Windows 11 was launched last year with a lot of controversial
and radical changes, including a new Start menu and more. If
you recently upgraded to Windows 11 and were surprised to see
how different the taskbar was, you’re not alone. The latest
version of the taskbar has divided its users.
The new taskbar has been rebuilt from scratch and it doesn’t
come with features available in Windows 10. The taskbar has
some confusing design features. For example, it doesn’t come
with a full-fledged right-click menu. While you can still
right-click on the taskbar, you cannot make any significant
change to the taskbar without opening the settings app.
Microsoft has acknowledged and continues to admit that the
taskbar is still a work in progress, but the development has
been slow and the company isn’t really doing anything about
missing features.
Microsoft has responded to the feedback and restored some
features like drag and drop in the latest update, but users are
still expecting faster progress. Thankfully, it looks like
significant changes are coming. According to references spotted
in a new preview build, Microsoft is testing two variants of
the taskbar:
- MicrosoftWindows.Client.Core_cw5n1h2txyewy
- MicrosoftWindows.Client.39072097_cw5n1h2txyewy
While one variant includes the
new search bar design styles, another one explores
significant improvements to the overflow UI.
As you can see in the above screenshot, Microsoft is working on
improving the taskbar overflow interface. The new taskbar app
list overflow could make it easier to select a running app when
you have too many apps open at the same time or the resolution
of the device is really low.
The purpose is to reduce clutter and offer a modern flyout
experience. We don’t know when this new overflow feature is
supposed to arrive for production devices, but we’re expecting
some improvements to drop later this year. That’s because
Microsoft is already planning some features much sooner and
outside the primary features updates.
Don’t expect radical changes to the taskbar
The company will release the first big Windows 11 update
codenamed ‘Sun Valley 2’ later this October. In addition to
this big feature update, Windows 11 will also get changes via
monthly cumulative updates with additional polishing for the
taskbar likely shipping this fall.
However, there are a few things that won’t change for a while.
According to Microsoft officials, you
won’t be able to reposition the taskbar because the “animation
flow” of the Start menu is not designed to handle a
different taskbar position.
In fact, Microsoft believes that moving the taskbar is not
important for most users and it wants to focus on
adding more important features to Windows 11.
