QUICK ANSWER

Microsoft has made some of the biggest changes to the Windows 11 Taskbar and Start menu since Windows 11 was originally released.

Recent Windows 11 updates have introduced or are rolling out features including:

• Move the Taskbar to the top, left, right, or bottom of the screen
• Use a new smaller Taskbar
• Automatic smaller Taskbar buttons when space becomes limited
• A redesigned, larger and scrollable Start menu
• Category, Grid and List views for installed apps
• “All” apps directly inside the main Start menu
• Start menu sizes including Small, Automatic and Large
• The Recommended section being renamed Recent
• Ability to independently show or hide major Start menu sections
• Ability to hide your name and profile picture from Start
• Improved Phone Link/mobile-device integration
• Better Start menu responsiveness on different screen sizes
• Taskbar and system-tray reliability improvements
• Updated account controls and other interface refinements

The newest Taskbar position, Taskbar size and Start menu customization options are being delivered through a gradual rollout, so two fully updated Windows 11 PCs can temporarily show different options.

COMPLETE ARTICLE

Windows 11 Taskbar and Start Menu Are Changing Significantly

For several years, one of the most common complaints about Windows 11 was the reduced customization of the Taskbar compared with Windows 10.

For example, Windows 10 users could position the Taskbar on different sides of the screen, while Windows 11 officially restricted it to the bottom.

Microsoft is now reversing some of those limitations while simultaneously redesigning the Start menu.

The changes are particularly relevant to users of:

• Windows 11 version 24H2
• Windows 11 version 25H2
• Newer supported Windows 11 releases
• Windows Insider builds where future features are tested first

Microsoft uses its continuous innovation servicing model to introduce many Windows features through monthly cumulative updates instead of waiting for a major annual Windows release.

Therefore, your Windows version alone does not necessarily determine whether a particular Start or Taskbar feature is available.

1. Windows 11 Taskbar Can Finally Be Moved to the Top, Left or Right

One of the most significant recent changes is the return of Taskbar position customization.

Windows 11 can now support the Taskbar at:

• Bottom
• Top
• Left
• Right

This restores a major customization capability that many Windows 10 users had been requesting.

How to Change the Windows 11 Taskbar Position

Open:

Settings → Personalization → Taskbar → Taskbar behaviors → Taskbar position

Choose the required position.

Microsoft says that when the Taskbar is positioned on another edge, related elements such as tooltips, flyouts and animations are designed to originate from that Taskbar position.

Most customization options, including the option to never combine Taskbar buttons, are also intended to work in the different positions.

Important Limitation

Not every Taskbar feature currently works identically in every position.

For example, Microsoft currently limits some features, including the Search box and smaller Taskbar, to the top and bottom positions.

This may change as Microsoft continues developing the feature.

2. Windows 11 Now Has a Smaller Taskbar Option

Another important addition is an officially supported smaller Taskbar.

This is particularly useful for:

• Small-screen laptops
• Tablets
• Compact displays
• Users who keep many applications open
• Users who want more vertical screen space

The option reduces both the Taskbar height and icon size while retaining important elements such as:

• Start
• Search
• Running applications
• System tray

How to Make the Windows 11 Taskbar Smaller

Go to:

Settings → Personalization → Taskbar → Taskbar behaviors → Taskbar size

Select:

Small

When Small is selected, both the Taskbar itself and its icons become smaller.

No Registry Hack Required

This is important because older Windows 11 builds led many users to use unsupported registry modifications or third-party applications to obtain a smaller Taskbar.

On systems where Microsoft's new setting is available, using the built-in option is preferable.

3. Windows 11 Can Automatically Use Smaller Taskbar Buttons

Another Taskbar improvement introduced during the Windows 11 24H2/25H2 generation is automatic resizing of Taskbar buttons.

When the Taskbar becomes crowded, Windows can reduce the size of application icons so that more applications remain visible.

The relevant setting can be found under:

Settings → Personalization → Taskbar → Taskbar behaviors

Look for:

Show smaller taskbar buttons

Depending on the Windows build, available behaviour may differ slightly.

This feature is different from the newer Taskbar size: Small option.

The first is intended to manage application-button space dynamically, whereas the newer small Taskbar changes the overall Taskbar experience.

Major Windows 11 Start Menu Changes

The Start menu has received an even larger redesign.

The original Windows 11 Start menu separated Pinned, Recommended and All apps into relatively distinct navigation experiences.

Microsoft's newer design makes Start more continuous and customizable.

4. Start Menu Is Now Scrollable

One of the biggest structural changes is that the Windows 11 Start menu is now designed as a scrollable experience.

Instead of repeatedly switching between the main Start page and a separate All apps screen, installed applications can appear further down within Start.

This makes Start behave more like one continuous application launcher.

5. “All” Apps Are Available Directly in the Main Start Menu

Previously, users generally had to select:

Start → All

to open the complete application list.

In the redesigned Start menu, the All section is integrated into the main Start experience.

Scroll downward and you can reach your installed applications without navigating to a completely separate page.

This can significantly reduce the number of clicks required to find an application.

6. New Category View for Installed Applications

Windows 11 introduces a Category view for applications.

Instead of presenting every installed application as one long alphabetical list, Windows can automatically organize apps into categories.

The system can also prioritize frequently used applications within those categories.

This can make a PC containing dozens or hundreds of installed programs easier to navigate.

Applications that cannot form an appropriate category may be grouped into an Other category.

7. New Grid View

Users who do not want automatic categories can use the new Grid view.

Grid view keeps applications alphabetically organized but uses more horizontal screen space.

This makes it possible to see more applications simultaneously than with the traditional single-column list.

8. Traditional List View Is Still Available

Users accustomed to the classic alphabetical All apps list are not necessarily forced to use categories.

Depending on the current rollout/build, Start can offer views such as:

• Category
• Grid
• List

Windows is designed to remember the selected view so that you do not have to choose it every time Start is opened.

9. Start Menu Automatically Adapts to Screen Size

The redesigned Start menu is responsive.

This means Windows can automatically change the amount of information displayed according to the available screen space.

On larger screens, Start can display more:

• Pinned applications
• Recent/recommended items
• Application categories

On smaller screens, Windows uses a more compact arrangement.

This is particularly useful because Windows 11 runs on devices ranging from compact tablets and laptops to large desktop monitors.

10. Start Menu Can Now Be Small, Automatic or Large

The newest customization rollout goes a step further by allowing users to control the overall Start menu size.

Go to:

Settings → Personalization → Start → Start menu size

The available choices can include:

• Small
• Automatic (default)
• Large

Automatic

Windows determines an appropriate Start menu size according to the display and environment.

Small

Uses less screen space and provides a more compact Start experience.

Large

Provides more room for applications and Start content.

This is a particularly useful addition for desktop users with large monitors.

11. “Recommended” Is Being Renamed “Recent”

Another noticeable change is terminology.

Microsoft is renaming the Start menu's:

Recommended

section to:

Recent

The change also appears in:

Settings → Personalization → Start

This better describes the section when it contains recently accessed applications, documents or other activity.

If screenshots or instructions on the Internet refer to Recommended, therefore, newer Windows 11 builds may display Recent instead.

12. Pinned, Recent and All Sections Can Be Controlled Separately

Microsoft has also redesigned the Start settings page.

New section-level controls allow users to independently control whether important portions of Start are displayed.

Depending on the currently installed build and feature rollout, users can control sections such as:

• Pinned
• Recent
• All

This is a substantial improvement for people who want a cleaner Start menu.

For example, a user primarily interested in installed applications may prefer to reduce or hide other sections.

13. You Can Hide Your Name and Profile Picture from Start

Another new privacy and appearance option allows users to hide their account identity from the Start menu.

Go to:

Settings → Personalization → Start

and look for:

Hide your name and profile picture on Start

This may be particularly useful for:

• Shared computers
• Presentation systems
• Demonstration PCs
• Screenshots
• Training environments
• Business systems displayed publicly

14. Pinned and Recent Sections Dynamically Resize

The redesigned Start menu is not simply larger.

Its individual sections are responsive as well.

For example, if you have only a few pinned applications, Windows does not necessarily reserve a large empty area for Pinned items.

The section can shrink, allowing other Start content to move upward.

Likewise, if recommendations/recent content is disabled or unavailable, that area can collapse.

The result is a more efficient use of Start menu space.

Phone Link Is Becoming Part of the Start Menu

15. Android and iPhone Information Can Appear Beside Start

Microsoft has been integrating Phone Link more deeply into the Start experience.

A connected Android phone or iPhone can provide information and shortcuts directly through Start.

Depending on the phone, Windows configuration and feature availability, this integration can provide access to items such as:

• Phone battery status
• Connectivity
• Messages
• Calls
• Photos
• Recent activity
• Notifications
• File sharing

A mobile-device control near the Search area can expand or collapse the phone companion portion of Start.

16. Send Files Between PC and Phone from Start

Phone Link integration can also make cross-device file transfer easier.

Supported configurations allow users to initiate file sharing between Windows and a connected Android or iPhone directly from the Start experience.

This reduces the need to separately launch Phone Link for some common operations.

17. Android Screen Mirroring Can Be Launched from Start

On supported Android devices, Microsoft has also developed integration that lets users launch phone-screen mirroring from the Start menu.

Device compatibility still applies.

Not every Android smartphone supports every Phone Link feature.

Other Taskbar and System Tray Improvements

18. Taskbar Settings Are Easier to Find

Microsoft has changed the Taskbar settings interface so that the Taskbar behaviors section is expanded by default in the latest rollout.

This is a small change, but it makes important settings easier to discover.

19. System Tray Reliability Improvements

Recent Windows updates also include reliability improvements for the system tray.

Microsoft has addressed issues related to loading the system tray on both touch and non-touch devices.

These are less visible than the new Taskbar position controls, but they can improve the overall stability of Explorer and the desktop environment.

20. Start Menu and Taskbar Startup Reliability Has Improved

Microsoft has also been working on reliability problems affecting Start and the Taskbar during Windows startup.

Recent servicing updates include improvements designed to reduce cases where these shell components fail to initialize correctly.

This is especially relevant for administrators supporting systems where users occasionally report:

• Start button not responding
• Taskbar appearing late
• Missing system tray icons
• Explorer instability
• Start menu not opening immediately after sign-in

21. Start Menu Account Control Has Been Updated

Microsoft has also refreshed the account-control interface accessible through the Start menu.

On supported Microsoft-account configurations, the interface can provide additional account-related information, including subscription status.

The exact experience can vary according to account type, Windows edition and rollout status.

Windows Search Is Also Changing

Although Windows Search is technically separate from the Start menu, users often access it through Start or the Taskbar, so the changes are closely related.

Recent Windows 11 updates improve the Search interface by making the source of each result clearer.

Windows can identify whether a result comes from:

• Application
• Windows setting
• Local file
• Web
• Microsoft Store suggestion

Microsoft is also adding more control over whether web and Store suggestions appear alongside local search results.

This is useful for users who prefer Windows Search primarily for finding local applications, settings and files.

Why Don't I See These New Features?

This is one of the most important points for Windows 11 users.

Installing the same Windows version does not guarantee that every PC receives a new interface feature simultaneously.

Microsoft frequently uses a gradual rollout.

This means a feature may first appear on a limited number of PCs and then become available to additional systems over time.

Consequently:

Two PCs running the same Windows 11 version and even the same cumulative update may temporarily have different Start menu or Taskbar features.

This is normal during a controlled rollout.

How to Check Your Windows 11 Version and Build

Press:

Windows + R

Type:

winver

Press Enter.

Windows will display information such as:

Microsoft Windows
Version 25H2
OS Build 26200.xxxx

You can also check:

Settings → System → About → Windows specifications

Look at:

• Edition
• Version
• Installed on
• OS build
• Experience

How to Get the Latest Windows 11 Features

Open:

Settings → Windows Update

Select:

Check for updates

You can also enable:

Get the latest updates as soon as they're available

This can make eligible non-security improvements and feature rollouts available earlier.

Important

Enabling this option does not guarantee immediate access to every gradually deployed feature.

Microsoft can still control availability based on:

• Device compatibility
• Windows edition
• Region
• Account type
• Managed/unmanaged status
• Safeguard holds
• Controlled Feature Rollout
• Other compatibility requirements

Windows 11 24H2 vs 25H2

Many of these improvements should not be viewed as exclusive “25H2 features.”

Windows 11 25H2 includes features and fixes delivered through previous Windows 11 24H2 cumulative updates, and Microsoft continues to use monthly servicing to enable functionality.

Therefore, a feature can sometimes appear on a fully updated 24H2 system as well as a 25H2 system.

This continuous servicing model is one reason Windows feature comparisons have become more complicated than simply comparing version numbers.

What About Windows 11 26H1?

Windows 11 26H1 exists, but it should not be confused with the normal annual feature-update path.

Microsoft describes Windows 11 version 26H1 as a specialized release for selected next-generation hardware, initially provided preinstalled on supported new devices.

It is not a normal feature update offered through Windows Update to existing Windows 11 PCs.

Therefore, users should not install unofficial tools or modify their systems simply to try to upgrade an existing 24H2/25H2 PC to 26H1.

For most existing PCs, the relevant comparison remains the currently supported mainstream Windows servicing path.

Important Warning About Registry Hacks and Third-Party Taskbar Tools

Many websites provide registry modifications, scripts and third-party utilities for restoring old Windows Taskbar behaviour.

Some of these modifications may work temporarily, but Windows shell components are continuously updated.

After a cumulative update, an unsupported customization can cause problems such as:

• Taskbar not loading correctly
• Start menu problems
• Explorer crashes
• Missing icons
• Broken context menus
• Unexpected layout changes

Whenever Microsoft provides an official setting for the required customization, prefer:

Settings → Personalization → Taskbar

or:

Settings → Personalization → Start

over unsupported shell modifications.

For business environments, administrators should also evaluate supported Group Policy, CSP and Microsoft Intune policies before deploying registry workarounds.

Major Changes at a Glance

Feature	Earlier Windows 11	Latest Windows 11 Experience
Taskbar position	Primarily bottom only	Bottom, top, left or right
Taskbar size	Limited native control	New smaller Taskbar option
Crowded Taskbar	Icons could become constrained	Smaller buttons can improve available space
Start menu layout	Relatively fixed	More responsive and customizable
Start size	Limited control	Small, Automatic or Large
All apps	Separate navigation	Integrated scrollable section
App organization	Mainly alphabetical list	Category, Grid and List options
Recommended	Recommended section	Being renamed Recent
Start sections	Limited independent control	Pinned, Recent and All can be controlled
Account identity	Normally displayed	Name/profile picture can be hidden
Phone integration	Mainly Phone Link app	Deeper integration with Start
Screen adaptation	Relatively fixed	Responsive layout
System tray	Traditional implementation	Ongoing reliability improvements

Troubleshooting: New Taskbar or Start Menu Options Are Missing

If Microsoft documentation says a feature is available but it does not appear on your PC, try the following.

Step 1 – Check Windows version

Run:

winver

Confirm the Windows version and OS build.

Step 2 – Install Windows updates

Open:

Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates

Install available updates and restart the computer.

Step 3 – Enable Early Feature Delivery

Under Windows Update, consider enabling:

Get the latest updates as soon as they're available

Then check for updates again.

Step 4 – Restart Windows

A complete restart may be required after cumulative or configuration updates.

Step 5 – Check Whether the PC Is Managed

Business PCs controlled through:

• Active Directory
• Microsoft Entra ID
• Group Policy
• Microsoft Intune
• MDM

may receive different feature configurations from unmanaged home PCs.

Step 6 – Allow Time for Gradual Rollout

If everything is updated but the option remains unavailable, the most appropriate solution may simply be to wait until Microsoft expands the rollout.

Avoid forcing hidden Windows features through undocumented methods on production computers.

FAQ

Can I finally move the Windows 11 Taskbar to the top?

Yes. Microsoft is rolling out native Taskbar-position controls allowing supported Windows 11 systems to place the Taskbar at the top, bottom, left or right of the display.

How do I move the Windows 11 Taskbar to the left side of the screen?

Go to:

Settings → Personalization → Taskbar → Taskbar behaviors → Taskbar position

and select Left, if the feature is available on your system.

Do not confuse this with Taskbar alignment → Left, which merely moves the Start button and icons to the left while leaving the Taskbar at the bottom.

Can Windows 11 have a vertical Taskbar?

Yes. The new Taskbar-position feature allows the Taskbar to be positioned on the left or right, effectively providing a vertical Taskbar.

Some features may still have limitations in vertical positions.

Can I make the Windows 11 Taskbar smaller?

Yes. Newer Windows 11 updates are introducing an official smaller Taskbar option under:

Settings → Personalization → Taskbar → Taskbar behaviors → Taskbar size

Select Small when available.

Why don't I have Taskbar position in Windows 11?

The feature is being gradually rolled out. Your PC may be fully updated but still waiting for the feature to be enabled.

What happened to Recommended in the Windows 11 Start menu?

Microsoft is renaming Recommended to Recent as part of the latest Start menu customization changes.

Can I remove Recent or Recommended from Windows 11 Start?

Newer Start settings provide significantly more control over the Start sections, including section-level options for Pinned, Recent and All.

Exact controls depend on your current Windows build and rollout status.

Can I hide my username from the Windows 11 Start menu?

Yes. Newer builds provide:

Settings → Personalization → Start → Hide your name and profile picture on Start

when the feature has reached your PC.

What is Category view in the Windows 11 Start menu?

Category view automatically organizes installed applications into groups, making large application libraries easier to navigate.

Can I return to an alphabetical application list?

Yes. Windows continues to provide alternative application views, including Grid and traditional List-style organization, depending on the current build.

Does the new Start menu support Android phones?

Yes. Microsoft's Start menu Phone Link integration supports connected Android devices, although individual features depend on the phone and configuration.

Does Start menu Phone Link work with iPhone?

Yes. Microsoft expanded the experience to connected iPhones as well, including access to supported phone information and cross-device features.

Are these changes only available in Windows 11 25H2?

Not necessarily. Many Windows 11 improvements are delivered through cumulative updates and Microsoft's continuous innovation model. Some features therefore apply to updated 24H2 and 25H2 systems.

Should I use registry hacks to enable the new Taskbar early?

For a production or business PC, it is better to wait for Microsoft's supported rollout.

Undocumented feature-enablement tools and shell registry modifications can stop working after cumulative updates and may create unnecessary troubleshooting problems.

FINAL RECOMMENDATION / CONCLUSION

The latest Windows 11 updates represent a major shift in Microsoft's approach to the Taskbar and Start menu.

After years of comparatively limited Taskbar customization, Microsoft is restoring one of the most requested capabilities: positioning the Taskbar at the top, bottom, left or right. The addition of an officially supported smaller Taskbar also addresses a long-standing request from users of laptops and smaller displays.

The Start menu is changing even more significantly. Its new scrollable design, integrated All apps section, Category and Grid views, responsive layout, selectable menu sizes, Phone Link integration and greater control over individual sections make Start substantially more customizable than the original Windows 11 implementation.

However, users should remember one important principle:

Windows 11 feature availability is increasingly determined by both the installed update and Microsoft's gradual feature rollout.

Therefore, do not assume something is wrong with your computer simply because another Windows 11 PC shows a new Start menu or Taskbar option first.

Keep Windows updated, use Microsoft's supported personalization settings, and avoid forcing unreleased features through undocumented registry modifications on important or production computers.

Article information verified against current Microsoft Windows documentation and update information available in September 2026. Windows features and rollout status can change with subsequent cumulative updates.

 

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