windows 11 brings important changes to the Start menu and the taskbar in 2026, finally giving users more control over customization.
Microsoft spent the first few years of Windows 11 simplifying the Start menu and taskbar, often at the expense of features users had relied on for years. In 2026, the company corrects its course.
In recent preview builds, the operating system has revealed a growing list of improvements that bring more customization and control back to the experience. From taskbar placement and resizing to Start menu layouts and recommendation controls, the software giant is restoring capabilities that many users have complained about since the original release of Windows 11.
However, the company’s focus isn’t about recreating Windows 10. Instead, Microsoft is rebuilding these experiences around the design principles of Windows 11 while giving users more flexibility than they have today.
Microsoft gives users more control over the taskbar
The biggest change is the reversal of positioning controls. Once again, users will be able to place the taskbar on the top, left, right, or bottom edge of the screen.
For many users, this feature should never have gone away. The ability to place the taskbar where it works best has been part of the operating system for decades.
At the same time, the company is not restoring the exact Windows 10 experience. Previously, users could unlock the taskbar and drag it directly to a different edge of the screen, or change its position through the Settings app. In Windows 11, changing the position requires using the option available through the Settings app, more specifically in the taskbar settings in the “Taskbar Behaviors” section.
Taskbar size is also making a comeback. However, the company is updating the “Show smaller taskbar buttons” option so enabling it makes the buttons and taskbar smaller, not just the buttons.
The feature improves flexibility, but still doesn’t offer the same freedom available in windows 10where users could manually resize the taskbar and even create multi-row layouts.
The Start menu is updated with some of the most significant improvements since the launch of the operating system.
One of the biggest additions is support for different Start menu sizes. Instead of relying entirely on automatic layout, users will be able to choose between different menu configurations depending on their preferences.
You’ll find these settings on the updated “Home” page of the Settings app.
Microsoft is also introducing dedicated controls to show or hide sections like pinned, recommended, and all apps. These changes address one of the most common complaints about the Start menu, which often feels too limited compared to previous versions of the operating system.
The company also separates recommendation settings from recent files and activity history. As a result, users will get more granular control over what appears in the Start menu without affecting other parts of the operating system.
Privacy is also getting attention, with a new option that allows users to hide their account name and profile photo in the Start menu.
These changes reflect a broader shift in Microsoft’s strategy.
The Start menu and taskbar updates are part of a broader strategy from Microsoft. k2 windows initiative, an effort focused on improving performance, reliability, and usability in Windows 11.
While much of that work is done behind the scenes, the Start menu and taskbar provide visible evidence that Microsoft’s priorities have evolved since 2021.
When this version of Windows was released, the company emphasized simplicity and consistency, even when that meant removing long-standing customization features. Many users felt that those decisions made the operating system less flexible than Windows 10.
The changes expected to roll out in 2026 suggest that Microsoft is reconsidering and taking a more balanced approach. Rather than limiting customization in the name of simplicity, the company is finding ways to offer more control while preserving the modern design introduced in Windows 11.
Windows 11 is becoming a more flexible operating system
Microsoft’s reset of the position and size of the taskbar, Start menu layouts, and recommendation controls may not seem revolutionary on its own. However, these changes represent one of the most notable changes.
The company is not abandoning its vision for Windows 11 or trying to convert the operating system to Windows 10. Instead, the company recognizes that flexibility remains one of the operating system’s greatest strengths.
For years, many of the conversations about Windows 11 focused on features that were removed. In 2026, the conversation is increasingly focused on what features Microsoft is bringing back and what that says about the future direction of the operating system.
Windows Central’s opinion
I think the most interesting part of these changes to the Start menu and taskbar is not any individual feature. This is what they reveal about Microsoft’s changing approach to Windows 11.
When the operating system launched in 2021, the software giant removed a notable amount of customization in favor of simplicity. The taskbar lost positioning and resizing controls, and the Start menu became significantly more limited compared to Windows 10. At the time, those choices seemed deliberate, almost like a firm reboot of the design.
In 2026, that direction seems less fixed. The reintroduction of taskbar positioning and resizing options, along with more granular Start menu controls, suggests that Microsoft is recalibrating how much flexibility the operating system should offer without undoing its modern design language.
What do you think about the changes to the Start menu and taskbar coming to Windows 11? Let me know in the comments.
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