Windows 11 is the latest version of the OS that has several exclusive features not found on other versions. However, there are also some abilities that are on Windows 10 but not Windows 11. One notable feature is the ability to move the taskbar. Microsoft now says it will not add this to Windows 11 because it is not important.
During a recent Ask Me Anything (AMA) on YouTube, the Windows engineering team says Windows 11 will not get the ability to move the taskbar to the sides or top of the screen. In other words, it will remain locked in its classic position at the bottom.
Not Necessary
It is worth noting Windows 11 boasts a fresh taskbar/Start menu experience. According to Tali Roth, Head of Product for Microsoft, it would be too much work to add the ability to move the taskbar. Or more accurately, it is not worth doing the work because users don't even want this feature:
“When it comes to something like actually being able to move the taskbar to different locations on the screen, there's a number of challenges with that. When you think about having the taskbar on the right or the left, all of a sudden the reflow and the work that all of the apps have to do to be able to understand the environment is just huge.
And when you look at the data, while we know there is a set of people that love it that way and, like, really appreciate it, we also recognize that this set of users is really small compared to the set of other folks that are asking for other features. So, at the moment we are continuing to focus on things that I hear more pain around.
It is one of those things that we are still continuing to look at, and we will keep looking to feedback, but at the moment we do not have a plan or a set date for when we would, or if we should, actually build the side taskbar.”
Not Happening
So, in other words, Microsoft says its research shows users don't really want to move the taskbar. The Windows enthusiast community may want the ability, but they represent just a small subsection of the 1.3 billion Windows devices in the world. Regular users – whether personal or enterprise – are happy with the taskbar where it is.
Tip of the day: File History is a Windows back up feature that saves each version of files in the Documents, Pictures, Videos, Desktop, and Offline OneDrive folders. Though its name implies a primary focus on version control, you can actually use it as a fully-fledged backup tool for your important documents.
