Microsoft is shattering the dream of a sliding taskbar in Windows 11. The reason given by the developers.
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Windows 11: The position of the taskbar remains unchangeable for the time being
©Microsoft
In contrast to Windows 10, the taskbar in Windows 11 can only be displayed in the lower area of the desktop. A move to another location on the desktop (e.g. on the sides) is not possible, which Windows fans have been criticizing for a long time and are demanding a change from Microsoft. Now there’s bad news: Windows 11 users won’t be allowed to change the position of the taskbar in the near future either. Several responsible Windows 11 developers have now made this clear in a video that was published here on Reddit.
Reading tip: 6 months Windows 11 – why the switch is still not worthwhile
In the chat with the insider community, the Windows 11 developers were asked whether the taskbar will be movable in the future. Tali Roth, Head of Product at Microsoft responsible for designing the Windows 11 interface, provides an answer to this question. She begins by explaining that the taskbar in Windows 11 was redesigned from the ground up and at the same time it was decided what features it will have. The decision was also made that the taskbar in Windows 11 should only be displayed in the lower desktop area and should not be movable.
Floating taskbar is not a high priority
Roth explains, “When it comes to moving the taskbar to different places on the screen, there are a number of challenges to overcome. Imagining that the taskbar is on the right or left, the effort involved in reflow and the Work that all applications have to do to understand this situation, just enormous.”
Adding the scrollability feature to the taskbar would not be a high priority for developers right now. For the following reason, as Roth points out:
“And if you look at the data, while we know that there are a number of users who like it that way and really appreciate it, we also know that this group of users is very small compared to the group of people asking about other features, so for now we’re going to focus on the things we’re more worried about.”
After all, there is still some hope that the user’s wish could come true at some point. Because Roth also explains:
“This is one of the things we’re still looking at, and we’ll continue to listen for feedback, but right now we don’t have a plan or a firm date as to when or if we’ll actually build the side tray.”
Here is the full video in which Microsoft developers comment on the taskbar’s ability to be moved: