s ongoing dedication to user experience and adaptability.
As of this year, the taskbar can now be repositioned to any edge of the screen, allowing users greater flexibility in their workspace. Microsoft’s careful consideration of app layouts and user preferences underscores the importance of evolving technology while honoring its roots.
