It’s no secret that Windows users aren’t exactly thrilled with Microsoft right now. Windows 11 has seen its fair share of buggy updates lately, and on top of that, Microsoft keeps cramming more and more AI features into the OS that few people seem to be asking for. I mean, does Notepad really need Copilot?
To Microsoft’s credit, the company has at least acknowledged that it needs to make some changes. In January, it said its focus in 2026 is to “improve Windows in ways that are meaningful for people” (via The Verge). That’s a pretty clear admission that things may have drifted off course over the past year or so.
Reportedly, one way Microsoft is trying to repair user trust is by adding a long-requested feature to Windows 11: the ability to move the taskbar. According to Windows Central, citing sources within Microsoft, the Windows 11 team is working on a feature that will allow users to move the taskbar to the left, right, or top of their screen.
This was a popular feature in Windows 10, but it was strangely missing when Windows 11 launched five years ago. The report also says Microsoft is ensuring that menus (such as the calendar and notifications) work properly across different taskbar orientations and is working on the ability to resize the taskbar, giving you more control over how much screen space it takes up.
Better late than never
I hope Microsoft lets you hide the taskbar as well
Windows Central reports that Microsoft has deemed its new taskbar features a “high priority,” and that it could be officially announced sometime this summer, though it’s always possible plans could change between now and then.
I’ve long had gripes with the Windows 11 taskbar because Microsoft stripped away a lot of the functionality it had in Windows 10. So yeah, I’m pretty happy to hear the company might finally be adding some of the features that arguably should’ve been there from day one. It’s frustrating that it’s taken five years to get here, but hey, better late than never, I suppose.
…hopefully, fixing the taskbar is just one item on a much longer list of improvements planned for Windows 11 this year.
That said, there’s still one taskbar feature I really want to see: the ability to hide the taskbar on a specific display.
I run a multi-monitor setup, and one of my screens is an OLED. I’d love the option to hide the taskbar on that display to reduce the risk of burn-in, while keeping it visible on my main monitor where I actually need it. Right now, you can enable auto-hide for the taskbar, but that applies across the board and hides the taskbar on my primary display, which isn’t that helpful to me.
Overall, I’m glad Microsoft at least seems to be entering a bit of a course-correction phase, and hopefully, fixing the taskbar is just one item on a much longer list of improvements planned for Windows 11 this year.
Back in January, Microsoft told The Verge, “This year, you will see us focus on addressing pain points we hear consistently from customers: improving system performance, reliability, and the overall experience of Windows.” So, if Microsoft actually follows through on what it said, there’s a real chance Windows 11 could turn a corner this year.
