Windows 11 finally restores classic taskbar features after 5 years

After five years of waiting, Windows 11 is finally restoring classic taskbar features that users have been demanding since the operating system’s launch in 2021. While the initial release impressed many with its modern aesthetic,soft rounded corners and subtle translucency replacing the flat, angular look of Windows 8 and 10,the redesigned taskbar and Start menu introduced frustrating functional downgrades. Some issues were patched quickly, but others persisted for years.

A new Windows Insider Preview build now rolling out to testers delivers a significant wave of improvements, addressing long-standing regressions while also experimenting with fresh capabilities.

The standout change: the Windows 11 taskbar can now be docked to any edge of the screen, including the left and right sides. This was a staple feature in Windows 10 and many earlier versions, yet it was conspicuously absent from Windows 11 at launch. Users can also customize taskbar behavior per position. For example, you can set different icon alignments, label styles, or icon grouping preferences for a left-mounted taskbar versus a top-mounted one, and Windows will remember each configuration.

However, Microsoft acknowledges several features are still missing from this build. The taskbar will not auto-hide in any alternate position, and the tablet-optimized taskbar,which offers larger, touch-friendly icons and spacing,is not yet supported. Touch gestures and the Search box are also absent from these new positions. Microsoft promises all of these capabilities will arrive eventually, but they aren’t ready today. The company is also “evaluating additional features like different taskbar positions per monitor” for users with multi-monitor setups.

This update marks a meaningful step toward parity with Windows 10’s taskbar functionality, but the journey isn’t over yet.