Windows 11 could finally get a movable taskbar with 26H2 update
Rumors suggest Microsoft is gearing up to let Windows 11 users relocate the taskbar away from its default bottom edge. According to sources cited by Windows Central, the taskbar could be repositionable to the top of the screen or placed vertically along either side of the desktop. This is a feature Windows 10 users have long enjoyed, and many have wondered why it didn’t make the jump to Windows 11 at launch.
In addition to repositioning, the report claims an option to resize the taskbar could arrive. If you don’t want a bar spanning the entire width or height of the screen, you’d be able to shorten it, giving users more control over the desktop layout. At this stage, it remains a rumor, but such changes would mark a notable upgrade in customization for Windows 11.
Work on the taskbar revamp is reportedly underway, with a mid-year reveal anticipated and a longer-term rollout tied to the 26H2 update. The timing has varied in discussions—some phrased as a summer unveiling, others suggesting a broader mid-year introduction with a late-2026 deployment window.
Why now? Microsoft has faced ongoing criticism that Windows 11 still lacks some familiar features from Windows 10, even as AI features and other enhancements are pushed into the OS. Expanding the taskbar’s flexibility would address a long-standing user request and could help restore confidence in Windows 11 as Microsoft doubles down on performance refinements, bug fixes, and usability improvements.
If these changes come to pass, they’d represent a significant step in broadening Windows 11’s customization options and, potentially, its user trust as the platform continues to evolve. Until Microsoft confirms anything officially, treat this as a promising rumor about what might arrive in a future update.