According to the source review from Ars Technica, Windows 11 is rolling out significant updates to its taskbar and Start menu, addressing longstanding user concerns. These changes include the return of multi-edge taskbar docking, customizable icon alignment per position, and a smaller taskbar option, alongside enhanced control over the Start menu’s layout and content visibility.
- Taskbar can dock on all screen edges with position-specific settings
- Start menu gains user-selectable size and toggleable sections
- Smaller taskbar option improves vertical screen space on small displays
Product angle
The source review from Ars Technica highlights Windows 11's evolving user interface improvements based on Insider Preview builds. Microsoft addresses previous taskbar limitations by restoring full docking capabilities to any screen edge and enabling customized taskbar behavior depending on its position. Though some features like auto-hide in alternative positions and touch-optimized taskbars remain unavailable, Microsoft has committed to progressively integrating these.
Beyond the taskbar, Windows 11's Start menu is becoming more user-controllable. Users can now manually adjust its size and selectively display or hide key sections such as pinned apps, recommended apps, and all apps. This flexibility aims to balance personalization with functionality while improving relevancy of recommended content, ensuring that the updated design better supports varied workflows.
Best for / avoid if
These updates primarily benefit Windows 11 users who value customization and taskbar versatility, especially those with multiple or smaller screen setups seeking to maximize vertical space without hiding the taskbar. Power users who disliked Windows 11’s initial omission of side-docked taskbars will find these changes welcome. The enhancements also cater well to users desiring clearer control over Start menu content and layout.
Users who rely heavily on touch gestures or specific taskbar features like the ‘tablet-optimized’ interface should be cautious, as these remain unsupported in the current preview builds. Similarly, those expecting immediate availability of all improvements may need to wait since some features are still under development and not yet included in stable releases.
Pricing and alternatives to check
As Windows 11 is an operating system provided by Microsoft, these taskbar and Start menu updates are part of ongoing free feature enhancements delivered through Windows Update for existing users. There are no direct additional costs for these usability improvements. Users can participate in the Windows Insider Preview program to access new features early, but this may involve more frequent updates and some instability.
Alternatives to consider for buyers include other desktop environments or operating systems that have long supported flexible taskbar positioning and customization, such as various Linux distributions with desktop managers like KDE or GNOME. Users dissatisfied with Windows 11’s feature pace might explore these options or previous Windows versions, recognizing Microsoft’s continued commitment to improving Windows 11 quality and user experience.