Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider Beta Preview Build 26220.9022, bringing back one of the most requested features since the operating system's original launch. Testers in the Beta Channel can now reposition the taskbar along any edge of the display and choose a smaller taskbar height.
This update addresses years of user feedback regarding the strict, bottom-only layout enforced when Windows 11 was introduced. By expanding testing from experimental channels to the Beta Channel, Microsoft is taking a major step toward delivering native taskbar flexibility to all desktop users.
Windows 11 Movable Taskbar Settings Arrive in Beta Build 26220.9022
The release of Build 26220.9022 marks a significant shift in Microsoft's approach to desktop customization. When Windows 11 debuted, the redesigned taskbar was rebuilt from the ground up, which resulted in the removal of legacy positioning capabilities. Users were forced to keep the taskbar pinned to the bottom of the screen unless they relied on unsupported registry tweaks or third-party utilities.
With the new Beta preview build, Microsoft has restored native controls for changing where the taskbar resides. Users can access these options directly through the system Settings app under Personalization, where new toggles allow placement across all four screen edges.
Taskbar Screen Edge Positioning Options
Under the updated menu, navigating to Settings, selecting Personalization, clicking Taskbar, and expanding Taskbar behaviors reveals the new location drop-down. Users can choose between bottom, top, left, or right alignments.
When the taskbar moves, system interface elements adapt automatically. Flyout menus, system tray tooltips, and window animations reorient themselves to launch directly from the taskbar's new edge. For example, placing the taskbar at the top edge causes the Start menu and notification center to pop down from above. When configured vertically on the left or right, icons can be aligned toward the top or center of the strip, giving users additional choices for how their workspace is structured.
New Compact Taskbar Size Option
Alongside flexible screen edge positioning, Build 26220.9022 introduces a dedicated smaller taskbar size setting. This feature caters to users on smaller displays or laptops who want to maximize vertical screen real estate for active applications.
Located in the Taskbar behaviors section under Taskbar size, switching from Standard to Small scales down app icons and reduces the total height of the bar. Key interface components, including the Start button, Search entry, and the system tray, scale proportionally to maintain visual alignment and usability across different display resolutions.
Current Feature Limitations and Unsupported Modes
While the addition of native positioning options restores much-needed versatility, Microsoft notes that the current implementation in Build 26220.9022 remains under active refinement. Certain legacy and advanced modes are not fully functional when the taskbar is moved away from the bottom position.
- Touch Gestures: Touchscreen swipe gestures for launching the Start menu or quick settings are still in progress for alternate taskbar locations.
- Search and Copilot Integration: Interactive search box experiences and Copilot flyouts in side and top configurations are receiving ongoing polish.
- Auto-Hide and Touch Optimization: Auto-hiding the taskbar and touch-optimized expanded taskbars are currently unsupported in non-standard edge positions.
- Compact Size Restrictions: The smaller taskbar option is currently restricted to horizontal orientations at the top and bottom of the display.
Microsoft is actively collecting telemetry and user impressions through the Feedback Hub under the Desktop Environment category as testing progresses in the Beta Channel.
Expected Public Rollout Timeline for Windows 11 Users
The arrival of taskbar relocation settings in the Beta Channel signals that the development process has moved past initial internal experiments. However, Microsoft has not announced a specific official release date or target cumulative update for the general public.
Features tested in the Beta Channel typically undergo several weeks or months of stability checks before being packaged into broader quality updates or annual version upgrades. Because Build 26220.9022 is being distributed to Insiders via a gradual rollout, not every enrolled device will see the toggle immediately. Once testing concludes and edge-case bugs are resolved, the capability is expected to reach production versions of Windows 11 through a standard feature update pack.
For millions of desktop users who missed the flexible layout options of previous Windows releases, the latest Beta preview represents a welcome step back toward full desktop personalization.
