Microsoft explains why users can't yet own the taskbar move feature on Windows 11

For a long time, Microsoft has provided the option to move the taskbar on Windows, allowing users to bring the taskbar to one of the four sides of the screen. However, with Windows 11, this feature has been removed. Users will only be able to freeze the taskbar at the bottom of the screen, as Microsoft has removed the option to move it to the sides or to the top edge of the screen.

Since the time Windows 11 officially launched, the ability to move the taskbar has always been one of the features most requested by the user community of this operating system, but Microsoft has not been able to meet the extremely legitimate request. this. In September 2021, more than 20,000 Windows 11 users 'signed' on the Feedback Hub asking Microsoft to re-implement the taskbar migration feature in Windows 11. The question is why Windows 10 can support it. Move taskbar flexibly, but Windows 11 does not? What is Microsoft stuck in?

There has not been any official answer given by Microsoft regarding this issue. However, in a recent Reddit AMA (ask me anything), when asked about the option to change the taskbar position on Windows 11, engineer Tali Roth, head of Windows Core experience at Microsoft, said: gives a succinct answer that perhaps those who were expecting this feature will be disappointed:

'When developing Windows 11, we rebuilt the taskbar experience from the ground up, rather than 'raw' what we saw in Windows 10. That meant we had to consider and choose what to do. what will be included first and what features will be supported later'. Tali Roth explained, confirming that the Windows 11 development team is still working on recommendations and tweaks to please a larger group of users.

From the above answer, it seems that Microsoft side thinks that the option to move the taskbar is not a really urgent or 'critical' requirement with Windows 11. Instead, Microsoft wants to spend time with some tweaks they think are more essential to the user experience, such as the flexible taskbar collapsing and expanding feature on small touch screen devices or tablets.

However, the representative of the Windows development team frankly admitted that they are having trouble with the addition of the feature to move the taskbar to different locations on the Windows 11 desktop, at least for the time being. 'There are some challenges with that. When you think of placing the taskbar on the right or the left, suddenly the retouching process and the work all apps have to do for an optimal experience is enormous."

That said, it looks like the taskbar migration is an issue Microsoft will continue to look into and listen to feedback on. But for now, they want to devote resources to implementing other more urgent plans on Windows 11. Users will have no choice but to wait.

Isabella Humphrey

Update 10 April 2022