Computers
Windows 11 taskbar finally moves to the edges
Windows 11's movable taskbar reaches Release Preview, with new compact icons, Start layouts, Search controls, and WMIC removal.
Windows 11 is bringing back a feature Microsoft removed from the operating system: the taskbar will be movable to the top, left, or right edge of the screen, in addition to its default position at the bottom.
According to The Register, the option has reached Windows Insider’s Release Preview Channel, putting it closer to a wider rollout. Microsoft has not announced a general-availability date, although Release Preview deployments can precede broader releases by weeks or months.
The preview also adds a compact taskbar option with smaller icons and a reduced height, plus Start menu layouts that let users choose between small and large designs instead of accepting a fixed default.
Windows Search and admin changes
Microsoft is also updating Windows Search to make it more dependable and allow users to remove Microsoft Store and web suggestions from results. The company says on-device results will be separated more clearly from web results.
For administrators, the build introduces Administrator protection, which provides just-in-time privileges for elevated tasks. It is disabled by default but can be enabled through Intune or Group Policy.
The same preview removes Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC) from the Features on Demand list. WMI itself remains available, and Microsoft recommends PowerShell as the replacement. WMIC had already been absent by default from new Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 installations.
Microsoft is reducing Copilot entry points
In a March 20, 2026 announcement covered by Itzine, Microsoft described a broader series of Windows 11 changes focused on performance, reliability, and a more restrained interface. The taskbar relocation was among the most prominent requests from Windows Insiders.
Microsoft also said it would remove unnecessary Copilot entry points from Snipping Tool, Photos, Widgets, and Notepad. That does not mean the company is abandoning Windows AI features; instead, it says Copilot should appear where it provides clear value. The shift follows Microsoft’s retirement of the Copilot mascot and several consumer features as it merges consumer and Microsoft 365 apps.
The year-long Windows 11 plan includes lower resource use, faster app launches, improved memory efficiency, and lower latency in File Explorer search, navigation, and context menus. Microsoft also lists more reliable Bluetooth, USB, camera, audio, wake, Windows Hello face recognition, and fingerprint scanning.
The company has not provided a general release date for the movable taskbar or the other changes. For now, the feature’s presence in Release Preview is the clearest sign that Windows 11 users may soon regain a customization option they had in Windows 10.