Updated
Updated · PCWorld · Aug 3
Microsoft Restores Movable Taskbar in Windows 11 Build 26220.9022 After 5 Years
Updated
Updated · PCWorld · Aug 3

Microsoft Restores Movable Taskbar in Windows 11 Build 26220.9022 After 5 Years

3 articles · Updated · PCWorld · Aug 3

Summary

  • Build 26220.9022 lets Windows 11 Insiders on the Beta channel move the taskbar to any screen edge, ending the OS’s bottom-only restriction.
  • Settings now expose the option under Personalization → Taskbar, and Microsoft has also trimmed taskbar height and app-icon size while keeping icon grouping.
  • The change reverses a Windows 11 design decision that drew years of criticism after Windows 10 had allowed top, bottom, left, or right placement by default.
  • September’s Patch Tuesday is the expected deadline for a broader rollout, though touch-gesture behavior and Copilot integration still need refinement in testing.

Insights

After years of backlash, Windows 11 is unlocking the taskbar, but will lingering bugs keep power users clinging to third-party tools?
Microsoft is restoring a beloved Windows 10 feature, but why did it take a complete UI rebuild to move a simple taskbar?