TL;DR
Microsoft is testing a major Windows 11 interface update that will finally let users reposition the taskbar to the top, left, or right of the screen and resize the Start menu. This addresses the single most persistent user complaint since Windows 11 launched in October 2021, and the testing phase suggests a public rollout could arrive by late 2026.
What Happened
Microsoft has begun internal testing of a Windows 11 update that introduces an adjustable taskbar and a resizable Start menu, according to a report from The Verge on Friday, May 15, 2026. The move comes nearly five years after the operating system's launch, during which users have been unable to move the taskbar from its default bottom-center position or adjust the size of the Start button.
Key Facts
- Microsoft is currently testing the adjustable taskbar and resizable Start menu in internal Windows Insider preview builds, with no public release date yet confirmed.
- The update will allow users to move the taskbar to the top, left, or right edge of the screen, restoring a feature that existed in Windows 10 and earlier versions.
- The Start menu will gain the ability to be resized horizontally and vertically, breaking its current fixed-size grid layout that has frustrated users since Windows 11's debut.
- This testing was first reported by The Verge on May 15, 2026, citing unnamed sources familiar with Microsoft's development plans.
- The change addresses a top-voted user feedback item on Microsoft's own Feedback Hub, which has accumulated over 20,000 upvotes since 2021.
- The update is expected to be part of a larger Windows 11 2026 feature pack, codenamed "Hudson Valley Refresh," which may also include improvements to the File Explorer and widgets panel.
- Microsoft has not yet announced whether the adjustable taskbar will support third-party taskbar customization tools, such as StartAllBack or ExplorerPatcher, which have filled the gap since 2021.
Breaking It Down
The return of an adjustable taskbar is not merely a cosmetic tweak; it is a direct response to a design decision that has defined Windows 11's controversial identity. When Microsoft launched Windows 11 in October 2021, the company centered the taskbar icons and locked the taskbar to the bottom of the screen, breaking decades of user muscle memory. Power users, particularly those with ultrawide monitors or vertical screen setups, were left unable to reclaim screen real estate or organize their workflow in a way that Windows 10 had freely permitted.
Over 20,000 user upvotes on Microsoft's Feedback Hub have demanded taskbar repositioning since 2021, making it one of the top five most-requested features in the operating system's history.
The resizable Start menu is equally significant. Since Windows 11's launch, the Start menu has been locked into a fixed grid of 18 pinned app slots (three columns by six rows), with no option to expand or shrink it. This has forced users to either accept the limitation or rely on third-party replacements like Open-Shell or Start11. By enabling resizing, Microsoft is acknowledging that its "simplified" design language came at the cost of functionality for millions of users who rely on the Start menu as a primary app launcher.
The timing of this testing is notable. Microsoft has spent the past two years pushing Windows 11 adoption through aggressive hardware requirements and the looming end-of-support for Windows 10 in October 2025. However, the company has simultaneously alienated a core segment of its user base by removing or hiding features like the timeline, drag-and-drop to the taskbar, and never combine taskbar buttons. This update signals a strategic pivot: Microsoft is now willing to undo its own design decisions to win back disgruntled users.
What Comes Next
The testing phase will likely follow Microsoft's standard Windows Insider rollout cadence, which typically spans 3–6 months from initial internal builds to a public release. However, given the sensitivity of taskbar and Start menu code—these are core shell components—the timeline could extend if stability issues arise.
- Windows Insider Beta Channel release: Expect the adjustable taskbar and resizable Start menu to appear in the Beta Channel within the next 4–8 weeks, likely in a build numbered 22635.xxxx or higher. This will be the first public test.
- Microsoft Build 2026 keynote: The company may officially announce the feature at its Build developer conference, scheduled for June 2026, alongside other Windows 11 updates. This would be the logical venue for a formal reveal.
- Public release target: If testing proceeds smoothly, a general rollout could arrive with the Windows 11 2026 Update (version 24H2), expected in October 2026. This would mark the fifth anniversary of the operating system.
- Third-party tool compatibility: Microsoft will need to decide whether to break or support existing tools like StartAllBack and ExplorerPatcher, which have millions of users who rely on them for taskbar customization. A clear compatibility statement is expected within 30 days of the Beta release.
The Bigger Picture
This update sits at the intersection of two broader trends: user backlash-driven design and the Windows 10 migration cliff. Microsoft spent years enforcing a rigid, "simplified" design language in Windows 11, only to discover that users—particularly enterprise customers and power users—do not accept trade-offs in core productivity features. The adjustable taskbar is a rare admission that the company's initial vision was wrong, and that user feedback, when loud enough, can force a reversal.
Simultaneously, Microsoft faces a deadline: Windows 10 end-of-support on October 14, 2025, is now less than 18 months away. The company needs to make Windows 11 as attractive as possible to the estimated 400 million Windows 10 users who have not yet upgraded. Removing a top frustration point—the locked taskbar—is a direct attempt to lower the barrier to adoption. If Microsoft can combine this with other long-requested features like folder tabs in File Explorer and improved snap layouts, the 2026 update could be the most significant Windows 11 release since the OS launched.
Key Takeaways
- [Taskbar Freedom Restored]: Microsoft is testing the ability to move the taskbar to the top, left, or right of the screen, reversing a controversial Windows 11 design choice that locked it to the bottom.
- [Start Menu Resizing]: The Start menu will finally become resizable, ending a nearly five-year restriction that limited users to a fixed 18-app grid.
- [Insider Testing Underway]: The feature is currently in internal Microsoft testing, with a public Beta Channel release expected within 4–8 weeks.
- [Strategic Timing]: This update directly addresses the #1 user complaint on Microsoft's Feedback Hub and aims to accelerate Windows 11 adoption ahead of Windows 10's end-of-support in October 2025.
