What's new with the Taskbar on Windows 11

Windows 11 Taskbar Source: Windows Central

Alongside a brand-new Commencement carte, Windows 11 is as well introducing a new version of the Taskbar, which might await similar to the ane we know on Windows 10, but the new experience is getting a lot of improvements.

For example, the new Taskbar has a center alignment, redesigned Start button, and new buttons for Search, Task View, Widgets, and Chat. Also, there are new animations for launching, minimizing, maximizing, and installing applications, and Microsoft is improving many aspects of the organization tray.

However, it'due south not all practiced news since the new Taskbar for Windows 11 lacks many customizations bachelor in previous versions.

In this Windows 11 guide, we swoop deep into the improvements and design changes with the new Taskbar.

The redesigned Taskbar

Although the Windows 11 taskbar may look similar to the previous version, it's non. Similar to the Get-go menu, Microsoft has made a lot of good (and bad) changes to the feel.

The new Taskbar has a centered alignment, but you can always modify the behavior to the left similar in previous versions. The interface is also six pixels taller than the one available on Windows ten. In addition to the buttons aligned in the middle of the screen, you will notice that there's a new Start logo button, besides as new buttons for Search, Job View, Widgets, and Chat. Cortana and My People are no longer part of the experience.

Windows 11 desktop with taskbar Source: Windows Fundamental

Also, elements like tooltips, overflow carte du jour, previews, and highlighting buttons in the Taskbar now follow the new design manner with a rounded corner. When an app requires your attention, the flashing will now be more than subtle, it'll somewhen cease, and you will see a new backplate with a calorie-free red color and ruby-red pill icon letting you know the app requires your attention.

Taskbar attention required Source: Windows Central

If you lot don't like one of the characteristic icons, you can remove them from Settings > Personalization > Taskbar.

When you hover over the characteristic push, a new preview volition appear with some contempo items or a quick view of the feature. If you hover an open app, the thumbnails preview will prove like in previous versions.

Source: Windows Central

Every bit office of the multitasking feel, when using "Snap groups," you can at present hover an app in the Taskbar, and if information technology's part of snapped gourd, the experience will permit you switch dorsum to the snapped windows after switching to another app, so you practice not have to re-snap them again. (Although this characteristic appears in the Taskbar, this behavior'due south setting control is located on the Multitasking settings page.)

Snap groups previews in the Taskbar Source: Windows Fundamental

On Windows 11, the search box has been replaced with the Search button that opens Windows Search. The experience remains virtually the same as the ane on Windows ten, with the difference that you will now detect a search box at the top.

Source: Windows Cardinal

The new Taskbar too features new animations. For instance, you will detect a new bouncing animation as the Taskbar loads on the desktop when the device starts. Likewise, there'due south a new minor pill-shaped indicator that changes size for running applications to distinguish whether they are minimized or maximized. You will also see a new animation when clicking an app to open, minimize, and maximize. And there is a new progress indicator for installing applications.

Taskbar animations Source: Windows Key

The organisation tray (bottom-right corner) is also improving. In this new version, Windows is grouping the icons logically. For example, the fourth dimension and engagement and the Focus assist icon are a group. When you click it, it opens the new "Notification Heart" that includes a full-calendar month agenda and all your notifications.

Taskbar Notification Center Source: Windows Central

And so there'south the group that includes network, volume, and power icons. When you click it, it opens the new Quick Settings experience that houses common settings for volume, brightness, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplane mode, Dark light Accessibility, Cast, and more.

Taskbar Quick Settings Source: Windows Primal

If you are playing a video or music on Microsoft Edge, the Quick settings will likewise display the media playback controls to control the stream.

Of course, you can ever correct-click any icon to access its settings or select 1 of the available options.

System tray icon right-click Source: Windows Key

The context menu for the Taskbar has also been reworked, and information technology now merely includes an choice to open the "Taskbar" settings page. On the settings page, you tin add or remove items, control the icons that announced in the corner and the apps that appear in the overflow carte.

Source: Windows Central

Likewise, in the Taskbar behaviors section, you can control the alignment of the Taskbar, enable or disable badging for apps, auto-hide, command multiple displays options, and even disable the testify desktop button.

Windows 11 Taskbar Settings Source: Windows Central

The problems with the new Taskbar

Alongside the welcome improvements, Microsoft is making many changes that many may feel as if the Taskbar is going backward instead of forward this time around.

One of the oddest changes is that the Taskbar is now locked at the lesser of the screen, and you lot can no longer place it at the top or either side of the screen.

Yous tin can simply show icons in the Taskbar. If you were among those who like to show labels and never combine apps, this is no longer an option either.

Microsoft has as well confirmed that users won't exist able to drag and drib files or apps to pin them to the Taskbar.

On Windows 10 and previous versions, you as well had the option to brand the icons larger or smaller. There is but one size of icons in this new version, and the option to customize this behavior is gone. Furthermore, yous can no longer adjust the height of the Taskbar.

Although the system tray includes several tweaks, it may at present exist even harder to use since the icons are divided into groups, and yous can't hibernate the clock or any of the other system icons, including volume, network, microphone, etc. If you want to see the clock, it gets worse because it won't show on secondary displays.