Updated

Updated · ZDNet · Jul 28

Windows 11 Insider Builds Add 5 Standout Features as Microsoft Restores Taskbar Positioning

Updated

Updated · ZDNet · Jul 28

Windows 11 Insider Builds Add 5 Standout Features as Microsoft Restores Taskbar Positioning

Q: What hidden limitations are Insider testers discovering behind the highly anticipated taskbar flexibility in the new Windows 11 release?

Insider testers are finding that Windows 11’s restored movable taskbar is real, but still incomplete in important ways. The headline feature lets users place the taskbar on any edge of the screen, yet preview builds still lack full support for several behaviors many users expect. Auto-hide does not currently work properly when the taskbar is moved away from the bottom. The tablet-optimized taskbar is also unavailable in alternate positions, and touch gestures are still unfinished, which matters on touch-enabled devices. Testers are also seeing feature gaps in vertical layouts. The full Search box is not supported when the taskbar sits on the left, right, or top; it falls back to a search icon instead. Some Insider reports and Microsoft notes also point to missing support for Ask Copilot in alternate locations. In vertical mode, the clock may also lose the option to show seconds. There are broader limits as well. Microsoft has not yet delivered per-monitor taskbar positioning for multi-display setups, and drag-and-drop behavior is still being evaluated rather than fully implemented. Some builds also show that visual polish, animations, and touch behavior are still being refined. So while the flexibility many users wanted is finally returning, Insider evidence shows it is not yet a fully restored Windows 10-style taskbar. It works for core positioning, but several convenience and touch-friendly features remain unfinished behind the preview.

3 articles · Updated · ZDNet · Jul 28

Five Windows 11 Insider changes stood out in ZDNET’s latest hands-on review, led by Microsoft restoring taskbar placement to the top, left, right, or bottom of the screen.
The latest builds also simplify Search with fewer promotional elements, add Cloud rebuild for clean recovery through WinRE, and bundle Patch Tuesday, driver, .NET, and firmware updates to cut reboots to one.
Microsoft has also reduced Insider enrollment complexity by shrinking the program from 4 channels—Canary, Dev, Beta, and Release Preview—to 2: Experimental and Beta.
The features extend upgrades already tied to Windows 11 version 26H2, which has focused on Start menu, taskbar, and search improvements in response to user complaints.
Microsoft has not set a public rollout date, but the review said some or most of the changes could reach general users before year-end.