Windows 11 could finally let users move the taskbar to different orientations on the desktop, like you can with Windows 10, instead of locking it to the bottom of the screen, if there's something to do on a new track detected in the preview.
Albacore, a well-known Microsoft leaker, posted on Twitter to show that with Windows 11 preview build 25309 it is possible to do some tweaking and make the taskbar appear at the top of the screen.
Turns out you can put the fully XAML taskbar on top, though the experience isn't that great 😅 pic.twitter.com/NmGjOVK0gRMMarch 6, 2023
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However, as the clip in the tweet shows, you end up with a broken taskbar implementation. Yes, it's at the top, but when you click the tray icons, their respective functions appear floating at the bottom of the screen (where they normally would be with the taskbar in its default position at the bottom).
In short, it looks like Microsoft is laying the groundwork for a mobile preview taskbar, but in fact it's just a very early stage. Whether something happens, well, we'll have to keep our eyes peeled and fingers crossed, or those who want to be able to move the taskbar will do so anyway.
Analysis: A tough turnaround for Microsoft?
There may be people yelling at their monitors: why the hell would you want the taskbar at the top? However, this is actually a very frequently requested feature addition to Windows 11, with many users voting to bring the feature to the desktop.
And choice is never a bad thing: some people want a vertical taskbar, which also extends to the side of the screen, as well as the ability to position the bar on top. It's really about allowing more customization of the core desktop user interface while retaining the same functionality that Windows 10 offers, allowing the bar to be moved if desired.
As MS Power User (opens in a new tab), who saw Albacore's tweet, notes, this is something Microsoft has indicated it won't be pursuing. Despite the demand for a more mobile taskbar, Microsoft said there were "a number of challenges" in implementing it and that the percentage of users wanting the change was low compared to other features. This last statement is certainly debatable from what we've seen, but here goes...
So, in a nutshell, the above statements seem like Microsoft thinks it would be too much effort for little return, but looking at the ability to move the taskbar up, rudimentary though it is, certainly gives hope that a taskbar of mobile tasks is forthcoming.
Until then, if you really want to tinker with the Windows 11 environment in this way, you'll have to resort to a third-party customization app. (However, it's worth keeping in mind that these apps caused serious problems with the last major Windows update, "Moment 2.")
Meanwhile, Microsoft recently introduced a nifty taskbar feature (in test), namely the ability to kill a process right on the bar (instead of having to waste time making a trip to Task Manager).